12 Days Til Boot Camp!

[fabiodriven]

It doesn't make him a bad guy Bill, but this guy is talking about dipping his wick and candy bars in one breath and combat pay in the next. I've got articles of clothing that have served our country more than this guy.

[bkm]

Good luck Chazz. We're all proud and pulling for you.

[atc007]

I here ya. Your service is undeniable. I just think he signed up with a WAY different expectation than you did! I Respect all that have served,just some more than others..

[aldochina]

I here ya. Your service is undeniable. I just think he signed up with a WAY different expectation than you did! I Respect all that have served,just some more than others..

ya the expectation of entitlement!! seems to be the way it is now!! I think its ironic his expierience was so horrible, but uses Popeye as a forum name!! You the man Fabs!! Good luck Chazz!!

[Popeye]

Geez Fabio, from what I read I understand that you gave almost everything to your country and that is commendable to say the least. Nothing you said bothers me. I served my country just as you. In a different way and albeit safer, but I served nonetheless. I understand that to the Army and Marines, the Navy ain't . But I am a man of my word. When I say I am gonna do something I do- our military is not that way and people need to know that before they sign up. I was an 18 year old kid, had never left my state, and the military duped me along with thousands of others. I don't have to be happy about that regardless of what you or anybody says. I made the best of my time, but the Navy didn't reciprocate. You ought not give money to people that didn't earn it when there are hundreds of others up there earning it. You ought not deny a man food that has been up for two days and not ate a single bite, especially when he can smell it and his serving is there waiting on him. I would have taken an MRE at the drop of a hat. They wouldn't give them to us. We went hungry-plain and simple. I didn't get attacked, but I risked my life on the flight deck every single day for the same pay that some worm got sweeping floors. I was an Aviation Boatswain's Mate- the hardest job in the Navy other than a SEAL hands down. I ain't mad at them, I just tell it like it is. Something the military refuses to do. If you are going into the service you deserve to know that 99.9% of what they are telling you is bull . All I did was state my experience. If yours was different or you choose to relate it in a different way, then so be it. Again, I commend you for what you did. There was a reason I didn't sign up for your branch. Not because I couldn't cut it, but because there was a limit to how far I was willing to go for a paycheck. That's what it was to me- a paycheck. I'm proud to be an American, but I am not proud to have worked for our shitty ass government that lies, cheats, and steals from everybody they can including their own members. If you don't believe that then you need to take a history class (p.s. I'm a history teacher). I can't count on one hand how many times I didn't even get a paycheck. They always had some excuse that something happened with the system. Sometimes they came back and fixed it and sometimes they didn't. No matter how you look at it, it ain't right. Regardless of how gung-ho you are, a part of you does it for the money. If there was no pay, how many people you think would still join up? If you got a family to support it is automatically out the question. Has to be.

Anyways, how I was treated had nothing to do with who I was. It was the situation I was in. I'm not semen or some punk that couldn't cut it. I am just a guy that got screwed more ways than I can count. That was my experience and I choose not to sugar coat it. I apologize if it offended you, but all you had to do was not read the post.

As far as my screen name- it is my 10 year old dog's name. My brother named him and it had nothing to do with the service. He was born before I ever thought of signing up. I do see the irony in it however, so I don't blame whoever said what they said.

Again, I commend you fabio. You did your time and came out of it okay. It takes a man to do that- a very big man. If I would have been in your situation, I don't know how I would have done. Bigger men than me have been affected far worse. Just don't jump to conclusions all the time. I didn't completely discount the military. It has its advantages. But a civilian job suits me better and supports my family better- I spend every day with them and I make more than twice the money. If that offends you than so be it.

Thanks,
Brian

[fabiodriven]

There are a couple of things I share your views on Popeye. I have the feeling that we have a very similar mindset on the government and how it works, but that's a thread for another day. We've hijacked this one enough already.

What bothered me the most about your original post was how you were deterring a young soldier from moving forward with what will be the biggest step of his adult life. If I had never joined the army I wouldn't be the man I am now. It made me pretty angry to see you attempting to derail this young man's future because of your experiences in the navy, a completely different branch of the military.

And on that note, what are they teaching you people in the navy? Take that exact same circumstance and change it to army instead of navy. Picture me on guard duty. I'm really hungry and I can smell the chow hall (If we had one at the time). Now this is what would have happened to me (and what should have happened to you). My squad leader would come find me (that's his job) and ask me if I have had chow. I would tell him no, I have not had chow. He would find another soldier to come relieve me so I could get chow. It would continue on like that, because that's what we're taught and that's how we operate. A hungry soldier is not a productive, aware, or alert soldier. A dehydrated soldier is a useless soldier, and you can dehydrate from not eating enough.

In the army we are taught to look out for our fellow soldiers, not harm them physically and financially. What I'm getting at here is this- I can only see three ways you got the treatment you did. One- The navy is just a huge, floating mess. I kinda doubt that one, but I don't know. I wasn't in the navy. Two- Your particular ship/brass were a bunch of arse holes. Seems pretty feasible to me. Three- You were not well liked. I don't know you so I can only go by what you post, but if your attitude on the ship was anything like how you came off on your original post I could see why you may have been the black sheep. It's attitudes like that which will make you an outcast. You're either with the team, or you're against it. Now again, I don't know you. I could be totally off with that, but it is an option.

As far as thanking me for my service, I honestly appreciate it every time somebody thanks me for my service. It doesn't bother me one bit, so thank you all for saying thank you to me. What I want everybody to know is this- I do not say/write things like this to get thank you's from people. I appreciate the thanks, it doesn't bother me one bit, but I'm not asking for thanks.

Chazz has made the right choice and we'll all see that soon when he gives us an update. It's very obvious he is a smart kid and somebody will recognize that along his way. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Smart people are hard to come by in the army so he is somewhat of a commodity. Definite officer material.

Again, HOOOAHHH CHAZZ!!!!

[TecateDan]

I didn't serve but I thank all those who did. Espically Fabio since his vetrans plates kept us out of trouble when he got home and we went to Florida to blow off steam!!!!!! I think there may have been some sort of roman candle shooting out the window while consuming beverages and driving fast. So thanks to everyone who goes over seas and puts boot on the ground (or ship ) so we back here in the states can keep on living the dream.

[Popeye]

In the Navy the higher ups (E-6 and above) don't look out for the little guys. None of us ate because there wasn't time. Those 1st Class Petty Officers and Chiefs weren't gonna get off their ass and come relieve us on the flight deck to go take a shower and eat. That's just how it was. We had flight ops dang near 24/7. The lower guys definitely looked out for each other. Had to or we wouldn't have made it. But I used to stand on a flight deck for at least 18 hours every day- 7 days a week for 11 months- in the same Persian Gulf weather ya'll were in. That ocean breeze feels like a heater when mixed with jet exhaust lol. The only thing missing was sand a bullets- albeit those are two major factors. Anyways, your first two assumptions were right- the Navy is a huge floating mess and the brass were assholes. My attitude probably did suck, but not towards the real men in our division- the ones who I looked out for and they looked out for me.

Your right, I did hijack this thread and I apologize. But I had realized Chazz was already gone, when I made the post. It was just me speaking my mind. I think me and you would probably get along pretty well if we met in person, we just have two different views on things and I'm sure it has to do with the branches we served in. Both the Army and Marines are famous for their brotherhoods- the Navy is not. We all know what they are famous for and to an extent it's true.

[fabiodriven]

Well, enough of the horse-shite.

Chazz just updated his Facebook, apparently for the last time for the time being. Poor Chazz is in the thick of it right now. He is not very happy and he is currently regretting the choice he has made. That's exactly how he should feel right now. If anyone had talked to me at the point he is in right now, I would have said the same thing. The process has begun.

[Popeye]

Yea, a lot of people get there and it is a slap in the face. The physical part is relatively easy- it's the mental aspect that can get to you at boot camp (although our boot camp was nothing like he is facing). It's still easy compared to the tricks your mind will play on you. You just got to realize that thousands of men-many of them not worth a crap in the first place- have made it through and you will too. As far as drill sergeants and whatnot you just got to realize that they are doing a job. Although it seems they may hate you, they don't. They are doing what their service has asked of them. I think some of them could be a little less of a dick, but most of them are just doing it the best way they know how. As a teacher and a coach, I always tell my students/players that if I'm getting on you don't worry about it. When I stop getting on you is when you need to worry that something may be wrong. One of the best moments in the military is after you have graduated and those hard ass people start treating you like a person again. You have looked up to them for months and everything you know about the military to that point you owe to them. It's a good feeling and Chaz will get there.

[fabiodriven]

Their job is to be a dick. If they were nice to the recruits, or even just "not bad", it would destroy everything they're trying to do. They can't build you up into the soldier they need to if they don't break down the old you completely. But like you said, some are harder than others. I don't fault any of the drill sergeants for the way I was treated. It made me the man I am today.

[Chazz of Blades]

Well, I'm home. Got back yesterday. Long story short and simple:

During mile 3 of what was supposed to be a 2 mile run they gave up in a burst of pain. Got it checked, turns out somewhere along the lines I'd damaged the cartilage before, and since it was previous damage that wasn't formally treated the military said screw you. I could go ahead and get out with no benefits, or wait until I needed surgery(soon at that pace) or was to the point past surgery, and STILL be out with no benefits. So I went ahead and got out before I became crippled with nothing to show for it.


The only time I've hurt my knees was the summer before last, I wrecked and bummed myself up a good bit, and had trouble walking and putting pressure on them, but never went to the hospital, I just rested and went day by day until things got better.


You know the worst part? I got a 40/40 on BRM, aced land nav, FA, and everything else they threw at me except my run times were always lacking because I'd start running out of legs. My CO, XO, and even my crazy, violent, non-human life caring(literally) DS told me that if my PT scores were high enough I'd be getting offered a ranger contract.

[atc007]

Don't sweat it too much man. Glad you're back home safe and sound. Everything happens for a reason. You now know what they had to offer. Myself,,I would MAybe fight a little through VA to get them to cover future knee problems. But may not even be worth the hassle. Do something you Love and you'll never have to work a day in your life. Good to hear from you again sir!!

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Welcome home Chazz!

Don't sweat it. Sounds like you gave it your all and your body failed you. I would wager that sometime in the not too distant future you will look back on this experience and be glad you did it.

[Popeye]

That sucks man. If you were doing that well, it sounds like you were in it for the right reasons. How did they know your knee injury was pre-military? They always told us to say what you got to say at MEPS and then forever hold your peace lol. Either way, just count your blessings and make the most of the rest of your life. There are civilian jobs that can come close to the military if that is what you love. It won't be the same, but some are close. BTW- don't bother with the VA stuff. Atc007's advice wasn't bad, because some people luck up but it probably won't happen especially if they confirmed it was pre-service. I knocked one of my front teeth out working on the ship and the stupid boatswain's mate that fixed it botched the job. Long story short, once I got out it cost over $1,000 to fix. Talked to my VA rep about getting the Navy to pay for it, but they wouldn't. Discussed suing them, but he reminded me about that page in my contract that I signed saying I forfeit all right to sue the Navy. So, just live with it or commit insurance fraud like other civilians (lol/jk on the last point).