Introduction - Daniel

[iheartlamps]

Hello to everyone, and like many I would like to thank each and everyone for the sacrifice they have made. I do not know how to express or articulate the gratitude I feel toward those who put themselves in harms way for the betterment of our society. I am unsure how much I want to say, what to say, or even how much the community wants to know about me, but I will do what I can. I have only just discovered your community today and I feel like I have been missing out these past few months, I have only read the must reads and the about osut, airborne, and rasp section so far. I am scheduled to ship 20100119 ( Jan 19 2010) as an 11x, no airborne contract and no option 40. I enlisted October 1st and MEPS informed me neither contract would be available till october 2010, and I don't know if it was the wrong decision, but I just couldn't wait that long (It also annoys me that some high school girl walked in right before me and got the last airborne contract, but I realize thats just how things go).

Ok so I am 21 years old, I live in Oklahoma, and have spent most of my life as a fat kid. I can always remember being physically active as a young child, I was in pretty much every sport possible. My parents often worried about me being borderline anorexic. Then the fateful day happened and I was given a Nintendo 64, gone were the days of physical activity as I welcomed a new calling in what would be a downward spiral into lethargy and complete laziness. Fast forward to high school and I was sitting at my computer 16 hours a day and drinking two 2 liters of coca-cola a day. At 18 I weighed 260lbs. I was very depressed, it might sound strange but me being out of shape effected my entire life in such a dramatic way.

For the past few years I have been working for Dish network in a call center giving technical support. I guess there comes a point when you stop and ask yourself what the fuck you are doing with your life. Apathy and mediocrity might as well be death, and I was living it day in and day out. When I die at the ripe old age of 40 from heart failure what will I have achieved? Some job where I just show up and do just enough to get my paycheck? It had gotten to the point where I didn't recognize the person in the mirror. This entity, it had consumed me. I was a blight on my soul and left me a shell of my true self. I was a lazy fat coward with absolutely no future.

I had decided to change...to reinvent myself entirely, and failure simply was not an option. Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret became the words I lived by. I couldn't do one push-up on my 18th birthday...not one. From the age of 18 to 21 I read everything I could when it came to nutrition and fitness. I pushed myself harder then I ever thought possible. 3 years ago, I would never imagined I would be who I am today. I have gone from 260 lbs, to 147 lbs, to 175 lbs and am continually getting in better shape.

I want to look back on my life and feel pride, I want to know I did something worth doing. I want to help people, I want to make a difference. Maybe its juvenile to say, and maybe its all the movies and the comic books, but since I was a little kid...I've wanted to be a hero. I felt like I had a calling, I want to do what others are afraid to do, I feel like I was put here to do more, and I believe this is going to be my destiny so to speak. Like I have been waiting all my life for this opportunity and I will not fail. It may sound ignorant, but if there is just one thing in this world that I know, It is that I will earn a tan beret, or I will die trying.

I'm not sure if more information is needed, I will put my APFT stats in my signature, and as far as education goes I only have 18 hours of community college with a major of health and exercise science.

Also I am not an eloquent writer and I apologize for any grammatical errors.

[Earthpig]

Daniel, I'm impressed, and thanks for taking the time to write a good intro. Going from 260 to 175 pounds is an incredible feat. Not many folks have the guts or motivation to do something like that. Believe it or not, while your PT scores are not where they need to be, they are quite a bit better than many we see. Judging from your attitude and determination, I'm sure you'll continue to show progress.

It's too bad that you fell for the Recruiter's story about no slots. They like to do that and fit people where they need them, so they get their "atta boys." Signing an army contract is a lot like buying a car....you have to wade through a lot of bullshit and hold your ground to get the deal you want.

My advice to you would be to continue to push yourself. Get your PT scores where they need to be, and be the guy who shines in your OSUT company. Impress your Drill Sgts enough so they assist you in meeting with an Airborne liason. Get into Jump School. Continue to shine. When the 75th Ranger Liason comes by Jump School, make sure you talk to him, and see about getting hooked up with a shot at RASP.

In any case, be the best soldier you can be....no matter where you end up. Good luck!

RLTW
EP

[Boudicca]

Welcome and hello fellow Okie.
For a second there I thought you might be one of my Ranger son's old high school friends.
Best of Luck!

[Ranger Bill]

Welcome and congratulations for enlisting and thanks for posting an honest and heart-felt introduction. Good luck in acheiving your goals, with "luck" meaning preparedness meeting opportunity. You never know when an opportunity will present itself, so always be prepared.

[iheartlamps]

Thank you both Ranger Earthpig and Ranger Bill for your sound advice and encouragement. I am annoyed I fell for it as well. I don't have any immediate family who have joined the military, and I didn't talk to anyone before joining. It was something I contemplated internally for a long time. When I began the process I was not aware of how the process worked.

I did luck out in one way though, I have not seen my father or his side of the family since I was 10 years old. Shortly after enlisting I found him to make amends and to spend time with him before I left. I also reconnected with my aunt who I hadn't seen since I was a child. I told them I was joining the army and she informed me her godson, just happens to be in bravo company of 3rd battalion with the 75th.

I've talked with him a few times and he says once I get to 30th AG he thinks he can get me a airborne slot, and from there he may be able to come down with the liaison and pick me up for rasp.

I just hope if he can so something I don't let him down.

[iheartlamps]

Hello again, I just wanted to update my post. I am currently in my 11th week of osut. It is much easier then I expected. Our DSs say the army is gearing toward more intelligent soldiers and scaling back heavily on PT.

That being said I along with 4 others in my company have earned rasp contracts. About 10 earned airborne. 270 pt score for ranger, 260 for airborne.

My last pt test I got a 288 and our last is this coming friday where I am hoping to score a 300.

Thats all for now. Thanks to all the rangers and the whole community here. You all have givened me many tools to succeed amdhave kept me inspired and motivated. I now hope to pass rasp and have the honor of serving in the 75th.

Also sorry for grammatical errors. Typing this from a phone.

[al_2ndWolfhounds]

Good for you on your Ranger contract. Keep the attitude and Never, Never Quit.

[Jim]

Good SITREP. Keep us informed and never, never quit!

[RangerX]

Our DSs say the army is gearing toward more intelligent soldiers and scaling back heavily on PT.

Well this is disturbing.

from what I've been reading, the scaling back should more realistically be described as "retooling". Rather than the heavy focus on running distances, a lot more focus is put on building upper body & core strength, with running focusing on sprinting. The reasoning behind this is that it has been found that core strength is vital for long distance road marching, and patrolling with a heavy gear load & body armor. The sprinting focus is intended to simulate the rushing/bounding style movements that are necessary in the current operational environments.

I was a little disturbed at first as well when I first heard about it, but in doing a little digging it started to make some sense.

[Ranger Bill]

Congratulations. All you have to do now is do it.