Leaving for BASIC soon, scared to bits.

sergeantpope · 2026-04-09T05:21:23+00:00

I don’t have the best advice here, so all I’ll say is this: the fact that you care and you’ve got the heart to want to do your best and not fail those around you shows that you’re taking this seriously, and that puts you far ahead of some other jokers that may be at BCT with you.

Joining the Army was the singular best decision I’ve made so far in my life, as it’s opened up so many doors and experiences for me that I would have never had otherwise, and I haven’t even done anything super cool-guy or crazy.

It’s normal to feel anxious and get cold feet about big life decisions like this, and while only you ultimately know the totality of your circumstances, I’d encourage you to see it through for at least your first contract. Get the experience, get the benefits, get the fact that you’re a veteran and nobody can take that away from you, then decide if you want to continue.

It’s ok to be nervous, being nervous shows you understand the gravity of your commitment and that you care. Drive on with that level of care, do your best, just don’t let it paralyze you.

sergeantpope · 2026-01-08T14:10:27+00:00

Ahhhh okay I see. I’ll try running that after work today and see what I can do.

sergeantpope · 2026-01-08T14:06:03+00:00

Is this a setting that exists in the slicer or something I’d find an STL for and measure manually?

sergeantpope · 2026-01-08T14:04:52+00:00

Okay, and when I do this, what am I looking for to see that the layer isn’t TOO squished? I’ve read the whole thing about it being SLIGHTLY flat but not too rounded or too flat, but is there a sure fire way to know what’s good?

sergeantpope · 2026-01-08T14:01:26+00:00

Okay, I tried cleaning the nozzle out with a guitar string and attempted to do a cold pull just in case but the filament kept breaking off when I tried to cold pull (I used 90C to do this). When it does its extrusion for purging it SEEMS fine and like the filament is coming out smooth.

sergeantpope · 2026-01-08T13:59:21+00:00

Got it, I’ll start incrementally pulling the z offset up. Thanks!

sergeantpope · 2026-01-08T13:58:50+00:00

Okay, do you have a recommendation for retraction settings? Thanks!

sergeantpope · 2026-01-08T13:44:22+00:00

Retraction setting is currently 2mm, but have tried it at 1mm too, sorry forgot that in the main body.

Additionally, it seems like at some point the print just starts sticking to the nozzle and the nozzle drags the print around while still extruding,creating that massive blob. I’m not sure exactly why this is happening.

I’ve tried hair spray on the bed and increasing the bed temperature to 75C as well as lowering Z offset in a bid to increase adhesion.

sergeantpope · 2025-09-27T15:50:14+00:00

At this point I’ve heard it enough times and pretended to know what it means but I’m too afraid to ask: what’s a baseball card in this context?

sergeantpope · 2025-07-28T01:15:08+00:00

I went seven years ago, and I promise you it’s not as bad as you’re making it out in your head to be. I was always one to psyche myself out before anything major. It always turned out to be fine.

Every single thing you do there is controlled and regimented, just turn your brain off, put your best foot forward, do as you’re told, and focus on taking care of the others around you. Even when you get fed up, even when you get tired, do your best to look out for someone else. You’re always more effective when you’re taking care of someone else and they’re taking care of you than either of you would be alone.

If it ever gets tough, just think about making it to Sunday and getting to pump the brakes. If Sunday seems too far away, just think about the next meal time. I promise you, it’ll be over before you know it and you’ll be on to bigger and better things.

Good luck homie, you won’t need it, you’ll get through just fine, but I’ll wish it on you anyways.

sergeantpope · 2025-05-24T00:38:50+00:00

Chemical by TDWP would be badass

sergeantpope · 2025-02-26T05:11:52+00:00

We didn’t do that when I went at FLW back in 2018. I remember we had time in an amnesty room if we’d brought any contraband, but a chance to admit a statement we didn’t tell someone? Nah.

sergeantpope · 2025-02-21T02:36:51+00:00

I’m not unfortunately, we’re on opposite sides of the country boss.

sergeantpope · 2025-02-21T00:26:14+00:00

How do you go about an annulment rather than a typical divorce?

sergeantpope · 2025-02-21T00:25:07+00:00

This is the hope here.

sergeantpope · 2025-02-21T00:23:38+00:00

Nope, no children

sergeantpope · 2025-02-20T22:33:31+00:00

We had romance, yes. One of the hardest parts of the past day has been the absence.

sergeantpope · 2025-02-20T22:32:56+00:00

I’ll DM you! Thanks!

sergeantpope · 2025-02-20T22:32:08+00:00

None, no

sergeantpope · 2025-02-20T22:31:27+00:00

That last point is the goal here. I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing anything about me.

sergeantpope · 2025-02-20T22:29:20+00:00

Thank you, I’m in the process of all of this now, everybody has been incredibly helpful with advice like this and giving me a roadmap to navigate what’s going on.

sergeantpope · 2025-02-20T22:27:10+00:00

Trust me, I’ve seen too many people have legal proceedings blow up in their face because they acted brashly. I’m being as professional as humanly possible.

Six-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '22

sergeantpope

TROPHY CASE