Self Interview about Joining the Military Part: 2

What are you going to do in the ARMY?

--- My Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is 68W (sixty-eight whisky is how it’s pronounced). A 68W is a Health Care Specialist (Combat Medic). I could do anything from being a line-medic, which is stationed with the infantry and goes out with them into combat, to being stationed in a hospital.

--- The above is an easy answer to what I’ll be doing in the Army. Much is unknown to me until I get through Basic Combat Training (BCT) and my Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and then get stationed with my unit.

--- The difficult part is telling people what I want to do within this MOS. What I would like to do and what I will be doing may or may not happen. What I would like to do, if I stay enlisted and not go into Officer Candidate School (OCS) after I finish my training, is be a line medic.

--- Within the MOS 68W there are several Skill Identifiers (SI’s). One of which is a flight medic. I would like to be a flight medic if I’m unable to be a line medic. There are qualifications you have to meet in order to even apply. You have to pass a physical screening, have served a minimum of one year as a certified 68W and have at least 24 months remaining in your service contract; just to name a few.

--- Let me preface these next sentences with, “I know I have a long way to go to meet these goals. However, they are my goals none the less”. My goal in the army is to meet all physical fitness requirements to do any job I choose. I don’t want to not be able to do something because I don’t meet the requirements. I want to not do something because I choose not to do it. What the recruiters and I are trying to get worked into my contract before I ship to basic training is getting me into Airborne School. Yes, that’s right… me, jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft. Another goal is to qualify for special forces/green berets. The only way I can make it into the Special Forces, because I’m color blind (according to the military), is going as a medic. This is one of the main reasons, not the sole reason, why I wanted to become a medic in the Army. Like I said previously, I want to have the option to do this not that I’m going to do it.

When do you go to Basic Combat Training? How long is BCT? Where is your BCT?

--- I ship out to BCT June 12, 2012. That’s two days before my 9 year anniversary with my wonderful wife. BCT lasts 9 weeks and 4 days. My BCT will be at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. It’s also effectually known as Fort Lost in the Woods because there is nothing but woods in this area. No cities, nothing. Just a lone fort. I guess people from the south would say it’s in the Boone Docks or in the Sticks.

When do you go to your Advanced Individual Training? How long is AIT? Where is your AIT?

--- I will go to AIT shortly after I graduate BCT. I’m not sure of how many days you have before you start but I think it’s a day or two after you graduate BCT. My AIT will last 18 weeks and 6 days. I will be at AIT for my daughter’s 5^th birthday. However, I don’t think I’ll be able to go home for Thanksgiving but I do believe we will have, what the military calls, Exodus for Christmas break. What this means is, to my knowledge, I’ll be able to go home for Christmas (Lord Willing!). But, I’ll have to return to finish up AIT. My AIT will be at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. San Antonio, TX to be more exact.