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Any advices for military service?

 
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Any advices for military service? - 11/21/2000 3:33:00 AM   
ARIS


Posts: 294
Joined: 10/22/2000
From: Greece
Status: offline 		I'll be servicing the army in 3 months. Many of you are army officers, so any good general advice? What will I need over there? If I get a choice, what kind of units shoud I prefer to serve? (infantry,armoured?)

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Post #: 1
- 11/21/2000 3:39:00 AM   
Billy Yank

 

Posts: 151
Joined: 5/18/2000
From: Northern Virginia, USA
Status: offline
quote:

Originally posted by ARIS: I'll be servicing the army in 3 months. Many of you are army officers, so any good general advice? What will I need over there? If I get a choice, what kind of units shoud I prefer to serve? (infantry,armoured?)
It really depends on your disposition and what your choices are. It would also help if you let us know what country you're from and what sort of military situation you're in (conscription? reserves?). ------------------ Billy Yank I don't define "my own" the way you want me to.

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Billy Yank
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
-- Thorin Oakenshield

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Post #: 2
- 11/21/2000 6:04:00 AM   
jpgr

 

Posts: 13
Joined: 9/18/2000
From: Ft Meade, MD, USA
Status: offline 		One word: Cryptology... heh heh. Much better than plain ol' intelligence. JPGR

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Post #: 3
- 11/22/2000 12:12:00 AM   
ARIS


Posts: 294
Joined: 10/22/2000
From: Greece
Status: offline 		I will serve in the Greek army. Here the military service will be reduced to 16 months (out of 18) and in a year to 14 months, we are moving from conscripts to professional army. Should I carry with me any medicine? Or anything like even razors etc? What pisses off the officers?

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Post #: 4
- 11/22/2000 1:32:00 AM   
Dave_R

 

Posts: 84
Joined: 9/22/2000
From: England
Status: offline
quote:

Originally posted by ARIS: I will serve in the Greek army. Here the military service will be reduced to 16 months (out of 18) and in a year to 14 months, we are moving from conscripts to professional army. Should I carry with me any medicine? Or anything like even razors etc? What pisses off the officers?
Aris. If there's one bit of advice that will see you through your service, and seems to be constant no matter what nation you serve in. It is forget about 'pissing off officers' and make sure that you listen to your platoomn seargent. Keep him happy and you'll do well! Piss off your seargent and take it from me, your 14 months will be hell!

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Post #: 5
- 11/22/2000 2:07:00 AM   
ARIS


Posts: 294
Joined: 10/22/2000
From: Greece
Status: offline
quote:

Originally posted by Dave_R: Aris. If there's one bit of advice that will see you through your service, and seems to be constant no matter what nation you serve in. It is forget about 'pissing off officers' and make sure that you listen to your platoomn seargent. Keep him happy and you'll do well! Piss off your seargent and take it from me, your 14 months will be hell!
I know that,that's why I'm asking. To avoid it.

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Post #: 6
- 11/22/2000 3:36:00 PM   
Fredde

 

Posts: 498
Joined: 6/7/2000
From: Goteborg, Sweden
Status: offline 		Not an officer, but sergeant.. ;-) Do your job whatever it is.. nothing is worse than not doing what you are supposed to, forcing your comrades to do more than their share. That is one important thing. Make good friends, the social part of army life is the best thing about it. Be humble. Don't be a quitter. Learn to handle your equipment perfectly, usually its dangerous stuff which can seriously hurt if its misused. It will probably be a tough time in the beginning (to form your platoon, learn the army discipline etc) but soften up gradually towards the end.

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Post #: 7
- 11/22/2000 10:38:00 PM   
Dave_R

 

Posts: 84
Joined: 9/22/2000
From: England
Status: offline 		Hi again Aris. After thinking on this some more, one other thing that I'd offer is to remember in any armed force the most valuble commodity is teamwork. If you remember that, and not only be a teamplayer, but encourage it and foster it amongst your colleagues, not only will you get through you time in the army, but you'll get noticed and do well. You asked about what would 'piss off' an officer, and this will apply to your sergent even more so, well I've gotta say that not being a team player is it! In a combat situation you have to rely on your mates to do their job right, and they have to rely on you doing yours too. If the 'old man' gets to know that he can rely on you to work as a team, he can get on with his job By the way. I forgot to mention last time, but Good luck, and enjoy your time in the army.

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Post #: 8
- 11/22/2000 11:38:00 PM   
ARIS


Posts: 294
Joined: 10/22/2000
From: Greece
Status: offline 		Ok, thanks guys for the advice. It will be a long training (and toilet cleaning...) period of my life.

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Post #: 9
- 11/29/2000 6:05:00 AM   
Billy Yank

 

Posts: 151
Joined: 5/18/2000
From: Northern Virginia, USA
Status: offline
quote:

Originally posted by ARIS: I will serve in the Greek army. Here the military service will be reduced to 16 months (out of 18) and in a year to 14 months, we are moving from conscripts to professional army. Should I carry with me any medicine? Or anything like even razors etc? What pisses off the officers?
Once you're out of basic training, always try to have a stash wherever you're working. In it put a few disposable razors, a trial size shaving cream can, a washcloth & soap, some rags, boot polish & brush and some Tylenol. When you're training or on alert, you're not going to have time to go back to the barracks to take care of that kind of stuff. ------------------ Billy Yank I don't define "my own" the way you want me to.

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Billy Yank
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
-- Thorin Oakenshield

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Post #: 10
- 11/29/2000 8:28:00 AM   
ARIS


Posts: 294
Joined: 10/22/2000
From: Greece
Status: offline
quote:

Originally posted by Billy Yank: Once you're out of basic training, always try to have a stash wherever you're working. In it put a few disposable razors, a trial size shaving cream can, a washcloth & soap, some rags, boot polish & brush and some Tylenol. When you're training or on alert, you're not going to have time to go back to the barracks to take care of that kind of stuff.
Ok, thanks Billy. And I was just talking yesterday about shaving stuff in the army.

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Post #: 11
- 12/10/2000 1:29:00 PM   
Randy

 

Posts: 1172
Joined: 8/22/2000
From: Torrance, Calif. USA
Status: offline 		Hi ARIS, My military experience was as an officer in the US Marines. I assume everyones boot camp is similar. While at boot camp, keep your mouth shut and your ears open!! Be in really good physical shape! If they want you to run 3 miles, be ready to run 5. If they want you to be able to do 20 push-ups be able to do 30!! While in the military remember you are part of a team. What affects one, affects all!! Hopefully you will have good leaders, trust them. When you get out of boot camp, learn your military job specialty, your life or those of your buddies could depend on it. I know this can be hard, but try to be optimistic about things. I know this sounds pretty harsh, but I went in that way and it wasn't that hard (it was still hard but you have to be mentaly prepared!). Good luck,I hope this helps. Welcome to the military brotherhood. Semper Fi Randy Sem

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Semper Fi
Randy

The United States Marines: America's 911 Force-The Tip of the Spear

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Post #: 12
- 12/11/2000 7:43:00 AM   
Ilkka

 

Posts: 100
Joined: 9/7/2000
From: Suomi
Status: offline 		Keep your mouth shut when you are not allowed to talk. Obey. Ask a permission for everything, even for things that sounds completely absurd. Listen, learn and practice. Always be calm: there is no such a situation when rushing and being nervous would help. Make friends, and the army life will be much more fun. After the boot camp you may have an option to choose your speciality training, or then you are just ordered somewhere, I'm not aware of the Greek system. If you can choose, it depends upon what you like to do. Infantry arm requires good physichal fitness, but on the contrary the infantry already sleeps after a field day, when tankers just begin the daily maintenance of the vehicles... Anyways, good luck and remember to take it positively; it might be once in a lifetime opportunity to deal with various weapons and spend some great time out there somewhere, unless you're thinking of career. Essentially, you'll get food, clothes, place to sleep...you just need to do what they tell you to. Ilkka ------------------ "March dispersed, concentrate to fight" -von Moltke

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Post #: 13
- 12/11/2000 9:28:00 AM   
ARIS


Posts: 294
Joined: 10/22/2000
From: Greece
Status: offline
quote:

Originally posted by Ilkka: Keep your mouth shut when you are not allowed to talk. Obey. Ask a permission for everything, even for things that sounds completely absurd. Listen, learn and practice. Always be calm: there is no such a situation when rushing and being nervous would help. Make friends, and the army life will be much more fun. After the boot camp you may have an option to choose your speciality training, or then you are just ordered somewhere, I'm not aware of the Greek system. If you can choose, it depends upon what you like to do. Infantry arm requires good physichal fitness, but on the contrary the infantry already sleeps after a field day, when tankers just begin the daily maintenance of the vehicles... Anyways, good luck and remember to take it positively; it might be once in a lifetime opportunity to deal with various weapons and spend some great time out there somewhere, unless you're thinking of career. Essentially, you'll get food, clothes, place to sleep...you just need to do what they tell you to. Ilkka
Actually I was thinking (I am quite possitive by now) to becaume a tanker. Tankers here in Greece have a black berret, and they call them "the black". Not due to the berret, but to the black oils in their face. Except from the oily stuff, I think it can be a nice experience if you omit the bad hair cut,the cleaning of the toilets and the surgent shouting. Friends, yes I'll need plenty for my 1,5 years of service. Now the Greek army's food is not a specialite, the clothing is quite bad, and the sleeping smells socks and ... hmm.. farts, I think I'll need a breathing mask. Or anti-chemical warfare mask something. I wonder how many casualities we'll have during peace time.

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Post #: 14
- 12/16/2000 4:51:00 AM   
TbirdUSMC

 

Posts: 3
Joined: 12/15/2000
From: Illinois
Status: offline 		Army= Pansies Marines= Devil Dogs go with the Marines

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Post #: 15
- 12/16/2000 6:08:00 AM   
The MSG


Posts: 2259
Joined: 9/23/2000
From: Sviþjoð
Status: offline
quote:

Originally posted by ARIS: Ok, thanks guys for the advice. It will be a long training (and toilet cleaning...) period of my life.
The worst cleaningduty isnt the toilet, its having to clean the cleaningcabinet... People just dont care that u have 15 seconds left to soundoff when they toss in brooms and washcloths... I was lucky, my squad pulled toiletduty, and we were happy about it! The most important thing is keeping your mental motivation up. Try getting hold of a book about stress pedagogics, itll make things look a bit brighter sometimes. At least youll understand why theyre screaming at you for doing exactly what they told you... ------------------ The MSG [This message has been edited by The MSG (edited December 15, 2000).]

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Post #: 16
- 12/18/2000 3:10:00 AM   
AmmoSgt

 

Posts: 1002
Joined: 10/21/2000
From: Redstone Arsenal Al
Status: offline 		As a former Platoon Sgt i have a slightly different take on this ... First strat pyshical training now running, push -up, sit-up start now today and whoever said this first did ARIS a favor. However Aris yer attitude stinks and your mental attitude is what makes the military hell or a real fun adventure ... You are going to be serving your country this should make you proud..you are going to be going thru something not everybody can handle,,this should make you personally proud ..you are going to learn things about yourself and other people that will serve you well in life ... Now as to what job you should go for if combat arms is your thing fine well and good ...BUT consider a technical speciality if you have the education and talent for technical work .. computers are good one of the best is medical equidment repair and calibration ..if you are not going for a career in the service ..then get what education and skills you can while you serve. No country can afford to pay their soldiers what they are worth for the long hard hours they serve but most armies need technical specialist to make the army work .. and medical corp is needed to keep an army in the field ... I personnaly would like to recommend the Amunition Supply Field good experience driving heavy equipment and technical work with high explosives ..more excitement than most soldiers see in peacetime and ... and good accounting and supply skills always useful when you get out ...just my 2 cents worth

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Post #: 17
- 12/18/2000 8:01:00 AM   
Supervisor

 

Posts: 5166
Joined: 3/2/2004
Status: offline 		Ari I've served the Greek Army 2 years ago, and I can say you two words: TECHNICAL CORPS (TEXNIKO SOMA). If you have any special knowledge about electronics or machinery you'll spend your time fast and easy, because it will be always something to do other than parade, combat training. Also the officers are better than other corpses, because many of them are intelligent, and have University degrees. If you have a real good knowledge about computers, try to join the new SOMA PLHROFORIKHS. It is great, because the only thing you do is... play with computers. Petros P.S. 1 Ayto pou den ksero einai to pos 8a dialekseis pou 8a yphrethseis. Efoson einai na pas se treis mhnes logika hdh to GES exei apofasisei pou 8a se topo8ethsei. Pantos to kalytero ontos einai to Soma Plhroforikhs, an kai apo o,ti ma8aino 8a sygxoney8ei me tis diabibaseis kai ekei ta pragmata einai kapos pio dyskola P.S. 2 Sorry for my Greek, in P.S. 1, but there are some things about service that I could explain better in greek to Aris.

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Post #: 18
- 12/18/2000 12:40:00 PM   
ARIS


Posts: 294
Joined: 10/22/2000
From: Greece
Status: offline 		Well, the computer department would be nice, but I don't have my degree yet,which I learned makes things really hard (everyone wants to go there and they pick the guys with the diploma) So,I'll stick to the armoured formations and will noting to every each general-corporal that I'm the computer guy.

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Post #: 19
- 12/24/2000 11:46:00 AM   
troopie

 

Posts: 996
Joined: 4/8/2000
From: Directly above the centre of the Earth.
Status: offline 		Aris, To get the girls, you want to jump out of airplanes. Think paras or special forces. If all you want to do is get it over with, drive lorries. Remember that old army saying. "Keep your eyes and ears open, your mouth shut, and never, ever volunteer." troopie ------------------ Pamwe Chete

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Post #: 20
- 1/9/2001 1:21:00 AM   
Grumble

 

Posts: 471
Joined: 5/23/2000
From: Omaha, NE, USA
Status: offline 		Some excellent advice from militaries around the world. I'll sum up and add my two-drachmae worth. 1- Stay in shape, if you're not in shape work on getting there 2- Attitude. YOUR attitude determines how great or how painful your next year and a half will be, not your NCOs or COs or your bros. Sounds like you're interested in tanks-then that's what you should do. Again the attitude thing-if you're doing something you WANT the pain becomes relative. One thing the bros forgot to mention is the possibilty of travel and exercising with other country's militaries. I only point this out because of experiences I've had with German and Swedish conscripts who were deployed to the US. The general feeling was no way could they have afforded to do this on their own and they're being PAYED to be here. (Not unlike most US folks in Europe.) Finally and I'll shut up, The "networking" is easily worth the time you put in. The friends you make and the simple fact you can put down "military service" on your resume/CV will substantially help you in the future whatever your chosen career will be. Dunno if Greece is like the US or Switzerland, but here with 70% of CEOs being retired military believe me you are going to be ahead of someone who didn't do his/her 18 months. Oh by the way sounds like a longtime but you'll be amazed how fast the time passes. Good luck, jim

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Post #: 21
- 1/10/2001 7:11:00 AM   
Les_the_Sarge_9_1

 

Posts: 4392
Joined: 12/29/2000
Status: offline 		learned only one truth in the time I was in the army. sleep when you can and guard your dry socks better than your daughters virtue. assume you will get in ****. dont sweat it, bend like a reed or you will break. and you will learn that you may get in the army but you never really leave. ------------------ Winning all the time is as boring as losing all the time

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Post #: 22
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