PNWRedHerring
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Lost 115 lbs, was accepted to the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School, and commissioned as a 2nd LT a little over a week ago.
Reach for your goals, and don't let anyone stand in your way.
lynchdAnimal
Infantry too! Hooah
TheTwoRaptorsYouDidntEvenKnowWereThere
"When I grow up, I want to be a 2nd LT at the US Army Officer Candidate School"
NoPhux
Holy Mutha Fuggin Butter Bar.. Well at least you got your Cross Rifles so you're not a complete loss
jordanschlansky
Try not to get too lost.
patcheohulahan
I hope your unit sees this when you get there and posts this pic all over the cp to welcome the new butter bar
ThatAwesomeGinger
This is inspiring, keep at it soldier.
Thatusernamehasalreadybeen
As a person PDQ'd for a nonsensical medical condition - I wasn't able to overcome what stood in my way to reach my goal. Congrats though.
NickNoltesStuntDouble
OUT FUCKING STANDING!
AngryVe
Don't be an idiot. Don't be over eager. Run faster than everyone in your unit. Don't volunteer your men. And don't seek out combat.
AngryVe
It's less fun than you think.
Havok707
SO.. did you get a sword?
PNWRedHerring
Not yet... Couple pay checks, amd I'll waste my money.
DILLIGAF2000
Good for you 2LT is a humbling time. Do your best.
imgonnawreckitagain
Listen to your NCO's. Be democratic about many things. Source 20 year vet w/10 commissioned.
MisterTrashPanda
Nice job. As a former Captain in the USMC, listen to your SNCOs and read all the regs/SOPs concerning your job. No one expects a Lt to 1/2
MisterTrashPanda
2/2 - to know shit. Surprise them. And PS, 1stLt is much more fun than 2ndLt. Have fun.
AngryVe
Congratulations. Now stop milking this for points and go for a run LT. Tomorrow you're rucking 10 miles.
HM3Seasalt
Bootenant. Butter bar. Etc
ChaseGray89
Lt fucking positive over here
PNWRedHerring
Laughing really hard at this. Made my night.
12brohan
From an NCO to a an officer, please let me navigate. Please understand that we will mentor you to the best of our abilities and that we
12brohan
Have very, very valuable experience.
namesarenotalwayswhattheyseem
Congrats sir, find a few older wiser junior enlisted you trust, they know the majority's morale. I'm momma duck among the boots in my unit.
ciokthisout
Awesome job! I lost about 45 lbs just to get to MEPS and I need to lose just a few more before I can swear in. Enlisted here
PNWRedHerring
Get it!
bippityboppitybuttsex
Just remember, your primary source of information is your platoon sergeant. Trust him, love him.
AnimalAxeDarer
Unless he's a POS. It happens.
bippityboppitybuttsex
Yeah, we had one in Germany that totally annihilated his Platoon Leader, bad OER and all.
OohhhYeeaaahhhh
Listen to your PSG. He's been doing this for awhile, all of your ideas are not good ideas. Actually care about your soldiers. Youll be fine.
modsquad0
Congratulations. Best Wishes. (If that's OK to say in the presence of Platoon Sgts)
UterusUterusGhali
You look like you are auditioning for a musical or something... " Hi, my name is Brent and I'll be reading for the part of OP"....
dareisaybeans
How old are you? Just curious.
PNWRedHerring
Take a guess.
dareisaybeans
25? I'm now a ripe old 33, but it's always been my dream.
PNWRedHerring
Im older than 25, we had a gal who was 34 she was accepted with a waiver. You'd have to scramble though if you really want to do it. 1/2
dareisaybeans
Thought so! Well good on you! Wish you the best!
PNWRedHerring
Enlisting is an option up to like 40. If it really is a dream and you feel you'd regret never doing it talk with a recruiter.
itsjustscout
Congrats! What will you be doing?
AngryVe
Waiting for his back and his knees to give out.
PNWRedHerring
Infantry.
bippityboppitybuttsex
Off to Ranger School with ye then... Do mean, nasty things to the Darby Queen!
SilverbackRotineque
#gruntlife. "True leadership is caring about your people more than they care about themselves." Brian Chontosh told me that, look him up.
imgonnawreckitagain
you WANT infantry? thats what those who don't get their choice get stuck with
PNWRedHerring
Most OCS classes are competing for Infantry/Armor.
imgonnawreckitagain
fuuuckkkkkkkkk that. sleeping in the dirt? Use your head man, go Combat service support. logistics is just as important is trigger pulling
PNWRedHerring
Lol, right. Aviation was my first choice, hopefully I can transfer down the road. For now Imma enjoy the suck.
SilverbackRotineque
Not in USMC, usually most desired MOS. Also, I find your statement ironic as infantry is literally the backbone of the military.
imgonnawreckitagain
marines are uncle sams misguided children after all. I can understand why they would want that. Army is just a wee bit smarter ;)
killerspartan07
Congrats but for the love of all enlisted don't be "that lieutenant"
bippityboppitybuttsex
Somebody has to be...
BMan086
If you're smart you don't want to be
bippityboppitybuttsex
I was in the SP4 Mafia... we did as little as fucking possible... I was the "Training NCO" (in quotes for a reason).
itsjustscout
What is "that LT"?
JackalopeElope
1) Those that don't respect the fact that their NCOs are better tactically, and Sr.NCO are better stratigically.
JackalopeElope
2)Sign their platoon up for every god-damn field op, back to back or simultaniously, but doesn't tell any-one else.
JackalopeElope
4) Tries to be buddy, buddy with Jr enlisted. (The relation sould be respectful, and educational both ways.) Sorry for the rant.
JackalopeElope
3) Set up all the work on Monday but still make everyone sit in the shop 0800-1830 all week long.
SilverbackRotineque
Having been a lieutenant, and am now a captain, I realize that every Lt is at some point "that Lt" regardless of how hard they try not to be
MisterTrashPanda
Fellow Capt, yup. Just comes with being new at the job. We could just as easily poke fun at new SNCOs or privates.
SilverbackRotineque
Yep. Just part of the culture and the job. It's the ones who don't grow out of being "that fucking guy" that give everyone a bad name
TheLordTachanka
Just a question, what entails being "that Lt."?
SilverbackRotineque
Lots of things; trying to be friends (not leader/mentor relationship) with jr Marines, not listening to NCOs/SNCOs advice, being overly...
SilverbackRotineque
full of himself, being a general twat, making people do absurd things, being a pushover. It's a tough job, especially at first
fedoraeuphoria
Congrats dude, I'm walking into a recruiting office on Friday to start the process myself
PNWRedHerring
For OCS or enlisting in general?
fedoraeuphoria
OCS but for USCG. Heard they might be getting their budget slashed so not sure how tough it'll be for a civilian
Masonimore
I know an 0-4 in the CG. Awesome guy
PNWRedHerring
Army is gearing up to expand, if USCG falls through. My class was majority off the street, but not buy a large margin. Might be similar CG.
fedoraeuphoria
That's what I've been hearing, so I might need to look at other avenues. Anyways, again, congrats, that's an incredible accomplishment!
PNWRedHerring
Best of luck man! Hope you get it.
bippityboppitybuttsex
Please, dear god, let your NCOs navigate.
powderwt
Can we also add drive?
milofuzz
Butter bar always knows more.....uhum. Jk! Ha
AstonishinglyIncompetent
And maybe use some of that butterbar cash to get some pants that fit... sir...
atma1313
"Don't confuse your experience with my rank." -shit that comes out of a 2nd LT's mouth
IamMelonLordeYaYaYa
Listen to your enlisted advisors. Seriously, LISTEN. A lot of things you are taught to not jive in the real world
BavarianGuy
Name one that does? o_O
bippityboppitybuttsex
Yeah, but those same Enlisted are not entirely out to help our newly minted O1
IamMelonLordeYaYaYa
The enlisted advisor should
ChomskyWouldnt
http://imgur.com/q5GkWOc
killerspartan07
As a shield holder I agree
thjoth
I'm more of a parrying dagger guy myself, but bucklers are also OK.
FreedomIsntFree
As a shield holder myself I also agree.
bippityboppitybuttsex
I was an 11B, long ago, in a country too Germany to speak of...
killerspartan07
Glad you made it out safe brother
bippityboppitybuttsex
Got in just after GW1, ETSd six days before unit was stop-lossed for GW2
KellionBane
Yeah, Guild Wars 2 really sucked the life out of Guild Wars 1............ >_>
killerspartan07
Did they get cut down and put as a platoon in another unit?
newworldtraveller
I'm not even in the military, but that was my first thought. I read a lot and have quite a few Marine NCO Marine buds, can't help it.
bippityboppitybuttsex
Fun Fact: The NCOs in charge of platoons have one primary mission: Train Second Lieutenants to become First Lieutenants.
newworldtraveller
That can't be true...! Really?
GunFighter3
Yup quite accurate. Our captains used to throw butter bars at the corporals and sergeants like they were cheese and veggie omelet MREs
newworldtraveller
Seems like maybe they should just send the NCOs to OCS instead?
bippityboppitybuttsex
Really. And to prevent those 2LT from fucking up so bad they kill everyone.
iforgotwhatiwasdoinghere
I had a butter bar ask me, "What's a click?"
bippityboppitybuttsex
Which is kind of weird, why would a PL be navigating, he is in the middle of the formation. Usually a fire-team leader is the one with a map
iforgotwhatiwasdoinghere
We were looking at the map.
kizzile27
*Klick...
iforgotwhatiwasdoinghere
Fair enough.
flyingskejaquita
It's better to ask and learn than to pretend you know everything.
JBib
Very true. Still funny.
iforgotwhatiwasdoinghere
This is very true.
bippityboppitybuttsex
I just assumed they teach land nav in IOBC... silly me
flyingskejaquita
I can't recall where I first learned what a click was. It's just jargon, just like K's
bippityboppitybuttsex
It is the noise the compass makes when you walk 1000 meters.
thegameball
"I dont need a compass to tell me which way the wind shines"
bippityboppitybuttsex
Sir, please explain 'Declination vs. Deflection' to me, and you can have the compass back.
Burnymacc
1000 meters past where the NCOIC said we needed to turn at
bippityboppitybuttsex
I once did a land nav course where everyone had their own waypoints, and the motherfuckers were burried. So, you walked your azimuth...
bippityboppitybuttsex
... a few hours when no one could find their first waypoints. This was just a regular MTOE Inf Bn, nothing special, just an SF CSM.
bippityboppitybuttsex
... and pace count and started fucking digging. Find a 50 cal ammo can and it told you your next az and distance. They called it off after..
YoungMetroDontTrustYou
Isnt OCS for prior enlisted?
bippityboppitybuttsex
Somewhat, but you can apply for an OCS appointment from the civilian world too... it is just really hard to do.
PNWRedHerring
https://youtu.be/MlGdmJ39ZW0
AIterdcarbon
.
bippityboppitybuttsex
Wow.
theshadowrealmyugiboy
Oh god lol
PhillipSwanson
^^at least he knows.
PhillipSwanson
Also @op, understand that most NCOs will know more than you. Let them teach you, and learn all you can.
FenyxKnight
"where's your rifle" lol
JBib
I love it!
2muchbaconsaidno1ever
That was hysterical.
gad885
Love ranger up
Nephus
Not even military and this is pretty hilarious to me.
92xander
Hahahaha I love the videos from ranger up
waterbucketsandsparetowels
"I need a working party" *dives into the fucking trees*
thea1997
Almost started running when I heard "I need a working party"
dantesora2
What's a working party?
Treblaine
Less emphasis on "party" more emphasis on "working".
thea1997
It's almost as fun as an ice cream social
[deleted]
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fistermatic5000
They're basically a PVT in terms of actual experience.
Treblaine
Officer/enlisted divide. Officers come up with strategy WHAT to do, enlisted figure out HOW to actually do it.
bippityboppitybuttsex
It is a reference to the fact that they are stress bunnies and are about making decisions, not doing things.
thepsudo
"stress bunnies"? Is this in the same sense as ski bunnies? They follow stress, seek it out and obsess over it?
[deleted]
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bippityboppitybuttsex
There is a famous story about a 2LT being given an NCO and a squad of soldiers and being asked to raise a flagpole. At first, the 2LT...
bippityboppitybuttsex
... is doing it wrong. Has everyone stop and says, "Sargent, Raise this Flagpole and walks away." That is how you officer.
bippityboppitybuttsex
... the guys to dig a hole so deep, and so wide, and then how to mix cement... a little while later, the instructor comes out and says he...
Manieman
My wife's grandad told me a story about Vietnam when this new officer that just had just finished officer school came in to lead them and
Manieman
Got them lost going were they weren't supposed to be and the New Zealand army spotted them from the air and started shelling them with
Manieman
Artillery he told me his friend who been in the army for years went into the APC to make some food when a shell exploded at the ramp or what
Manieman
Ever it is and exploded inside so he died theny wife's grandad ran and his under a tree till it was over shits crazy yo
Manieman
Also was the Australian army and old time he got hurt was breaking up fire wood and a nail got him in the arm
Goosefrab
Take your plt Sgt and squad NCOs out to dinner and find out about them and how they operate. You are not there to give orders but to learn
captainhappen
You are there to give orders and to learn. You are the officer, do both.
SpaceSpeed
"You are not there to give orders..." http://imgur.com/5JmGlYL
Murray30
Amen to that. I had new LT's that got their feelings hurt when they found out they didn't know as much as they thought they did.
Murray30
Whoever down voted didn't know I made E6 in 5 years, have a BS, spoke 2 foreign languages, SR rated jump master & was below the zone for E7
Murray30
Nothing funnier than a LT getting his feelings hurt by his Plt SGT & getting his feelings hurt again by the CO after telling on the Plt Sgt.
Elonth
i mean Hes still your boss... Its great to learn but at the end of the day orders come down to him he gives them to you.
Imabigdealinjapan
Be careful of getting hit with fraternization though.
SpudimusPrime
Do it with all of them and it's "Team building"
twofishtails
Big mistake a lot of newbie LTS make is getting too chummy with the enlisted guys. Gotta be a distance.
PNWRedHerring
That's a great idea, thank you.
MisterTrashPanda
Disregard the last part, but follow the first part. You are there to give orders, but you need to learn from those that are more experienced
bippityboppitybuttsex
You have a very fine line of separation you need to maintain. Take your PltSgt... you may need to get these people killed some day...
bippityboppitybuttsex
... I do not mean this as an insult, but some day you are going to need to order them to do things that might put them in a bag.
PNWRedHerring
I'm very much aware.