Random Thoughts - Part III The Search for Spark (No Politics)

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

Years ago my oldest had a buddy that was hot to join the Marines. My son went with him to the recruiting office when he took ASVAB or whatever variant was used then. The recruiter badgered my son so much that he took it to just to shut the guy up.

Apparently he scored quite well. The recruiter put a hard sell on him telling him how proud his parents would be if he signed up. He declined. The recruiter told him “son, you killed this test, don’t you know what that means?” Kid said, “I’m not completely sure, but I know what my father would say it means.” Recruiter: “what’s that?” Kid, “he’d say it means I’m smarter than to join the Marines.”

When I graduated college I had an air force recruiter nagging me. Sounded pretty good. He would say, "day 1 you put on a uniform you are an officer. We need accountants too, pick where you want to work.".

At the time, I was working for an agency where our director was an ex very high ranking army guy, and my supervisor was an ex marine that had one eye and a bad limp, and was awarded the congressional medal of honor by President Reagan. I asked them if it was a good idea, and they both said, "FUCK NO!". I listened.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

Years ago my oldest had a buddy that was hot to join the Marines. My son went with him to the recruiting office when he took ASVAB or whatever variant was used then. The recruiter badgered my son so much that he took it to just to shut the guy up.

Apparently he scored quite well. The recruiter put a hard sell on him telling him how proud his parents would be if he signed up. He declined. The recruiter told him “son, you killed this test, don’t you know what that means?” Kid said, “I’m not completely sure, but I know what my father would say it means.” Recruiter: “what’s that?” Kid, “he’d say it means I’m smarter than to join the Marines.”

Lol.

Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Non-ESsential

Edit: To be fair, the current commandant is trying to change the Corps to be 'smarter' for lack of a better term. But it's kind of funny to hear about pushback to 'fighting smarter not harder'. Also, there are plenty of individual Marines that aren't dumb as bricks.

[dragoontwo]

Damn bot went full ham with the spam.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

Years ago my oldest had a buddy that was hot to join the Marines. My son went with him to the recruiting office when he took ASVAB or whatever variant was used then. The recruiter badgered my son so much that he took it to just to shut the guy up.

Apparently he scored quite well. The recruiter put a hard sell on him telling him how proud his parents would be if he signed up. He declined. The recruiter told him “son, you killed this test, don’t you know what that means?” Kid said, “I’m not completely sure, but I know what my father would say it means.” Recruiter: “what’s that?” Kid, “he’d say it means I’m smarter than to join the Marines.”

My dad was a Marine for 13 years and adamant that my brother and I not join the service. We both still wanted to but my brother has asthma, and I strongly considered around when I was 20-21 after school wasn't working out to what I thought I wanted, but I ended up getting hurt and no longer was able to medically.

[2020BRZtS]

Originally Posted by dragoontwo

Damn bot went full ham with the spam.

It's trying to figure out how to thank its own posts.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

[humblebrag]The whole time I was in, I avoided promotion to the best of my ability. Each time I took the test, it was under the threat of NJP for dereliction of duty. I never studied. Even took my E-5 exam with a massive hangover when I was in Subic Bay. Guys were busting their asses for YEARS trying to get promoted and they kept throwing it at me.[/humblebrag]

I got the picture -

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by dragoontwo

Damn bot went full ham with the spam.

Still going. I reported 3 hours ago. Obviously since ichi is away this is now an unmoderated forum.

Let the anarchy begin!

[Spuds]

Best way to tell a bot from a human, ask what car they drive. If they reply "man", it's 99% a bot.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Best way to tell a bot from a human, ask what car they drive. If they reply "man", it's 99% a bot.

The bigger risk are the human scammers that usually at least put a different make in there.
Besides bots don’t reply.

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150385

There were well over 150 probable bots, spammers or scammers that registered this week.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The bigger risk are the human scammers that usually at least put a different make in there.
Besides bots don’t reply.

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150385

There were well over 150 probable bots, spammers or scammers that registered this week.

Yeah, but they could eliminate a significant percent of bots with some sign up logic.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Yeah, but they could eliminate a significant percent of bots with some sign up logic.

And ruin my morning coffee? I use it like some people do crosswords or sudoku.

[Kiske]

Good luck to any going for the mega millions tonight!

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Lol.

Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Non-ESsential

Edit: To be fair, the current commandant is trying to change the Corps to be 'smarter' for lack of a better term. But it's kind of funny to hear about pushback to 'fighting smarter not harder'. Also, there are plenty of individual Marines that aren't dumb as bricks.

Both my boys had some degree of interest in the service. My position was “once you sign on, you no longer own your life. It becomes the property of the CIC and whomever they assign it to. It is a form of currency - they may choose to spend it wisely or they may spend it foolishly. In my experience there are probably more lives spent by .mil / the executive branch on stupid shit than on truly worthwhile causes. If you want to do something positive, there are loads of public service opportunities in the local community. Most are safe(ish) some not. But you’re unlikely to end your life on some fool’s errand in some some backwater place just across the street from the gates of Hell.”

The oldest took a less than safe course. He went into firefighting. He’s now a district captain in a nearby fire department, presently running their airport’s ARFF operation. The other got a CS degree and is now an engineer for a tech behemoth in Ultra’s and Humfrz’s part of the world.

To borrow a phrase from the ancient Crusader in Indiana Jones, I think they, “chose wisely.”

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

Both my boys had some degree of interest in the service. My position was “once you sign on, you no longer own your life. It becomes the property of the CIC and whomever they assign it to. It is a form of currency - they may choose to spend it wisely or they may spend it foolishly. In my experience there are probably more lives spent by .mil / the executive branch on stupid shit than on truly worthwhile causes. If you want to do something positive, there are loads of public service opportunities in the local community. Most are safe(ish) some not. But you’re unlikely to end your life on some fool’s errand in some some backwater place just across the street from the gates of Hell.”

The oldest took a less than safe course. He went into firefighting. He’s now a district captain in a nearby fire department, presently running their airport’s ARFF operation. The other got a CS degree and is now an engineer for a tech behemoth in Ultra’s and Humfrz’s part of the world.

To borrow a phrase from the ancient Crusader in Indiana Jones, I think they, “chose wisely.”

The freedom to take the safe route is great until someone comes to take it away. Also, military benefits are pretty good for those that don't have much.

Not that you're wrong though. Just pointing out it works for some people I guess.

I considered military service starting with ROTC or one of the academies. We did a West Point tour as a field trip in 2001 so that might have had something to do with it. Probably good I didn't cause I really hate following orders lol.

Both my grandfathers are air force veterans and they went in dirt poor. Like, my great grandmother couldn't afford to feed my grandfather so he was raised in a seminary kind of poor. That one was a radio tech in Korea, got an electrical engineering degree, and was very successful. Same story for the other one.