heckler & koch

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:58:30 GMT

So, for anyone who still reads this, you may not know that I recently decided to join the Marine Corps. Part of me joining the Corps involved ending my four year relationship, which sucks, but if it's what I have to do, well, I'll do it.

I've gotten a lot of questions and comments about my decision since I've announced it, but one in particular sticks out. I've been told by more than a few people that what I'm doing is a "waste" and that I'm too smart to do this sort of thing. I want to point out, first off, that I am not enlisting and have no plans to. I want to go to OCS and get a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. But that aside, even enlisting, no matter how smart you are, is never a waste, and to say otherwise is an insult to all of the men and women serving in our military. I hate the common perception that smart people don't join the military, and that for them to do so is a waste of their "talents". If it wasn't for all these people wasting their time in the service, those dicks making those silly comments wouldn't be living in the best country in the world.

The other big question I get is simple - why? I'd thought about it a lot, but I could never figure out a good way to put it in words. After reading Nate Fick's book, One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer, he sums up pretty well why I feel compelled to do this.

"By the summer of 1998, my classmates were signing six-figure contracts as consultants and investment bankers. I didn't understand what we, at age twenty-two, could possibly be consulted about. Others headed off to law school or medical school for a few more years of reading instead of living. None of it appealed to me. I wanted to go on a great adventure, to prove myself, to serve my country. I wanted to do something so hard that no one could ever talk shit to me. In Athens or Sparta, my decision would have been easy. I felt as if I had been born too late. There was no longer a place in the world for a young man who wanted to wear armor and slay dragons.

Dartmouth encouraged deviation from the trampled path, but only to join organizations like the Peace Corps or Teach for America. I wanted something more transformative. Something that might kill me - or leave me better, stronger, more capable. I wanted to be a warrior."

Just replace "Dartmouth" with "GWU" and "1998" with "2008", and I feel like it could've been written about me.

And a lot of people ask me why the Marine Corps as opposed to a "safer" option like the Navy or the Air Force. Fick's answer to that also explains my feelings on the matter.

"The Army sent me a letter during my junior year at Dartmouth, promising to pay for graduate school. The Navy and the Air Force did the same, promising skills and special training. The Marine Corps promised nothing. Whereas the other services listed their benefits, the Corps asked, 'Do you have what it takes?' If I was going to serve in the military, I would be a Marine."

So there you go. All you people wondering why I want to waste my time or risk my life to join the Marine Corps? There's your answer.

Triumphant Return!

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:34:24 GMT

I may just start updating this thing.

And to mark the occasion, a survey stolen from Sara. Yes, I'm lame. Fuck you.

Seven Deadly Sins Survey

Wrath
Who did you last get angry with? Don't know anymore.
What is your weapon of choice? M1A.
Would you hit a member of the opposite sex? Not unless I had to.
How about the same sex? In a heartbeat.
Who was the last person who got really angry at you? Don't know.
What is your pet peeve? Everyone.
Do you keep grudges, or can you let them go easily? Both.

Sloth
What is one thing you're suppose to do daily that you haven't? Work out.
What is the latest you've ever woken up? 8PM.
Name a person you've been meaning to contact, but haven't? Gramps.
What is the last lame excuse that you made? I make too many lame excuses to keep track of them all.
Have you ever watched an infomercial all the way through? Yes.
How many times did you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock this morning? None, I just shut it off and went back to sleep.

Gluttony
What is your overpriced yuppie beverage of choice? Bawls?
Are you a meat eater? Of fucking course I am.
What is the greatest amount of alcohol you've had in one sitting/outing/event? More than enough.
Are you comfortable with your drinking and eating habits? Yep.
Do you enjoy candy and sweets? Occasionally.
Which do you prefer: sweets, salty foods or spicy foods? Spicy.
Have you ever looked at a small house pet or child and thought, "lunch"? All too often.

Greed
How many credit cards do you own? Just the one. Maxed.
If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it? '69 Roadrunner, 440 6-pack, Viper-sourced IRS.
Would you rather be rich or famous? Rich. Fame is overrated.
Would you accept a boring job if it meant that you would make megabucks? I work a boring job because it pays at all, I don't even get megabucks.

Pride
What's one thing that you have done that you're most proud of? I'm not proud of anything I do.
What's one thing you have done that your parents are most proud of? Don't know.
What thing would you like to accomplish later in your life? '69 Roadrunner, 440 6-pack, Viper-sourced IRS.
Do you get annoyed by coming in second place? Depending on the nature of the competition, yes.
Have you ever entered a contest of skill, knowing you were of much higher skill than all the other competitors? Mmhm.
Have you ever cheated to get a better score? More times than I care to count.
What did you do today that you're proud of? Nothing.

Lust
How many people have you seen naked (not counting movies, family, strippers, locker rooms)? Five? Ten? I dunno.
How many people have seen you naked (not counting physicians, doctors, family, locker rooms, or when you were a young child)? 5? Ten?
Have you ever caught yourself staring at the chest/crotch of a person of your chosen sex during a normal conversation? Nah.
What is your favorite body part of a person of your gender choice? Eyes.
Have you ever had sexual encounters (including kissing/making out) with multiple persons? Never.
Have you ever been propositioned by a prostitute? Yes, actually.

Envy
What item of your friends would you most want to have for your own? '69 Roadrunner.
Who would you want to go on "Trading Spaces" with? No one, everyone else sucks except me.
If you could be anyone who existed in the world, who would you be? Bear Grylls, he kicks ass.
Have you ever been cheated on? Not that I know of.
Have you ever wished you had a physical feature different from your own? Nope.
What inborn trait do you see in others that you wish you had for yourself? Compassion? No, I kid. Nothing.

What deadly sin...
Do you do the most often? Wrath.
Do you do the least often? Envy.
Is your favorite to act on? Wrath.

Sun, 12 Dec 2004 20:50:09 GMT

fuck it, i succumbed. i'm only doing this to leave comments.