Automobiles, Planes & Buses... the version told to the Mrs..

You would think the whole process of actually getting to boot camp would be a little simpler. I was dropped off at the recruiters office instead of MEPS  less confusing for my young daughters (we didn't want them thinking I was only a couple hours away instead of cross country) So here we go:
day 1 of the journey told to arrive at recruiters office 1 hour before departure time so I get there at 2PM suppose to leave at 3PM
Get on the road about 3:30PM it's like a 4hr drive
Get to hotel about 7PM use meal ticket eat a big cheeseburger
Wake up call at 4AM go to MEPS..spend all day there doing paperwork
Out at 5PM in the middle of Butte Montana it's not a fun place lol
Flight leaves at 6AM with a 3hr layover in Salt Lake City Utah, a layover in Chicago and then land in Atlanta and hop a bus to Fort Benning
At some point I shoot off a 1 min phone call home to the Mrs to tell her I arrived ...and in the background it's noisy and someone is yelling for everyone to get off the phone

~ NOW A LITTLE SIDE NOTE FROM THE MRS. I WILL BE REPORTING NEWS FROM MY HUSBAND AS OFTEN AS I GET IT..I CAN IMAGE HOW IT IS FOR SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT LIKE BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO..WHICH MAKES ME THINK OF ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIES AND A QUOTE FROM IT...

"The ebb and flow of the Atlantic Tides. The Drift of the Continents. The rotation of the Earth along its ecliptic. These are just a few things I control in my world."
GI JANE ROCKS :D

Shipping out today

Today is the day I leave.  I have to be at the recruiter's office around 2 and we will leave from there.  I am ready to embark on this new and exciting adventure.

Passed my PT test today

Well, the title says it all.  I passed my PT test today, which will promote me to an E-2.  My college credits will get me another promotion so I will be an E-3 from the beginning.  It will be kind of cool going in with a little rank.

Finally over my illness

Well, I finally feel good enough to start exercising again.  With all the rest I had my shin splints are gone, so that will make running much easier.  It also gives me a sense of relief that I won't have to leave with them.

Postponing my PT test

I was supposed to take my PT test for a promotion Friday morning, but I had to reschedule it.  I've been sick all damn week.  Well, at least I got sick now and I'll be over it before I go.  It's getting close, only 11 more days.

Set up my direct deposit and getting ready to go

I went to my recruiter today and set up my direct deposit.  I also dropped of my college transcripts which will promote me to E-2.  Next Friday at 0630 I have to go do my PT test, and as long as I pass that I will go in as an E-3 (Private First Class).  The PT test wont be that hard.  I have to do 39 push-ups in two minutes, 45 sit-ups in two minutes and run 2 miles in under 17 minutes.  Its good being old...it makes to PT test a little easier because I don't have to do as many as an 18 year old. 

This will be my MOS (Military Ocupational Specialty)

Meeting with the FBI

About a week after MEPS I had to meet with someone from the FBI.  We basically just went over the bad things that showed up on my credit report.  They want to know the circumstances surrounding anything negative on the report.

My adventure to MEPS (part 2 - hurry up and wait)

The rest of processing was a lot of waiting.  After medical we sat downstairs waiting to talk to our career counselor.  I waited about 45 min to see him.  Once I met with him I wasn't in there for very long.  I had already reserved my MOS with my recruiter so we didn't need to go over any of that.  He wrote up my contract and I had to sign a few things.  If you hadn't picked a job before going to MEPS this is when you'd do it.  You'll find out what bonuses are offered, and where you'll be stationed for basic and AIT.  After this it was more waiting until I met with another person.  We went over my background check, she put my wife and kids into the system, and took my fingerprints.  After this, more waiting.  I went back to the career counselor and finalized my contract and got an ID card.  We waited a little longer to take our oath and then we were officially sworn in.  The day wasn't too long thanks to there being only seven of us.  We were done by about 1:30.

My adventure to MEPS (part 1 - checking in and medical)

After working out to lose about 20 pounds it was finally time for me to go to MEPS.  The nearest station was 4 hours away so we left around 2PM.  We arrived at MEPS and signed in.  This only took about 10 min.  Afterwards, we went to our hotel and checked in.  We were given a free dinner that night and a free breakfast in the morning.  We met in the lobby at 5:45AM to ride the shuttle back to MEPS.  We checked in and the first place we went was to medical.  We first went to a briefing room where they told us basically to tell the truth or were going to jail.  After that short presentation we filled out a fairly extensive medical questionnaire.  Just about anything you can think of was included on it.  Once we finished those all the doctors came in and started questioning us about the forms.  They were just asking if we had this or that condition and if we were telling the truth, but in such a way to be threatening and trying to strike fear in us.  It was during this time that we took a breathalyzer test.

After all this was the meat of the physical.  They took a couple vials of blood, hearing test, and a vision test.  We had to give a urine sample.  This had to be done with one of the docs watching you.  Needless to say it was a little awkward taking a piss while someone was staring at my penis.  After that was our one-on-one with the doctor.  He went over our medical questionnaires, checked for hernia (turn your head and cough) and checked for hemorrhoids. 

The last part of the medical section was the actual physical.  All the guys were brought into a cold, sterile looking room and told to strip to their underware.  One-by-one they checked our height, weight, and inspected our body for scars, birthmarks, or anything abnormal they see.  Any scars you will be questioned about.  Then the head doctor came in and it was time for the so-called "underwear olympics."  As a group we did various exercises, such as the duck-walk, squats, dropping to our knees, walking on knees and a few other things.  Then they checked our spines and looked in our ears, eyes and mouth, and finally listened to our heart and lungs.  And the was the end of the medical exam and we sat in the waiting room for a little while until we were called to go back downstairs for the rest of our processing.  We were done with all the medical stuff by 9AM.  Luckily there were only 7 people there that day so it didn't take very long.  The rest of the day went much slower.

A little about me

I decided to join the Army at the old age of 29.  The more I think about it the more I wonder, "why didn't I do this 10 years ago?"  I ship out to Ft. Benning, GA on 20090922 and then from there I go to Ft. Eustis, VA for 20 weeks.  My MOS is 15R, which is an Apache Helicopter Repairer.  I'm pretty excited about going and am really looking forward to whatever life brings me now.