Alrighty! I've got internet up in my computer room for the time being. Ran a massive CAT5 cable from my dad's router downstairs up to this room through the hallway and crap, so this is only a temporary fix until I can get a wireless USB router.
And my deepest thanks go out to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. It feels good to be 19. So thank you, everyone
A few days ago, I got back from spending two days down in Fargo, ND. I'd like to say I had a blast there, but a majority of my time down there was spent at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) filling out SHITLOADS of paperwork for enlistment and security clearances and shit. I also got to spend a lovely couple of hours going through all sorts of medical tests, including (but not limited to): blood, urine, eye exam, hearing exam, FULL physical (and I do mean full), and an interview about my medical history. After all was said and done, I passed all of the tests they performed on me, and was sworn in.
So I'm officially a member of the United States Navy now. Seaman Recruit Olsen. That's me. Of course, once they get my college transcripts, I won't be a Seaman Recruit anymore and will have gone up in rank from E-1 to E-2. I can't remember off hand at this point what the title for E-2 is, but it doesn't really matter.
Over the course of those two days, I also took the ASVAB and DLAB tests. For those of you not familiar with them (especially the latter), that's Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test and Defense Language Aptitude Battery test. The ASVAB is a test required of everyone looking to join any branch of the military and basically determines what you're qualified for as far as a career goes. I scored an 89 out of a possible 99, which is pretty damn high. Well above average, anyway.
The DLAB test is an optional test that, if passed, qualifies the person who takes it for a number of advanced careers that directly relate to foreign languages. It's a test like nothing I've ever taken before, and it's impossible to study for. I'd love to talk more about it (since it was so fucking cool), but I had to sign a form stating that I wouldn't disclose any information about it, since that would comprimise the whole nature of the test. At any rate, to pass it, a score of 100 is required out of a possible 175. The average score is in the 100 to 105 range. I scored 132. I was later informed by most everyone involved at MEPS as well as everyone at the Fargo recruiting center that it was the highest score they'd ever seen. My recruiter has only seen two people other than me pass the test, and they didn't come even close to my score. So yeah, I pretty much whooped the shit out of it and proved to everyone--and myself--that I'm extremely capable of learning new languages and can do so with relative ease.
The only unfortunate side to that story is that the field I was looking at going into, CTI (Cryptolgic Technician [Interpretive]), had no openings in it at this time. So I instead signed up for the CTR rate, which is more concerned with the collection of encrypted data than the interpretation of it. It's more technology oriented and less language oriented than CTI. No enlistment bonus with it, either. The good news, however, is that my recruiter knows of a woman who may be leaving service within the next few months and opening a position as a CTI. If that should happen, I'm almost guaraunteed the position with my DLAB score. The only bad thing about that is that it would almost definitely mean I'd be leaving for boot camp a lot sooner than I am.
And that brings me to my ship date! December 28, 2005 is the date, ladies and gentlemen. Mark it on your calenders (assuming you obsess about me), for it is the date I'll be heading off to Great Lakes, IL to begin recruit training (aka boot camp). I don't know the amount of time thereafter that I'll be out of touch with most everyone and everything, because I'm pretty sure that immediately after I get done at recruit training, I get sent off to "A" School in Pensacola, FL to begin learning what I need to know to fill the shoes of CTR.
If I should become a CTI instead sometime in the next few months and leave sooner, I'll instead be immediately shipping off to Monterey, CA to attend the Defense Language Institute and begin learning a foreign language.
Only time will tell, I suppose. But I'm up to the challenge, and very happy I went through with it.
And also, if anyone is reading this and thinking "Hey, I'd kinda like to do that," let me know! If I refer you to a recruiter and you do end up enlisting or becoming an officer or whatever, I'm one step closer to going up in rank again. If I manage to get 4 referrals (that end in enlistment) before I head off to boot camp, I automatically become an E-3. I really don't expect that out of anyone, though. Just know that the Navy opens many, many doors. Ever wanted to see the world? Get job experience in a highly technical career? Become more physically fit? Well, then I welcome you to my world.
And my deepest thanks go out to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. It feels good to be 19. So thank you, everyone
A few days ago, I got back from spending two days down in Fargo, ND. I'd like to say I had a blast there, but a majority of my time down there was spent at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) filling out SHITLOADS of paperwork for enlistment and security clearances and shit. I also got to spend a lovely couple of hours going through all sorts of medical tests, including (but not limited to): blood, urine, eye exam, hearing exam, FULL physical (and I do mean full), and an interview about my medical history. After all was said and done, I passed all of the tests they performed on me, and was sworn in.
So I'm officially a member of the United States Navy now. Seaman Recruit Olsen. That's me. Of course, once they get my college transcripts, I won't be a Seaman Recruit anymore and will have gone up in rank from E-1 to E-2. I can't remember off hand at this point what the title for E-2 is, but it doesn't really matter.
Over the course of those two days, I also took the ASVAB and DLAB tests. For those of you not familiar with them (especially the latter), that's Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test and Defense Language Aptitude Battery test. The ASVAB is a test required of everyone looking to join any branch of the military and basically determines what you're qualified for as far as a career goes. I scored an 89 out of a possible 99, which is pretty damn high. Well above average, anyway.
The DLAB test is an optional test that, if passed, qualifies the person who takes it for a number of advanced careers that directly relate to foreign languages. It's a test like nothing I've ever taken before, and it's impossible to study for. I'd love to talk more about it (since it was so fucking cool), but I had to sign a form stating that I wouldn't disclose any information about it, since that would comprimise the whole nature of the test. At any rate, to pass it, a score of 100 is required out of a possible 175. The average score is in the 100 to 105 range. I scored 132. I was later informed by most everyone involved at MEPS as well as everyone at the Fargo recruiting center that it was the highest score they'd ever seen. My recruiter has only seen two people other than me pass the test, and they didn't come even close to my score. So yeah, I pretty much whooped the shit out of it and proved to everyone--and myself--that I'm extremely capable of learning new languages and can do so with relative ease.
The only unfortunate side to that story is that the field I was looking at going into, CTI (Cryptolgic Technician [Interpretive]), had no openings in it at this time. So I instead signed up for the CTR rate, which is more concerned with the collection of encrypted data than the interpretation of it. It's more technology oriented and less language oriented than CTI. No enlistment bonus with it, either. The good news, however, is that my recruiter knows of a woman who may be leaving service within the next few months and opening a position as a CTI. If that should happen, I'm almost guaraunteed the position with my DLAB score. The only bad thing about that is that it would almost definitely mean I'd be leaving for boot camp a lot sooner than I am.
And that brings me to my ship date! December 28, 2005 is the date, ladies and gentlemen. Mark it on your calenders (assuming you obsess about me), for it is the date I'll be heading off to Great Lakes, IL to begin recruit training (aka boot camp). I don't know the amount of time thereafter that I'll be out of touch with most everyone and everything, because I'm pretty sure that immediately after I get done at recruit training, I get sent off to "A" School in Pensacola, FL to begin learning what I need to know to fill the shoes of CTR.
If I should become a CTI instead sometime in the next few months and leave sooner, I'll instead be immediately shipping off to Monterey, CA to attend the Defense Language Institute and begin learning a foreign language.
Only time will tell, I suppose. But I'm up to the challenge, and very happy I went through with it.
And also, if anyone is reading this and thinking "Hey, I'd kinda like to do that," let me know! If I refer you to a recruiter and you do end up enlisting or becoming an officer or whatever, I'm one step closer to going up in rank again. If I manage to get 4 referrals (that end in enlistment) before I head off to boot camp, I automatically become an E-3. I really don't expect that out of anyone, though. Just know that the Navy opens many, many doors. Ever wanted to see the world? Get job experience in a highly technical career? Become more physically fit? Well, then I welcome you to my world.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
theshinobi:
Congrats (not that it's hard at all to join the service).
lunna:
Hey you. How have things been since this update? Sorry I haven't called lately...stuff been going on with Kaylee..check my journal. Anyways love ya and miss you and you better come back here to play for awhile before you go away in December. What are you doing around the fourth of July? Would love for you to come stay with me and hang out.
