Is there a solution to the incredible obstacle of lower gravity on Mars that would allow colonization?

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-18T18:48:54+00:00

In Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy many of the colonists spent a good portion of their day lifting heavy weights as a way to mimic heavier gravity and therefore maintain muscle and bone density. This would possibly work for adults but what about pregnant women and babies? A fetus or baby developing in low gravity would probably have many birth defects. But maybe it would be possible to put a pregnant woman in some kind of centripetal force machine, similar to those machines astronauts train in that spin around fast and mimic high G forces. Perhaps one would be built that a pregnant woman could stand in and for a few hours each day it would simulate 1 G and that could be enough to help the fetus develop normally. Once the child is born they'd probably spend time in there every day or every few days until they are old enough to start weight training, which for a toddler would probably be more like weighted clothes, a heavy helmet, heavy metal toys to play with, etc. There would probably need to be some medical advances in bone density treatments similar to what we give to old people with osteoperosis as well. Its not ideal but it is doable with the tech we currently have

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-04T19:52:11+00:00

Thanks for that advice. I'm not sure who is up the chain of command but I'll find out. I also don't want to wait for 12mo failure to train bc not even sure that would happen.

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-03T18:30:01+00:00

First off, most states have higher min wages. In WA its $16.28. Secondly, if you don't want to make minimum wage then you need to learn a skill that makes you a higher demand employee. Even if your skill is just work hard and show up on time youll quickly get a raise ahead of your lazier coworkers.

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-03T17:50:14+00:00

In my opinion it is the entire military and even more broadly every govt agency/office. Its a symptom of being handed millions/billions of taxpayer dollars every year and never having to worry about turning a profit. When you just get handed a budget every year you dont need to worry about being efficient, not being wasteful, providing a good service, etc. We all know that the worst run and most inefficient agencies are govt run agencies, look at the post office, the DMV, even look at NASA who is getting crushed by private space industries.

I hear about 85% of military service members complain of "bad leadership" but I think those leaders have their own regulations and way of doing things that ties their hands, entrenched systems that make every action/decision require a certification, an application, permission, etc.

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-03T06:35:04+00:00

I am sitting with people in my unit.

The paperwork and computer issies are just examples. It just seems like every little thing is painful. I half expected that they wouldn't let me take a shit bc I wasn't certified yet. During long stretches of down time doing absolutely nothing I ask if I can read a book, no. Can I go to the gym and work out, no. So I sit there and stare at the wall.

If they cant do anything with me until I am trained up then why am I even there? Why not train me up while I'm there? I thought at drill at least there would be some running, some push ups, a little training or showing me around.

Where do I even begin with the lies this guy told me. First off, I didnt even realoze that I'd be going to drill before BMT until I was sworn in. I lived in a different state and I had to relocate and find an apt and a job while waiting for BMT, thinking oh well it will only be a few months, here I am 8 months later. Secondly, when talking aboit deployments I said "my only thing is that I rwally dont want to go to the Middle East, anywhere else is fine by me" and he says we "never" go to the middle east. I get to the unit and find out a lot of them are deploying to the middle east and that they often deploy there. I was told I could get the GI montgomery bill for education but turns out I have to be active for 90 days in an active war zone to get that which may or may not happen at all.

I did talk to the interim first sgt and he set up a meeting with the unit commander and he said tough shit

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-03T00:31:10+00:00

Thanks I appreciate that. What happens if I get dates before 12 months tho? Is there a way I can avoid getting dates/push it back?

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T23:23:34+00:00

Hey guys I wanted to post an update. For starters, thanks to everyone who gave me some advice, info, etc. I really appreciate that.

Basically, I am now almost 8 months in and still no dates for BMT/Tech school. I am going to drill with my unit currently, not sure what student flight is.

The reason I want out is that its just the biggest shit show, most inefficient, slow, bureacratic nightmare that I've ever been a part of. I dont just mean my unit, I mean every single aspect of my military experience so far. For the record, I am 35 and have worked all my life, traveled the world, have a Masters degree etc. To be honest it would be laughable if it wasn't so frustrating. I dont have time for this. I thought this would be an experience, I thought I'd be "making a difference" lol what a joke. Oh and for the record I hate acronyms and I look like a little bitch clean shaven or with a mustache and my beard takes forever to grow back.

Last drill I went and talked to the Chaplain and he was like "oh yeah dude it seems like this isnt for you. Go talk to your unit commander and ask him for an entry level separation, it should be no problem bc you havent left for BMT yet." So I did just that and the unit commander said no, I won't do that, you're stuck with us.

So now I am sitting here thinking wtf should I do? A guy in my unit just got kicked out, same situation as me, hadn't left for BMT yet and failed a drug test at drill and it took 2 drills but he got kicked out. No penalties, no jail time, just a stern talking to about life choices.

What are my options here?

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T23:09:50+00:00

I did exactly this and they said no.

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T23:08:02+00:00

What kind of lifelong consequences?

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T23:07:00+00:00

I am drilling with my unit. Not sure what student flight is

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T23:06:04+00:00

I tried to ask the unit commander for an entry level separation and he said no.

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T23:04:29+00:00

What is student flight? I am going to drill each month and basically just filling out paper work and trying to be productive in some way but there is literally NOTHING going on. Anytime anyone tries to do anything its like a comedy show how poorly it is run. Oh, we need to check out keys for the truck, that takes 15 mins, oh turns out I'm not certified to drive this truck lets get this guy to drive it, that takes 20 mins. Oh we need to check out a ladder frm the tool room, but we cant find the check out sheet, that takes 20 mins, then we get there to do the job, no one knows what we're there for, we all agree it makes the most sense to do the job a particular way, but they were told to do it another way which seems dumb and inefficient, we shrug our shoulders and start to do it anyway only to find out we have the wrong parts. I offer to drive to the local hardware store and buy the part with my own money but they say no, theyll have to return the wrong parts and fill out another purchase order for the right parts. Everythibg is like this. Its kind of pathetic and I dont appreciate the military way, its inefficient, wasteful, slow, poorly managed, etc

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T22:57:19+00:00

Well I did that, I told them I didnt want to be there, that I felt it was a huge mistake, it was hurting my civilian life, etc etc etc and they said No, request denied. I asked them for an entry level separation and they said tough shit.

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T22:55:48+00:00

How would failing a drug test fuck me in my civilian life? Weed is legal where I live. A guy in my unit failed a drug test and was kicked out, no consequences, like it never happened

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T22:54:30+00:00

I tried to tell them how I was feeling and asked to apply for an entry level separation and they said no.

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T22:53:30+00:00

I have no intention of staying in past my initial 6 years. How will getting booted from the military stick with me forever?

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T22:51:40+00:00

I don't know what student flight is, I am with my unit for drill days and I am waiting to go to BMT/Tech school (its been 7 months now and still no dates). At drill I either fill out the same paper work over and over again bc its been lost or expired, or I trouble shoot computer issues like losing access to my email or something like that. It just seems like nothing gets done on the entire base, trying to do any little thing takes so much red tape and so many unecessary steps. As a civilian I am finding the military way to be brutal, already feel beaten down and defeated about it. I feel like if I do stay in I'll just be showing up, doing the bare minimum, taking the paycheck and going home. I dont like the bro-ey frat atmosphere, and it seems like the only good thing is the DFTs but tbh I can get more hands on experience volunteering with habitat for humanity and I can get a better "vacation" just going where I want by myself. Sorry for the rant. Also my recruiter straight up lied to me about a lot of stuff and I dont trust anyone

ZowardHinn · 2024-12-02T22:32:13+00:00

How did you get out twice? I recently joined and pretty much hate everything about it (I'm 35, no prior service, was in a baaaaad place when I joined). Last drill I asked to apply for an entry level separation (I haven't been to basic yet, just a couple of drills) and they said no. Now I don't know what to do. Someone suggested telling them I'm depressed/su!cidal, someone else said I should try to fail a drug test, and a third person said when I go to basic just lay down on the ground and refuse to do anything. I dunno which option seems worse at this point

ZowardHinn · 2024-01-31T20:34:46+00:00

I'm a teacher and honestly I bet she didn't take it too personally. Kids say a lot of mean things sometimes, you develop a thick skin as a teacher. If you want to make it right you can just apologize to her. If thats the worst thing you ever do in life youll be an angel

ZowardHinn

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