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I have decided to join the US Army after being out of the service for 7 years. I was active duty Air Force SF for 6 years and did 2 tours in Iraq from 2003-2005. I was in a combat unit and worked with both the 1st and 82nd Infantry.
I was diagnosed with PTSD when I returned from down range, but I feel fine now and think its about time I start serving our great country again. I see no reason to sit on my ass while other soldiers cant even walk or hold their children or even gave their lives.

I need any advise that you guys can give. I am OUT OF SHAPE and overweight by about 60 lbs. I started running today and I thought I was going to die
Should I go for a combat mos or something else? Are there any diet and exercise routines or tips that may help me? What about basic? Has it changed in the last 15 years?

Thanks in advance guys

Dave

Reading your post, I don't know what "mos" stands for, and Dakka is telling me that it means "Mark of Slaanesh", which makes your post infinitely hilarious. Could you clarify that for me?

Sorry, I'm not a vet and have no advice for you, but I do wish ya all the best.

Dave, work to a 7 minute mile, 42 push ups in 2 mins, 52 sit ups in 2 mins, you can't go wrong with that. Also pull ups, at least 10 are helpful. Stick to a diet that is mostly protein, eliminate as much sugar as you can. Cutting caffeine out may help as well. As far as mos goes, I'd suggest MP, or the like, close enough to get the adrenaline flowing, far enough back where you don't have to worry too much about friendly fire...

Basic should be a breeze, just remember that it is a game and keep your piehole shut you should be ok
Good luck.

MOS being Military Occupation Specialties?

@azazel MOS is an acronym Military Occupational Specialty. Its a fancy way of saying what your primary duty is in the Army. An example would be 11B . That is the MOS for an Infantryman.

@treadhead Thanks brother, that sounds spot on. I figured to stay quiet about my prior service while at basic. I don't want to be the hero and stand out. I heard Army basic has been fluffed up recently, like time out cards or some crap like that. If that's true its gonna be like a vacation


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purplefood wrote:MOS being Military Occupation Specialties?

Yesir

Do what I did. Go 19k armored crewman. Tread heads have arguably the best frontline protection and bang for your buck.

I am verry interested in 19k . Is that a needed mos? Where is ait for that mos?

If you were medically discharged the first time, not sure if you were, I wouldn't have thought that you would be allowed back, at least not in a front line role. Granted I have no military experience but that just what stuck out in this post for me.

Seeing that you already were diagnosed with PTSD I would try to get a job that put you "in the rear with the gear". Maybe a Black Hawk technician. Ever consider the aviation side?

kraken88 wrote:I am verry interested in 19k . Is that a needed mos? Where is ait for that mos?

Fort Knox, KY. Watch Stripes, that is where you will be

As for the losing the additional weight. Get a ruck and start off rucking 4 miles.....say Mon Wed and Fri the first week and then Tue and Thurs the 2nd week. Start off with 40 lbs in the ruck and drink WATER. Build up to six miles. Also wear the belly wrapper. It works. As for suppliments Oxy is good but do not and I mean do NOT start off taking double doses. Start off with one pill before a workout.

As for MOS a technical field is best since its a skill that can be used outside the military. Say 88N Movement Coordinator. Or as someone said a Blackhawk mechanic. 67T field in aviation. To transfer that into the civilian world is to certify into your A&P license. Mind you the hardest part for that is the airframe portion IE rivet pitch, structural repair, whats stress and non stress skin (which is determined by how many rolls of rivets.)

I joined in 90 and started off as a FISTER...FO...I'm the one that calls God to get an arty, naval, air strike in. Reclassed over to BlackHacks and then reclassed over to Movement. Combat arms I have to say is the best to go if your willing to make the military yor carreer. Fast advancement and lots of oppurtunity for schools IE Ranger, SF, and Delta. Also throw in Airborne, Air Assualt, Pathfinder, and HALO to name a few more. Face it. I did most of mine when I was young and invincable. Now no way I'm older and wiser...I leave that for the young and the bold.

Its your decision what MOS you pick. My question is. What are you to do when you get out? Also a REMINDER. Get a security clearence. I retire in Sept. My starting off pay as a 88N with a clearence is 50K for the gov't

PTSD does not hamper security clearence

edit 1

Fort Knox, KY. Watch Stripes, that is where you will be

Armor schooled moved from there to Ft Benning GA. School of Infantry and School of Armor is now combined there. Also the permanent party units that were at KY is now relocated to Benning to.

Azza007 wrote:If you were medically discharged the first time, not sure if you were, I wouldn't have thought that you would be allowed back, at least not in a front line role. Granted I have no military experience but that just what stuck out in this post for me. [/quot

I didnt get medicaly discharged i served my full enlistment. I think i just need to be medicaly cleared.


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@jihadin Iserved as an FO in iraq. It suck that your mos got phased out. Thanks for the advice although im not sure about the rucking. I dont want to blow a knee before basic lol. I have to look into the winger side. Sounds cool

Ft Benning? That sucks. You mean the noobs get to play in the sand instead of running the 3 hills? Lucky.
As for stripes: thanks to that movie my battalion has the "honor" of keeping those barracks clean. It sucked living in 3 story barracks ( and cleaning them) as well as extra duty in WWII billets.

LOL no need to blow your knees out. They do have knee supports for something like that. Right now your biggest challenge is weight. Not saying to go through the woods and up the hills. Take a path. WA has a lot of nature trails thats pretty well maintain. No idea what you have near you but a good steady pace will help in the long run by conditioning cardio and lung. You stand more a chance now blowing a knee out by starting runs now instead of building up to it.

I'd actually stay well away from Aviation, IMO... the promotion rates for any of the "crewmember" MOSs are really slow.

Not sure what sort of SF work you did with the AF before, but one technical field which is sorely needed is in the 35T (Intel Systems Maintainer/Integrator).. It's fairly physical, depending on your duty assignment location, with options of being in the front with the grunts, or in the rear with the gear, it all depends on unit missions.

Honestly man, if you had PTSD before, even if you havent the slightest worry of a "recurrence" I would avoid a line, or combat job.


As for PT, I'd suggest doing what others have suggested as well.. Plus, I'll throw in just being active... If you can, play basketball, raquetball, cycling, anything to just get moving for at least an hour a day. Cut down on, but don't entirely eliminate (right away) the sugars from soda and oreos and the like.

And lastly, for Basic... I recently left a unit where we had a prior service Marine Artilleryman with a 20 year break in service. All he had to do was go through a 3 week MOSQ "refresher" course, and on to AIT. So I don't think you have to do the full 9 week basic. But as far as changes go, about the only thing I can think of (I went through basic 8 years ago) is in gear changes... instead of qualifying on a rifle with only an LBE and helmet... you wear full plate vest (just like the "real" army does)

Thanks for all of the advice so far guys.I will be updating this thread to let you all know whats going on with recruitment and all. Have to wait till Monday to even talk to one.

kraken88 wrote:Thanks for all of the advice so far guys.I will be updating this thread to let you all know whats going on with recruitment and all. Have to wait till Monday to even talk to one.

I would start working off the weight slowly. You don't to introduce new injuries trying to over due it.

Jihadin wrote:Also wear the belly wrapper. It works.

What's the Belly Wrapper? Google failed me on this one.

Combat? Go for something that you can use after you get out and is nowhere near as stressful. If you can, pick a Military Intelligence job. I have one, and I have a top secret clearance, which is extremely useful to have outside of the military. Contractors are actively looking for it. Second, get that run time up. Army values runners more then anything. If you truely want to do it again, I suggest you go for it, but maybe the Air Force isn't that bad a job. It pays more, considering if you have barracks that are on par with the rest of the United States Army, it counts as "lower living standards" and the PT is usually easier, and I think the AF has more freedom, along with shorter tours of duty. I wish you luck on your endeavors.

4 year Army vet with deployment to Afghanistan.

Definitely 'subscribing' to this thread. I'm looking to join myself. I'm working on losing 20-25lbs. Some great advice in here. Good luck Kracken.

Ninjakinshu wrote: maybe the Air Force isn't that bad a job. It pays more, considering if you have barracks that are on par with the rest of the United States Army, it counts as "lower living standards" and the PT is usually easier, and I think the AF has more freedom, along with shorter tours of duty.

Thank you for the advice and well wishes, but the above statement is a myth.
While in Iraq in 2003 my unit lived in tents while the Army lived in pods, and I didnt recieve any extra money. Our PT was brutal and on par with a Ranger Bat. And we were subject to the UCMJ just like everyone else, we actually had harsher tattoo policies than anyone else, so not more "free" than any other serviceman. And on top of that I served 2, 12 month tours in Iraq with no break in the middle like the Army gets.

Not to come back at you hard, I just always have to speak up when I hear these rumors and myths about the AF.


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djphranq wrote:Definitely 'subscribing' to this thread. I'm looking to join myself. I'm working on losing 20-25lbs. Some great advice in here. Good luck Kracken.

Thank you and good luck to you brother.

http://www.amazon.com/AlphaBrace-Neoprene-Abdominal-Binder-Cincher/dp/B002TRBI76/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1339910652&sr=1-1&keywords=belly+wrapper

to add on to that. slap vasaline on your abs and lower back. First to go is the water fat. You do have to constantly keep drinking water though to convince the body you are recieving enough fluid intake to stop hoarding the water.....NOT SODA, BEER, MD, COKE, or whatever...H2o..WATER!!

Thanks for the link (sorry to OT the thread a little).

Be safe, soldier.

Well, Im not a veteran, I served in the 90's. 82nd Airborne, I was infantry and graduated from Ranger school. Point being I was in pretty good shape. Try Crossfit and the Zone Diet. Crossfit.com will give you all the information you need. Zone is a beating and time intensive but it works like a charm. Some say you can live on the diet, I am skeptical. Doing crossfit I am in the best shape of my life, including active duty. You will get into incredible shape fairly quickly. Good luck on your re-enlistment and thank you for your service.

gregor_xenos wrote:Ft Benning? That sucks. You mean the noobs get to play in the sand instead of running the 3 hills? Lucky.
As for stripes: thanks to that movie my battalion has the "honor" of keeping those barracks clean. It sucked living in 3 story barracks ( and cleaning them) as well as extra duty in WWII billets.

Really? The last time I was there we used those barracks for MOUT and they were falling apart.


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Ensis Ferrae wrote:I'd actually stay well away from Aviation, IMO... the promotion rates for any of the "crewmember" MOSs are really slow.

Not sure what sort of SF work you did with the AF before, but one technical field which is sorely needed is in the 35T (Intel Systems Maintainer/Integrator).. It's fairly physical, depending on your duty assignment location, with options of being in the front with the grunts, or in the rear with the gear, it all depends on unit missions.

This is pretty solid: the Army always needs 33s and if you like solving problems and working with electronics it cannot be beat.

@Kraken 88

If you're all set on joining the army, then by all means go ahead. But if your looking for action/adventure/serving your country, then why not join your local police force and help your community or join the UN as an overseas volunteer or the American branch of the Red cross if you want to help people and help your nation.

By the sounds of things, you've more than done your fair share in this man's war, as far as the middle east is concerned. Personally, I wouldn't put my foot anywhere near the middle east.

Ninjakinshu wrote:Combat? Go for something that you can use after you get out and is nowhere near as stressful. If you can, pick a Military Intelligence job. I have one, and I have a top secret clearance, which is extremely useful to have outside of the military. Contractors are actively looking for it. .

This. I was Military Intelligence and if you put in a few years doing it and come out with a TS or better you're almost guaranteed a job outside, be it with a three letter agency or as a contractor.

AustonT wrote:

gregor_xenos wrote:Ft Benning? That sucks. You mean the noobs get to play in the sand instead of running the 3 hills? Lucky.
As for stripes: thanks to that movie my battalion has the "honor" of keeping those barracks clean. It sucked living in 3 story barracks ( and cleaning them) as well as extra duty in WWII billets.

Really? The last time I was there we used those barracks for MOUT and they were falling apart.

Second. I did BCT there in '07 and they were in awful shape.

It's sad they don't do BCT there anymore. Misery, Agony and Heartbreak were great for getting in shape.

40kFSU wrote:Well, Im not a veteran, I served in the 90's. 82nd Airborne, I was infantry and graduated from Ranger school. Point being I was in pretty good shape. Try Crossfit and the Zone Diet. Crossfit.com will give you all the information you need. Zone is a beating and time intensive but it works like a charm. Some say you can live on the diet, I am skeptical. Doing crossfit I am in the best shape of my life, including active duty. You will get into incredible shape fairly quickly. Good luck on your re-enlistment and thank you for your service.

Any one who served in the armed forces or is currently serving, is a Veteran. You sir are a Vet, and thanks for the advice


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Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:@Kraken 88

If you're all set on joining the army, then by all means go ahead. But if your looking for action/adventure/serving your country, then why not join your local police force and help your community or join the UN as an overseas volunteer or the American branch of the Red cross if you want to help people and help your nation.

By the sounds of things, you've more than done your fair share in this man's war, as far as the middle east is concerned. Personally, I wouldn't put my foot anywhere near the middle east.

I cant be a cop, I don't have the required degree (associate's). And I'm not in it to be deployed, I just need a stable job that I can do and serve my nation again. The UN would be serving the world, and Im not into that, unless its the UK or Australia

You know...in the 82nd.....that if your injured from a jump...its considered combat related due to nature of the training? VA viewpoint on disability
......
....
PTSD is considered 50% disability..depends on the nature of the PTSD symtoms

IAmTheWalrus wrote:

It's sad they don't do BCT there anymore. Misery, Agony and Heartbreak were great for getting in shape.

And feth them very much. I'm not a treadhead so I don't know how hard it is to do, but Heartbreak stalled out an Abrams which took out the guard rail and was getting fished out by an M88 when we went up on our 12k. It killed a tank bro....a tank.