Originally Posted by Tully Mars

The Navy. Yea I look back on it fondly, had a great time and circled the world twice but it's a form of slavery basically. During heavy training periods (preparing to deploy on West-Pac etc...) or courses like advanced firefighting, aviation fire fighting or a lengthy course in damage control and flooding- 17-20 hrs days were normal for days weeks at a time. Hitting your rack (bunk, bed whatever you want to call it) dead tired after putting out fires and stopping flooding for the last 15 hrs straight only to be awaken by the loud bangs of smoke grenades going off and hearing the instructors scream "Fire! Fire, Fire! Fire and flooding in space B-1-1. Move, move, move! Move NOW! After doing stuff like that for days at a time it becomes difficult to tie a basic square knot with the tar soaked cord used to help stop flooding from pipes. Forget cutting sections of shoring at the correct length. Flooding drills were always done in water so cold it made basic tasks seem complicated. Fire drills were done with fire, which tend to get hot also making problem solving difficult. Sleep and meals are at a premium.

Now I have no illusions some actual combat vets is going to read this and think "pussy." And to those of you who do let me just say you're right, I got nothing on you. During boot I use watch what they were doing to the recruits across the fence in San Diego at Marine Corp. boot and it made my life seem much easier. I can't even begin to imagine what combat must be like.

But when you go from being late to your fast food job and can't understand why the manager doesn't accept your reasoning that you were late becasue you over slept to suddenly be responsible for yourself in ever way it's an eye opener. But it will make an adult out of you. You will become responsible for yourself... or else.