I are Gradumacated!

[Tomato]

I just finished phase 1 of my tech school (phase 2 is another 9 months... but I'm not babified like I am here) and I'm taking a week or so of leave to go home in the interm. I've seen each of my parents once since joining, and I haven't been able to do more than call my younger sister as she begins her college career (she's coming back this weekend though).

Needless to say, I'm excited to see everyone, but more than that... I'm escaping the phase program, finally.

For those who haven't enjoyed the fun that is tech school, here is what tech school is: Despite placing into classes that require at least a 70 on our placement test (I had a 97, btw) you are all incapable of performing simple tasks. We will therefore force you to endure formations to get to and from classes that are not only entirely inefficient, but that resist any attempt made to streamline them. You will be given a set curfew, you will not so much as wipe your nose without a briefing for it (because you might harm yourself in some way) and if you break a bone we will not recognise that fact until you have a waiver signed by a doctor, one of your teachers, and your mtl/supervisor. You will not carry any electronic device, because you are monkeys and you'll obviously use them in class like a high school student. And finally, you will attend no less than 3 briefings throughout the week about drunk driving or drinking underage, regardless of whether you drink alchohal or not.

I did not ever drink before coming to tech school. Twice since I've been here I've been drunk to the point where I lose most of my coordination and have to force myself not to stumble into my room.

My plane leaves tomorrow at 1410 cst. I can't wait.

Here's a pic of me in my dress blues:
http://i.imgur.com/NBgmi.jpg

[Reepicheep]

Dear lord, they've replaced your head!

[Tomato]

The tomato wasn't in regs.

[daglob]

Yeah, but think about how it would set off the blue of the uniform...

[JeyNyce]

Look, our little tomato has ripen.

Congrats, and again I am very proud of you.

[Alaric]

Congratulations!

Yeah, but think about how it would set off the blue of the uniform...

So, when's the "Tomato_Uniform" mesh coming?

[Tomato]

When my uniform becomes more impressive. Right now I don't even have my afsc insignia, and the ribbons I have are pretty much pity ribbons... everyone who joins gets them.

[Panther_Gunn]

I'm glad they went back & put the circle around the US insignia again.  Just another visual cue to help tell the officers from the enlisted, and I think it looks better, and makes it easier to positioned & lined up in the right place.

*looks down*

AIRMAN!  What the hell is that on the floor!?!  Pick that up!  And while you're at it, get a mop.  That floor looks like crap.

.....stupid non-buffable floor tiles......

And just for some insight from the other side, for as much as you felt insulted by the rules & restrictions of the Phase Program, you would be *amazed* at just how many people need that level of hand-holding.  It's also a good indicator of whether a new recruit can handle following orders they may not agree with or understand the reasoning for.  If they can't follow the regulations set before them in a training environment, will they really be that reliable in a stressful or combat situation, where following set procedures can save their lives, and the lives of those around them?  (I know, that sounds like a standard answer from everyone up the food chain from you, but it does have merit.....it only took me my first 15 years in the military to realize it)

When I went through, the Phase Program probably wasn't quite as tweaked out, but it was still fairly structured.  For fairly cerebral tech school (Comm-Electronics, Crypto Equp. Maintenance), I know personally of three people that got kicked out before they graduated....and one of them was a cross-trainee.  One got booted the day before graduation, and the cross-trainee (SSgt) was less than a week from graduation.  Basic Training can't catch all of the stupid people.   

[Tomato]

Oh trust me, I know... we had 5 people fail out prior to the end of my class, and that was just us. This one dude in my hallway, he was underage and was not only abusing alchohal, but spice and whatever drugs he could get ahold of.

I don't have an issue with restricting alchohal or in making sure we know what the risks are, but sometimes it seems to be taken to absurd levels. For instance, because something was going on with their dorms we had a bunch of army soldiers come over to the building. Tuesday we got dragged out of our rooms after curfew to be told to play nice with the army. Wednesday we had a hallway meeting where 30 minutes was spent stressing how we needed to play nice with the army. Friday we were drilled once again over the necessity during our final form. The entire time I was there, we had ONE incident, prior to the Tuesday briefing, where some jerk who was already getting kicked out was making offensive comments. As far as the rest of us were concerned, they were just another afsc... any rivalry that existed was between the 3 medical squadrons already in the dorm.

[billdamn22]

Congrats!

[Blkcasanova247]

Congratulations buddy.