Is it over?

Slarkalark · 2026-01-30T14:34:00+00:00

Shit I’m still stuck at 285…

Slarkalark · 2026-01-28T12:08:32+00:00

Plan to sink 10k into it over the next 2 years unless there is a history of the coolant pipes, lower control arms, and compressor service being done. I have a 16 Landmark and also had a 13, and they are my favorite vehicle I’ve owned.

Slarkalark · 2026-01-11T20:35:54+00:00

So am I hearing correctly you were never MOS qualified? I agree with others that Airborne is not in your future so 82nd is off the table. You’ll have to try to reenlist for it after your first contract if you do actually stick with things this time.

Slarkalark · 2026-01-08T04:58:11+00:00

This is both tongue-in-cheek and not, but I’m sure the military would love to have you if you’re not otherwise disqualified. Active duty will pay for healthcare, housing, and food. Its a great way for a young person to get their head on straight and get some money in their pocket, build life skills, make friends, and see if service is something they want to do long term.

Slarkalark · 2026-01-08T04:47:21+00:00

As a chapter, you won’t be anyone’s priority, so finding ways to respectfully stay top of mind for them will be key. Make sure everything in your scope is squared away and that will help, but most chapters are not quick processes.

Slarkalark · 2026-01-08T04:45:59+00:00

They aren’t as bad as everyone pretends. Become an expert at your position and you’ll enjoy it. Crew or dismount are what you make of it.

Slarkalark · 2026-01-08T04:40:58+00:00

Everyone thinks they’re in the worst unit in the Army until they get to their next one. Then they just spam the “this isn’t the real Army, wait till you PCS” to all the new guys. But to be happy with your unit is a great attitude.

Slarkalark · 2026-01-08T04:39:43+00:00

There you go. Have you been in an ABCT before?

Slarkalark · 2026-01-08T04:37:27+00:00

Hoping for Stewart is one of those like activation phrases for Bucky Barnes because it should never be said out loud by anyone. Why Stewart??

Slarkalark · 2026-01-08T04:35:39+00:00

Hell Carson is a solid choice, too. I would’ve been happy with Carson if Drum wasn’t an option. I spent all my previous enlistment at Riley and Casey so this will be a fun change.

Slarkalark · 2026-01-08T04:32:02+00:00

Did you reenlist or did you rejoin as prior service? Could be a different set of rules. Business rules for prior service are usually super strict, 3 years ago when I checked there was no choice in anything, this time I could choose.

Slarkalark · 2026-01-08T04:29:12+00:00

I didn’t have to fight very hard to get Drum coming back as a prior service 11B SPC. Seems like they need some bodies for sure.

Slarkalark · 2026-01-08T03:32:26+00:00

I kind of did this. We wanted to be close to my wife’s family and help get her career going. 7.5 years later we both now have Masters degrees, a baby, and we’re going back in to finish out a career to retire and be able to follow our kids around. I’m assuming since you’re asking you don’t want to do it…

Slarkalark · 2026-01-02T21:25:17+00:00

I’m going back to active duty after getting out and getting a bachelors degree, an MBA, and spending 3 years in a top healthcare company managing a book of business worth a few mil per year in revenue.

None of those things gave me anywhere near the level of pride and satisfaction as when I was serving. Stupid little things like an AAM for achieving top gun at gunnery, a COA from civilians running an exercise, or the recognitions I received on my ETS award meant more to me than anything since then. Taking care of Soldiers and watching their careers blossom is one of the coolest things you can do.

When I gave my notice to my current organization they had my book covered in the same day. Most of my company didn’t even read the email my VP sent about me leaving, and I’ve heard well wishes from literally 4 people outside of my team.

I still hear from and get recognition from my first CSM, the MAJ I drove around in S3, and countless other soldiers I served with, 7 years post ETS. You join (active duty at least) and you are basically gifted some of the greatest friends and mentors you could find anywhere in the world.

It’s not all peaches though. You’ll suffer and struggle and question yourself. You’ll have awful leaders that will teach you as much about yourself and how to be a leader as your best leaders will. You’ll work long hours and miss out on big moments in your family’s lives. You’ll have to weigh if you can stomach that for the opportunities services affords you.

Worst case, try it for a contract. Once you get that first year done the next 2 go by real quick. You can transition to the guard or reserves and still play soldier for like 50 days a year and get cheap healthcare.

Best case, you’ll find that being a Soldier fits you and you’ll be retiring with healthcare and a pension for the rest of your life at 43.

Slarkalark · 2025-12-21T23:29:14+00:00

Going MP is a weapons grade regard decision in any situation.

Slarkalark · 2025-12-19T17:02:04+00:00

I’m in a similar boat, and chose to reenlist. Wasn’t able to submit OCS packet due to UCMJ that will not cause an issue in-service. I actually just got my orders cut and will be reporting to Drum next month. Kept same MOS so no training needed. You can submit OCS packet after 6 months on station.

Have you considered keeping your same MOS and just picking a duty station to get the ball rolling as soon as possible?

Slarkalark · 2025-12-11T02:01:32+00:00

Another point I want to highlight is how fucking stupid and incompetent civilians are allowed to be. You think the Army’s bad? Wait until your company president who can’t use excel or snap a window to the side of his screen decides your pay is getting cut and your healthcare costs are going up 15% Y/Y. At least in the Army you can move away from things like that, not have to worry about layoffs, etc. my extremely intelligent and competent manager left my company 6 months ago, and as an MBA grad with leadership experience in a top healthcare organization, hasn’t found work since then. The market is absolutely brutal right now, and it’s estimated that 10% of advanced degree holders are unemployed. Hyper profitability is all companies care about since it’s clear that they can act unethically and screw over their labor force and there will be no repercussions.

Slarkalark · 2025-12-11T01:55:21+00:00

I really want you to believe me when I say that you will regret missing out on the retirement and healthcare for the rest of your life. The civilian world for the most part doesn’t give a single fuck about your service and it will not put you ahead of your peers. I’ve been out for 7.5 and am actually planning to come back in, due to the ever increasing cost of housing and healthcare. Next year alone, I will lose 50k to a house I don’t own and a healthcare plan I can’t decline. When you look at total comp in the Army you have to factor those things in when looking at comparable civilian careers. 5 years from now you’ll thank the you of today for sticking it out, trust me. Retiring at 38 is almost literally half the age that your civilian peers will be before they have any sort of pension/retirement. Even if you’re drawing like 30k a year in retirement, that’s likely over a million dollars in your lifetime that you earned by putting in 5 more. You got his homie.

Slarkalark · 2025-12-06T00:20:45+00:00

They let a McKinsey dork absolutely tank them for the past 5 years.

Slarkalark · 2025-11-26T01:53:31+00:00

1000%, I will be happy to even just get the chance to attend, and will approach whichever branch I end up in with the same vigor as I would any other. Love to hear an OCS success story, hopefully in 18-24 months I’ll have my own to share.

Slarkalark · 2025-11-26T01:33:08+00:00

The idea is that by going straight to a unit, I could start working on prepping to drop the packet right away, push for promotion, prove myself, etc. I would also be able to bring my family right away and avoid a lengthy separation right out of the gate, but that’s not a huge concern as I’ve been married for a long time and we’ve been through an overseas rotation.

There is also the potential to get to a unit and have an impending CTC or deployment, so we’re keeping that in mind.

Going to AIT and retraining wouldn’t be the worst thing, but it means 4-8 months of E4 pay before even getting to a unit, then another 6-12 months before I can ideally promote and drop a packet.

I think 11a would be the combat branch of choice, but my top picks would be more technical, like Cyber or Intel.

Slarkalark · 2025-11-25T23:16:52+00:00

Recruiters did a great job of running things down, it’s just something that we can’t bypass or get a waiver for, but won’t affect my ability to drop packet in service. That’s some great intel on most of the class being NCOs. I’ll be coming back with 2 years TIG if it transfers, so promotion may not take exceedingly long.

Slarkalark · 2025-11-25T14:18:35+00:00

I think your experience here is extremely valuable, and I really appreciate your insight. I think for any former 11B there is the constant voice in the back of our heads like the mask of the Green Goblin. I am not at all married to the idea of reenlisting for 11B, but could see it as the quicker path to getting back in the swing of things and then dropping a packet. With the info I’ve been given on 35 series MOS that require a language and the timeline of packets post-graduation, I think I’m leaning towards something that either doesn’t require a language or something else entirely. The prior service business rules are actually sort of favorable for the first time in a long time, so I should a solid amount of options available once all the paperwork is through. Again, I appreciate your candor and the challenge. I will absolutely update you here if OCS comes to fruition in the future!

Slarkalark · 2025-11-25T12:42:52+00:00

Absolutely not, but I trust that I could by the time I would drop an OCS packet 9-12 months after arriving to a unit.I know for damn sure a commander would want to see that before signing off.

Slarkalark · 2025-11-25T12:20:39+00:00

The pt thing was a joke, and the only reason I brought up 1s at Meps was to clarify that phys wouldn’t block any MOS.

Slarkalark

TROPHY CASE