09-10-2003 03:36									#1
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It seems I'm going to be going on an extended vacation. As some of you may recall back during the run up to Gulf War 2 I extended my enlistement in the Army's Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) during a moment of patriotic stupidity. I figured since no one in the IRR had been called up during GW1 I would be reasonably safe from a call up and I would still be able to build points towards a military pension. It seems I have rolled the dice and lost.

They've told me that due to a sever shortage of my MOS I will be ordered to active duty after the first of the year and the deployment orders will be for 18 months. They won't tell me where it is I'm going (which seems weird to me as they normally do) but they have told me it won't be to Iraq or Afghanistan. I'm purely guessing but I'd bet on either Djibouti or Uzebekistan.

The sucky thing is I'm just starting to get interviews for a new job but there is no way I will get through the 90 day probationary period before I get deployed. Since I will be a probationary employee they can fire me at will and they will not have to give me another job when I return. That means I'm going to come back at the end of 18 months and I will still be unemployed.

	09-10-2003 03:38									#2
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What's the pay in the army?

	09-10-2003 03:42									#3
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Those Uzbek women shure arrrr purdy.

	09-10-2003 03:43									#4
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Adventure!


And don't be stupid again next time!

	09-10-2003 03:44									#5
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Aarrgh. Sorry to hear that dude. :/

	09-10-2003 03:57									#6
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Have you discussed with your prospective employer?
Not the military, the other guy.

	09-10-2003 04:00									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Azazel What's the pay in the army?

Not very good. I think when all is said and done I'll get about $40k per year. On the up side you don't have to pay any taxes so it is like making $60k per year back home except you lose all of your personal freedom during the entire deployment.

	09-10-2003 04:02									#8
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Hell of a lot better than when I was in.

	09-10-2003 04:02									#9
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Lose your personal freedom?

I thought you were some behind-the-lines bum who did nothing? Or is this the way things work only in the IDF?

Look, Oerdin, think of the bright side: It's as if you got a job in civilian life. What if that job interview wouldn't go your way? You'd stay unemployed. Now you're in the army, and getting paid ok, as well.

	09-10-2003 04:04									#10
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quote: Originally posted by SlowwHand Have you discussed with your prospective employer? Not the military, the other guy.

No. I'm thinking no employer in his right mind would hire a man he knew was leaving for a year and a half in just two months. It's just to easy to hire a different person instead.

	09-10-2003 04:11									#11
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Out of curiosity, what's your occupational specialty Oerdin?

	09-10-2003 07:49									#12
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37F. Psychological Operations Specialist.

	09-10-2003 07:54									#13
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quote: Originally posted by Oerdin 37F. Psychological Operations Specialist.

Are you the guy that draws those lame ass "Think of your wife and family" leaflets that get dropped on the enemy?

	09-10-2003 07:55									#14
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Well, you will have a steady job for 18 months.

Damn the manpower shorage is severe to give 18 month stints.

	09-10-2003 08:53									#15
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quote: I think when all is said and done I'll get about $40k per year.

If it's true, take comfort in knowing that it will probably take me my entire enlistment to make that much per year.

	09-10-2003 08:56									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Oerdin 37F. Psychological Operations Specialist.

Ah yes...I worked closely with you guys during my stint with the 3rd Special Forces Group.

	09-10-2003 10:06									#17
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They're the ones that blare hard rock to coerce the terrorists to surrender

	09-10-2003 18:57									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Agathon Are you the guy that draws those lame ass "Think of your wife and family" leaflets that get dropped on the enemy?

Yes.

quote: They're the ones that blare hard rock to coerce the terrorists to surrender.

Also true through in that case it was the Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriaga.

	09-10-2003 19:00									#19
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So how does a Geologist end up being in PsyOps?

	09-10-2003 19:01									#20
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quote: Originally posted by Kirnwaffen If it's true, take comfort in knowing that it will probably take me my entire enlistment to make that much per year.

You get the base salary plus housing allowence (for a reservist they pay according to the cost of housing where you live and my home of record is in $an Diego), plus hazardous duty pay, plus jump pay, plus what ever else. I now have nine years in though three of it was in the IRR so that also helps.

It's to bad there isn't a promotion board between then and now since I'm in a slot which will let me get promoted.

	09-10-2003 19:03									#21
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C'mon cheer up! You're off to serve your country and its not as though you'll be carrying a 100lb pack with a tin-pot on your head and getting shot at (too often).

	09-10-2003 19:04									#22
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Why do you get jump pay? : possibly indignant:

	09-10-2003 19:08									#23
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Oh, and also, What's your rank?

	09-10-2003 19:09									#24
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quote: Originally posted by Wittlich Ah yes...I worked closely with you guys during my stint with the 3rd Special Forces Group.

You were in SF? I used to see 3rd SF guys around Fort Brag every once in a while and I always wished I had a one of those black barrettes. Now, I guess they give them to everybody.

	09-10-2003 19:11									#25
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quote: Originally posted by SpencerH Why do you get jump pay? : possibly indignant:

I'd have to get requalified (you have to jump at least one per year) but I have my jump wings and the 301 st Psyop (out of San Diego) is jumping in December. I'm going to make sure I jump with them so I get the extra cash.

	09-10-2003 19:12									#26
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quote: Originally posted by Azazel So how does a Geologist end up being in PsyOps?

He needed money to pay for school, tested well on the tests, and then didn't get his degree until after he was already in the Army.

	09-10-2003 19:13									#27
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Why on earth would psyop types jump from a plane? Maybe you will be carrying that pack I mentioned. Sounds like fun

	09-10-2003 19:15									#28
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quote: Originally posted by Oerdin He needed money to pay for school, tested well on the tests, and then didn't get his degree until after he was already in the Army.

I see. It works the opposite here. I get the degree first, and then the army drags me away for 6 years. Oh, and the pay sucks, too.

	09-10-2003 19:16									#29
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quote: Originally posted by SpencerH Why on earth would psyop types jump from a plane? Maybe you will be carrying that pack I mentioned. Sounds like fun

About half of the people in Psyops are jump qualified. Technically it's a special opporations classification so we get extra money for goodies like that. In the active duty side Psyops will sometimes work with the Rangers, SF, or other units which jump out of planes so we have to be able to go where they go.

	09-10-2003 19:19									#30
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Interesting. Are you a linguist too?