A tearful goodbye

[GatoFiero]

Good luck, and a word of advice; Never volunteer for anything.

[Nosferatu]

Originally Posted by Deathosaurus Wrecks

kick ass and watch your back.

For love of god, DO NOT KISS ASS

Rule #1 Don't kiss ass (it won't work at all and will backfire)
Rule #2 Try not to stand for anything negative
Rule #3 Do NOT get labled as the troublemaker

Also, do not say Ya,yep,yo,I can't, I won't, etc. You'll get lotsa push ups for those.

It's Yes sir or no Sir. Or what ever they are (IE if it's a sargent, Yes Sargent, No Sargent)

ROTC prepares you alot.

[Pixie]

Good luck, and write to your family and friends as much as possible. I know how it feels to get a letter from someone you live in the army, it's a very good feeling. Plus, you get them back. ^.^

Good luck, I send happy thoughts your way. Stay happy and healthy.

[!]

Good luck, mate. Give 'em hell.
Seriously. Those damn sarges need to be taken down a notch or two.

[Osterbaum]

Good luck and godspeed! Hope you have a...Pleasant stay...

[Funka Genocide]

get out while you still can! its not worth your eternal soul!

seriously though, just give it your best and keep your mouth shut and you'll be fine, basic is cake, its the rest of the four years that will kick you in the ass.

and the gas chamber is not fun, especially when they make you sing "Anchors Aweigh" while inhaling tear inducing vapors. Then again, your not going navy so...

the funniest part is when you leave and have to run around in a cricle flaping your arms like a mad man, while a never ending stream of mucus issues from your nose.

good times, and good luck fellow military dude! Your going to hear this alot, but it does get better!

[behemoth]

if you want to see a picture of me when I got sworn in, I have one up on the camwhores unite thread

[SNAFU]

(First, I want to say that senior enlisted guys do NOT need to be taken down a notch. There is a purpose for everything, and I'm so grateful they were hard on us.)

In my younger and more vulnerable years, my drill instructor gave me some advice that I have been rolling around in my mind ever since. He said in the most gentle of words, "You ****sucking ******. You look like a ******* ******, and smell like one too. You will be the first to leave this island. I am making it my mission to keep you out of my Corps..." (Did you catch the Great Gatsby reference here?)

A few years later, the Marine Corps is paying for me to go to school.

Remember, it will be very hard. But it pays off a hundred fold and grows with time. They are going to punish you for stuff someone else did. It'll seem like you cannot do anything right. But this teaches you so much about teamwork and discipline. And you learn a lot from it; towards the end, you won't be able to do anything wrong. It's a profound feeling that I cannot describe.
It's hard, but your DI wants you to make it. But he's paid to make sure you want it too. The first few nights, keep telling yourself, "I'm going to get through this." Convince yourself. And do it.
You'll never regret it.
Good luck.

[shiney]

And when you reach the end of your military career, probably the one person you trust, respect, and find yourself having liked the most out of everyone will likely be your drill instructor.

I'm not kidding.

[SNAFU]

Shiney, I agree.
I run into my drill instructor every now and then, and I absolutely love it when this happens. I'll buy him a drink and we'll tell sea stories. It's a great time. My DI helped me become a better person. You can't put a price tag on that.