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Author Topic: I've enlisted in the Army...  (Read 26621 times)

dmerger

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I've enlisted in the Army...
« Reply #40 on: December 10, 2005, 09:08:12 am »

ddolde, I'm not sure if your comment was intended to be witty, intelligent, mature, thoughtful or informative, but it certainly is none of those.  Your comment says much about you but little about the topic of this thread.
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Dean Erger

leonvick

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« Reply #41 on: December 29, 2005, 06:34:01 pm »

Good luck, Jonathon, and take good care of yourself. You go with my respect and best wishes that all your hopes and expectations will be fulfilled, and that you will soon be home again.

Leon Vick
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Leon
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Jonathan Wienke

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« Reply #42 on: December 29, 2005, 07:30:25 pm »

Thank you. My long-term plan at this point is to get through the medic training, start taking as many college courses as possible, (the Army has a wide selection of courses online or via correspondence that are free) and then try out for the Army Physician Assistant program. If accepted, I'd go through a year of additional coursework, a year of residency, and then be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Medical Services Corps. And I'd be able to retire as an officer.
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John Camp

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« Reply #43 on: January 02, 2006, 11:58:30 am »

You getting puckered up yet? You must be about ready to go...I knew a guy who retired as a major, he was a nurse-anethesist in the Air Force. Had a pretty interesting life. Do you have to go through basic training, or is it just right into the medical stuff? Look into the anethesia thing, too -- nurse anethesists are in big demand everywhere, both in and out of the military, and up to a point (major, I think) the promotions are pretty fast and automatic, because they want to keep you.

A woman I met in Wisconsin went through some kind of military medical training -- not nurses training, but some kind of technician thing -- and wound up as an EMT working out of the local hospital. That was a pretty nice situation, too, if a little high-stress.

And finally, my wife, after raising the kids, went back to dental school when she was 40, which is quite a bit older than you are, after getting a BA years ago in art. Took her five years, since she had to do some prerequisites, but after she got her dental degree she went into research, and onto a PhD in immunology. From where you're going now, it seems like there are a lot of pretty good options.

Good luck with it, and take your cameras where you can.

JC
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Jonathan Wienke

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« Reply #44 on: January 02, 2006, 02:28:34 pm »

Well, I'm 35, so 40 isn't that much older...  

But yes, the anticipation and dread and excitement and everything else is starting to build; I have less than 48 hours left as a civilian. I've written a rather lengthy essay detailing why I'm doing what I'm doing and what I hope to accomplish in the Army, which I've posted here. Some of the subject matter in the essay is political, so if everyone could confine the discussion of the political aspects of the essay to the forums on my site, I'm sure Michael and I would both appreciate it. I even have a section devoted exclusively to discussing religion and politics, as long as it can be kept reasonably civil.

But anyway, I appreciate the felicitations and would appreciate your prayers as I once again subject myself to the tender mercies of the drill sergeants...
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Ben Rubinstein

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« Reply #45 on: January 02, 2006, 06:58:41 pm »

I read your essay, G-d bless and protect you.

I remember when I joined up, it was more excitement than apprehension beforehand though I was 19 at the time! I was far fitter and thinner and my feet haven't been the same since I left.

from a photographic point of view: carrying around those two 1 series bodies will seem a doddle after this....  
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Jonathan Wienke

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« Reply #46 on: January 03, 2006, 08:20:27 pm »

Well, I get up at 0400 tomorrow morning to leave for Fort Knox and my big adventure, so this will be my last post on LL for a few months. Thanks for all the support, and know that I'll miss you while I'm gone...
 
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61Dynamic

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« Reply #47 on: January 03, 2006, 09:10:48 pm »

The forums will certainly not be the same with you gone.

Godspeed.
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Ray

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« Reply #48 on: January 04, 2006, 05:12:29 am »

I've also read your justification for joining the army, Jonathan. I won't get into any discussion about the rights and wrongs of America's (and Australia's) involvement in Iraq except to paraphrase the words of a great English philosopher who said something to the effect, "The troubles in the world are not caused by people doing the wrong thing (wrong in hindsight, that is), but by people failing to do what they believe is the right thing."

Goodonya! and best of luck.
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Jonathan Wienke

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« Reply #49 on: February 25, 2006, 08:49:14 pm »

I've finished boot camp,  and I have some free time on weekends now. I've got a lot of catching up to do, but I'm back!
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macgyver

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« Reply #50 on: February 25, 2006, 08:56:13 pm »

Let me be the first to say that it's good to hear from you.  Welcome back.
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61Dynamic

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« Reply #51 on: February 25, 2006, 09:56:01 pm »

Welcome back!
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John Camp

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« Reply #52 on: February 25, 2006, 10:10:56 pm »

How about a brief report on the experience? If I remember, you're a little older than the typical boot. How'd that go? Were you everybody's daddy? I'm tempted to annoy you, to get you back in a nice snappy mood, but I'll let it go for a few days  ...anyway, welcome back.

JC
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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« Reply #53 on: February 26, 2006, 01:04:50 am »

Glad you're back and ready to do some photography. We've missed you.

By the way, what did you get your best mile time down to?

Eric
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Ray

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« Reply #54 on: February 26, 2006, 01:08:53 am »

Jonathan,
Now you're back (temporarily or not) it seems I might have to be even more careful that my posts make complete sense   .
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Ben Rubinstein

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« Reply #55 on: February 27, 2006, 07:40:26 am »

How did it go?
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wolfnowl

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« Reply #56 on: February 28, 2006, 01:02:18 am »

Johnathan:  As so many others have said, I'll add my $0.02...

Good luck and be safe!  Setting aside my own feelings about the worlds' military in general, I do admire your decision to follow your heart and become a medic.

Mike.
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Jonathan Wienke

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« Reply #57 on: March 12, 2006, 12:23:51 pm »

My schedule is still pretty busy, but I've updated my journal so it's current. You can see the latest entries here. So far, I have a 94% test average, but I have to spend a lot of time studying--we go through several chapters a week in the textbook; usually over 100 pages. My best mile time so far is 7:50, and my best 2-mile time so far is 16:30. I won't know where I'll be heading for another month or two yet.
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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« Reply #58 on: March 12, 2006, 05:12:45 pm »

I guessed you were pretty busy. Sounds like great test scores and good running times. I certainly miss you at the LL forum, but I applaud you for what you are doing.

Eric

P.S. From your journal, I'm sure glad it's you doing it and not me! That sounds like hard and rigrous work. Good luck!
« Last Edit: March 12, 2006, 08:18:35 pm by EricM »
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Jonathan Wienke

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« Reply #59 on: March 25, 2006, 10:19:21 am »

Thank you.
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