Back in the beginning of December I decided that the Army Reserves had something to offer me, and I still feel very much this way. Since that time, I've spent countless hours researching the process, what I want to do, and how to best succeed at the level I want to. I started by finding out from a TN recruiter where I start the process, they told me I needed to start it here in Oregon, so I called a recruiter and I started my process. I had no idea the amount of paperwork and effort it takes to get into the service. People act like it's the easy way out, but that's not close to true. I had to dig up histories I barely remembered about, and find documentation on them. I've fought with my school to recognize me as a resident once I start this process, and I've chased ROTC majors all over the sun.
When I got back in Oregon, I had filled out almost all of the paperwork. Then began the sitting process, and of course a few bumps in the road, like getting transcripts last minute which is very pricey. The military is a lot of hurry up and wait. I've sat for countless hours this week. In their defense, while they don't pay you for your time, they pay for any and all provisions. For my actual trip to enlist, I sat at my recruiter's office for 3 hours. I then took a ride to the station which is near airports for accessibility and shipping people out. I've asked questions to those who were supposed to be knowledgable and most definitely weren't, and I've found that I talk fairly softly when I'm nervous!
I walked in, took my ASVAB, which if done using all the time allotted takes three hours. Luckily, being a fast test taker in general, I was out in under an hour. It was 1800 at that point. I was driven to a hotel with another guy who had taken some tests, given a room key and a meal ticket, and told there would be a safety briefing at 8:15. I say in my room on my laptop, and yes there was someone else's stuff in the room when I got there. I went down for my briefing, went upstairs, went to bed, and woke up at 0400 when my 17 year old high school senior roommate decided she was headed to hang out with the guys. She didn't brush her teeth or shower - I was mildly creeped out.
Breakfast was ready at 0515, nothing awesome, and we were shipped to the MEPS center by 0545. When we arrived, we stood outside for about 5 minutes, then were shuffled through a metal detector and into a room for a procedure briefing. The man that did this..... was intimidating as all get out. He was in his usual Army uniform, had a very mild stutter, talked so fast you couldn't understand him, and didn't look anywhere but at the door or down. He was in his 40's.
The process wasn't as hard or scary as he or the recruiters made it out to be. For the most part, it was laid back, efficient, and easy. We signed and filled out a stack of papers, I took the TAPAS, a personality test, and did a drug test, in which you're required to be watched. I thought I was going to freeze up, but when you need to pee, nothing is going to stop you. I then had my blood drawn by the same man that gave the procedure briefing, who did a very good job. I had my vision tested and my hearing tested, in which I found out I have very good hearing, and I'm blind. The blindness would bite me in the butt later in the process. I was sent to see a Dr. who was very personable and intimidating. She read my history, asked a couple questions, and let me know I would not be enlisting that day. I started to tear up as my excitement had just been crushed. The issue was my eyes, I was .137 too blind in my left eye, so I have to go get a real optometrist to check them and see if I'm good to go. I was sent with the other three girls to strip down to bras and underwear, weigh, get our heights, then do mobility movements like the duck walk. We then put on gowns, and got checked lightly by the doctor. I was sent to see the head doctor, who confirmed my blindness, and told I would come back this week to get them tested and be able to swear in.
I waited 5 hours, in which I ate lunch and talked to people, and a shuttle came to pick me up. I'm happy to be doing what I'm doing for sure, but what a process. I was also shocked by the amount of high school seniors going through. I didn't know what I wanted at 17, and signing into a 6 year contract sure wasn't it.
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