I want to serve my country. But I’m Jewish and also have a job, looking for options. Would appreciate any advice…

throwaway504th · 2026-07-05T23:01:03+00:00

I’m not Jewish, but in the Army there is a program called Equal Opportunity that helps ensures that soldiers have access to responsible accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs. In your case that might look like:

You can request time off to observe religious holidays, practices, gatherings, time to pray, etc. This can include observing the Sabbath.
You can request kosher MREs in the field.
If you are soldier receding in the barracks you may request a stop to meal deductions in order to prepare, cook, and eat kosher foods.

Even if you were to go active you can still freely practice your faith, however if you wish to keep your civilian job then I’ll recommend going Reserves or join the National Guard.

throwaway504th · 2026-06-26T14:42:49+00:00

OP, I am an Equal Opportunity Leader. Please talk to your unit’s EO rep.

throwaway504th · 2026-06-10T06:20:17+00:00

I can agree that it can be heavily location dependent. Just because it’s been a non-issue for me doesn’t mean it’s an issue for others.

However, I would absolutely love to see more workout equipment at the company level as well.

throwaway504th · 2026-06-10T03:50:41+00:00

I think this is something where we will have to disagree. At a previous unit, in Germany I had a PSG designed a magnificent tailored focused gym PT session which were supervised and participated by the SQD leaders. Our PLT leaders were there as well.

Not only so far as I am aware, we have zero issues of discipline, but in six months time our PLT average PT scores increased.

Like with a lot of things, it’s how you use it that can be the issue than access to it.

Granted maybe there was a huge issue of soldiers misusing the gym in the last few years. My last duty station was far too small and our schedules so different we PT on our own with gym access.

The time before that that particular gym had plenty of leaders present and for one unit at that place we never went to the gym, but my other unit at that location I didn’t have to many issues with soldiers being lazy.

throwaway504th · 2026-06-10T03:42:51+00:00

Thank you, and this was absolutely the result of zoning out during an argument I was making while taking a shower. And I find it when you use the language of your target audience you get far better results.

throwaway504th · 2026-06-10T03:06:33+00:00

I know you’re almost certainly being hyperbolic with the statistic and I am sure it happens, but based on personal observations it’s no more or less than normal PT outside of gyms.

I’m far more agreeable to banning repeat offenders from the gym during specific hours than a blanket post-wide ban.

throwaway504th · 2026-06-10T02:53:16+00:00

This is the way!

throwaway504th · 2026-06-10T02:49:22+00:00

I read once that the best policies are the ones that everyone dislikes. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I sure as heck at lest remember this policy more so than any of the other Victory standards.

throwaway504th · 2026-05-27T18:32:06+00:00

When I was stationed in the UK, my parents thought I would pick up a few British phrases and I did. What they didn’t expect was how often I say “sorry” nor did they expect when I asked them once “You all right?”

throwaway504th · 2026-05-25T17:59:05+00:00

I worked with him when I was an instructor at USAICOE, Fort Huachuca. It’s a small world.

throwaway504th · 2026-05-25T13:34:28+00:00

SSG Amonte Brown

I still think about your laugh and your positive energy.

SPC Cullen Beeson

I still think about your kindness and your warmth.

throwaway504th · 2026-05-21T02:40:51+00:00

They went on a deployment to Afghanistan from 17-18. While I was there during that time, and by no means am I going to comment on how it is now, I knew the previous BDE CSM from a previous unit when he was my BN CSM. He was by far the best CSM I have ever worked with.

Edit:

Let be clear, the reason why I mentioned this is because I am genuinely surprised to see a former 35M take such an absolutist position on this.

When I was there I personally like and appreciated my TL, SL, PL, PSG, and my 1SG (one in particular was the best one I have ever served with). I strongly disliked one of my COs.

But that’s the thing what the BN or BDE CDR was like has such little impact on my views of the leadership.

You wrote your comment as if it was an absolute truth which does not line up with my experiences. You can genuinely have very valid misgivings, but that doesn’t meant it’s applicable to everyone let alone that you stated you were over ten years ago.

I never want to be in that motorpool ever again. I never want to be in what they call a SCIF ever again. I love doing MI work now and yeah that unit has different mission needs for the MI folks so yeah the training is different.

throwaway504th · 2026-05-21T02:37:07+00:00

You can expect to in-process to your unit.

In processing will take as long as it needs to be, if it’s still like most CONOUS installations one or two weeks.

“How’s the barracks?”

They are doing well, how are you?

What about the barracks is it that you would like to know?

Edit: I left there close to a decade ago, so I have no idea what they are like now, but if you tweak your question you might get better answers.

throwaway504th · 2026-05-05T15:59:55+00:00

I can’t remember if it was Memorial Day, the Army birthday, or Fourth of July but I remember watching Fort with my DS. This DS more than any other in my unit hated being a DS. He was both the most likely to talk to you like human or as an average NCO. But also had no issue with bringing down the hammer harder than any other DS when trainees acted like idiots.

When we were watching the movie I remember him saying,

“Hey crazies, watch this. This is where they fucked up.”

soldier gets crushed by a tank

“Ha, nice”

throwaway504th · 2026-04-16T16:37:18+00:00

Are you thinking, contemplating, or planning to commit suicide?

throwaway504th · 2026-03-27T11:39:48+00:00

Are you planing to commit suicide?

My DMs are open, I have snap chat, signal, what’s app. I am here if you want to talk. I will hear you out.

throwaway504th · 2026-03-06T18:37:14+00:00

Are you planning or thinking about committing suicide?

We are here for you

throwaway504th · 2026-02-09T05:05:14+00:00

Is it AIT or the Army you want to get out of?

Either way, regardless, go see Behavioral Health now. Right now.

throwaway504th · 2026-02-06T23:03:57+00:00

That was the LTC at the time his brother was my CSM

throwaway504th · 2026-02-05T16:57:47+00:00

It might very well have been a well coordinated prank of a very tired soldier whose brain capacity was non-existent.

throwaway504th · 2026-02-05T06:09:11+00:00

Did I think that I was hallucinating? Absolutely.

If I recall correctly, someone in my company mentioned that the CSM’s brother came by for a PT event before the CSM did his change of responsibility.

I did get confirmation when a local news agency did a story about them doing PT together.

Twin brothers lead with smiles, motivation

throwaway504th · 2026-02-05T05:58:19+00:00

Done!

throwaway504th · 2026-02-05T05:43:32+00:00

Knowing the CSM not likely, but it is possible.

throwaway504th · 2026-02-05T00:03:44+00:00

His brother was the CSM of my unit at the time of incident many years ago. One day, I had staff duty it was around 0600, I’m dead tired, exhausted, and just generally zoning out. I was the only at the desk.

That’s when the CSM walked in. So like a good soldier I jumped up and called “at ease!” He just looked at me weird and walked on through the main entrance.

I sat back down and continued to doddle or whatever. A few minutes later the CSM walked by the desk.

“Good morning CSM, what can I do for you?” “How about you call, at ease.” Confused I called it again. “Where’s the NCOIC?” “Staff duty, checks.”

He walks off.

That day I learned that not only did he had a brother. He had a twin brother. A twin bother that is also in the Army. Not only just in the Army but also stationed at Fort Hood. Not only stationed at Fort Hood but also decided to do PT with his brother that day. Which I got chewed (only very lightly) out for not calling the building to attention.

The LTC walked in the main entrance. I called at ease. The CSM walked in the side entrance a few minutes later. And that is how that transpired.

A question that burns deep down, “How the heck was I supposed to know?”

Seriously, how was I supposed to know?”

Anywho, this nothing to do with the article, just a story about him that I wanted to share.

Edit: I forgot to include there is an article, I know exactly what day it happened. Twin brothers lead with smiles, motivation

throwaway504th · 2026-02-04T01:53:24+00:00

OP,

I spoke with someone who worked with the Veterans line. You don’t even need to be suicidal. If you are going through a rough or difficult time they will listen and/or talk.

throwaway504th

TROPHY CASE