Getting Riot pumped up

I wonder if you'll be so patriotic when you get out in the real world.

Yes, because every adult hates his country.

I wonder if you'll be so patriotic when you get out in the real world.

Yes, because every adult hates his country.

I didn't say that, and I didn't say I hated the country either. Just wondering is all. The world's alot different than history books and saying the pledge of allegiance. I'm certainly not anti-military, I've just always been curious how guys (and/or gals) can come straight out of high school and join the military.

I can understand those who do it for the scholarhips, help with college, wanting to blow shit up (not that I agree with that one ), etc... but for the ones who truly are patriotic about it and want to 'serve their country'... I don't get it. You haven't even been experienced in the way the country actually works, so I fail to see how you can actually be willing to die (and kill) for it.

edit: This whole thing sounded like I was pointing it at you- I wasn't. Just in general, most high school kids have no idea how the country works, or how corrupt and flat-out wrong parts of it are. In addition, I'm seriously off-topic here, so perhaps I'll contribute a bit.

All the ideas folks have suggested are great, but I must add one to the list-- swimming. Ease into everything with swimming. If you're out of shape like I have been, it is flat-out the best way to ease into a healthy lifestyle.

I know how the country works...just because I am in high school doesn't mean I don't know how the real world works. And who cares? I love this country and all the oppertunities I am given here and I want to give back to it. Ever since 9/11 I've wanted to join the military and become a police officer. It's just been my goal in life to do it.

But, I don't really care if you don't think I can be patriotic when I am older. Because I can and I will. I love this country more than anything else in the world. I don't want to die for this country, but I'm willing to put my life on the line to defend it and serve it. I wish there were more people like me because the anti-military and anti-american sentiment right now in high schools has me concerned.

My Uncle, the one who owns the M16 (get one they're sweet!), was in the Navy all through vietnam and served in the intelligence branch after that. He believes the government is so corrupt that he has absolutely no faith in it. In some ways it is, in some ways its very corrupt, the CIA does a lot of stuff its not supposed to, the gov't monitors our phonecalls, we hold prisoners in guantanamo bay without trial, but then again I'm interested in the stuff they do, even if they may not do it in the most "truthful" of ways...

Of course that would make me not want to join the military, in fact i thought i wanted to join the military, like you riot, then i joined an ROTC group, which gave me the sugar coated view of what it was, and it was not fun. SO many drills and pointless maneuvers, and on top of that it was horribly repetitive. I dropped out of that class and vowed to never join the military.

Its not what they make it sound like at the recruiters office, they make you think its going to be a lot of fun and you get your own fighter jet when in reality its a lot of work, a lot of tedious work, and its a minimum of 2 years of your life you wont get back.

I'd got to college if I were you man, that way when you get out you can decide what you want to do, and then if you join the military you can become an officer, why not go to college on an ROTC scholarship, that way you still get the military and the college?

I don't want to die for this country, but I'm willing to put my life on the line to defend it and serve it.

I'm trying to figure out if this isn't a contradiction

I wish there were more people like me because the anti-military and anti-american sentiment right now in high schools has me concerned.

It's concerning me too. I wonder if these people are doing it to be rebellious or because it's the "cool thing" to do, but I hope they actually understand the issues rather than follow a trend blindly.

My Uncle, the one who owns the M16 (get one they're sweet!), was in the Navy all through vietnam and served in the intelligence branch after that. He believes the government is so corrupt that he has absolutely no faith in it. In some ways it is, in some ways its very corrupt, the CIA does a lot of stuff its not supposed to, the gov't monitors our phonecalls, we hold prisoners in guantanamo bay without trial, but then again I'm interested in the stuff they do, even if they may not do it in the most "truthful" of ways...

Of course that would make me not want to join the military, in fact i thought i wanted to join the military, like you riot, then i joined an ROTC group, which gave me the sugar coated view of what it was, and it was not fun. SO many drills and pointless maneuvers, and on top of that it was horribly repetitive. I dropped out of that class and vowed to never join the military.

Its not what they make it sound like at the recruiters office, they make you think its going to be a lot of fun and you get your own fighter jet when in reality its a lot of work, a lot of tedious work, and its a minimum of 2 years of your life you wont get back.

I'd got to college if I were you man, that way when you get out you can decide what you want to do, and then if you join the military you can become an officer, why not go to college on an ROTC scholarship, that way you still get the military and the college?

Nah man, I want to do the work and I want to call myself a soldier. I want to fight and I want to serve. Plus, you get free college in the Army and it looks great on job resumes. Going to the military seems like a no brainer, to me.

Cyanide, it's not a contradiction because I don't want to die, obviously. However, I am willing to die to protect my country. There is a difference, even if it is small.

Don't really have any tips for you, but good luck once you get there. We need more people like you that love America and that are willing to serve it with your passion. I know I'm not one of those people, but someday I might develop it.

I fail to see how becoming an officer doesnt make you a "real" soldier. I'd think going through a college ROTC program would probably look WAY better on a resume then what you're planning on doing. I'd say West Point looks better than 2 years in the army and Minnesota State University.

You get free college through ROTC AND you become an officer. On top of that you get paid WAY more. If you decide military is not for you, oh well, but at least you have money and a college education and an officers commision in the worlds best military to put on your resume. If you join the Army first, you may never get around to going to college and on top of that if you decide you want to become a career military man, then you may want to become an officer, then you'll have to spend more time in college and officer training school.

It seems like a no brainer move to go through an ROTC program in college, not to join the military first. I know people who've gone straight to the military and people who've done the ROTC program, and the ROTC ones are always more successful, and trust me, they're just as "real" of soldiers as the ones who are enlisted men, except they command more respect.

Anything involving high risk of death should NOT be a "no-brainer", I'm sorry- all else aside.

(Oh, and I'm all for you being willing to die to DEFEND your country, but alot of what the military is doing that's so dangerous has nothing to do with defending our homeland)

Anything involving high risk of death should NOT be a "no-brainer", I'm sorry- all else aside.

(Oh, and I'm all for you being willing to die to DEFEND your country, but alot of what the military is doing that's so dangerous has nothing to do with defending our homeland)

Well, I disgaree, Donatello.

And Silas, that is all well and good but I don't have the money to go to college. My parents are already struggling to get my brother through college, how in the world are they suppose to get me in it? Getting my 2 year degree while serving and then looking for a job in law enforcement, which the Army will help me find, seems like the plan for me. I don't care about money or about any of that stuff. I don't even think I want a family when I grow up. Just put me in a place where I can make a difference and do my duty as an American.

In my opinion, the best way to get in shape for the military is to get a job where you actually have to work hard. Try roofing. It is a fantastic total body workout for forty hours a week. Give it a try. You're getting two for one. If you wanna make it in the military you need to be more than just in physical condition, you need to be tough. Lifting doesnt make you tough, it only makes you strong.

I'm a twig and not in great shape. I've lifted weights light-heartedly at school but that's it.

i suggest you ease your way into whatever program you choose to avoid injury. since you've only lifted "light-heartedly", your body won't be used to all the physical activity you're putting on it. you probably won't have a lot of stamina so start off maybe only doing one or 2 sets per excercise the first few weeks

anywho- don't forget to stretch, diet well, and check the workout/fitness thread

My parents are already struggling to get my brother through college, how in the world are they suppose to get me in it?

aren't you a T-Wolve season ticket holder? The money used there is easily at least 2 semesters at a community college. a part time job can pay off your school, assuming you still live at home

have you tried financial aid, grants, etc? I'm assuming your grades are halfway decent.

I didn't pay one shitbit of attention in high school, had a horrible GPA and barely graduated... I was able to get enough financial aid to go to community college.

Join a gym

aren't you a T-Wolve season ticket holder? The money used there is easily at least 2 semesters at a community college. a part time job can pay off your school, assuming you still live at home

have you tried financial aid, grants, etc? I'm assuming your grades are halfway decent.

Somethings are more important than an education!

Somethings are more important than an education!

I think those some things are a bit too important to you.

I can be perfectly content without having a great education. That isn't the goal in my life. I have the goals that I want to accomplish and at this point education is secondary to me right now.

And Silas, that is all well and good but I don't have the money to go to college. My parents are already struggling to get my brother through college, how in the world are they suppose to get me in it? Getting my 2 year degree while serving and then looking for a job in law enforcement, which the Army will help me find, seems like the plan for me. I don't care about money or about any of that stuff. I don't even think I want a family when I grow up. Just put me in a place where I can make a difference and do my duty as an American.

In a college ROTC program they pay for your college

but see thats too weak for riot. he needs the army 24/7 you know.

I so need to get back in the gym and lift weights. It's been about five months since I've lifted and I've lost a TON of strength. I was pretty beefed up around December but I moved and there's literally nothing around here to get into as far as weights go. We have yoga classes and all that girly stuff but do we have a gym? No. I have to drive 30 miles just to see a barbell.

Hey Riot, you should join the Marines instead of the Army.

Hey Riot, you should join the Marines instead of the Army.

Jesus, your trying to get him killed!

I guess if you want to go through hell you could goto the Marines but I hear it's really tough. Not saying that the Army isn't because it's probably pretty difficult in itself.

Hey Riot, you should join the Marines instead of the Army.

Jesus, your trying to get him killed!

I guess if you want to go through hell you could goto the Marines but I hear it's really tough. Not saying that the Army isn't because it's probably pretty difficult in itself.

Well, Marine bootcamp may be incredibly difficult, but its ironic that you would say I'm trying to get him killed.

A jarhead has a whole lot less chance of getting killed in battle then a soldier.

But yes, I have heard the same about the Marines training/boot camp. Impossibly tough.[/url]

Hey Riot, you should join the Marines instead of the Army.

I've been thinking about it, especially because they keep calling me and sending me bummer stickers and posters. However, they don't have the benefits and facilities that the U.S. Army offers me. The training is tough, but infantry training in the Army is also pretty tough. The major difference is that the Marine basic training is focused even more on phyiscal and it is a bit longer. It would take me 13 weeks to get through basic training and my AIT (which for infantry is combined into one), but in the Marines basic is 13 weeks in itself.

It really doesn't matter, both guys are infantry and both get to fight. The only difference is the Army can offer me some nice packages for my future as a law enforcer.

aren't you a T-Wolve season ticket holder? The money used there is easily at least 2 semesters at a community college. a part time job can pay off your school, assuming you still live at home

have you tried financial aid, grants, etc? I'm assuming your grades are halfway decent.

Somethings are more important than an education!

If Kevin Garnett can become successful in the NBA without going to college, Riot can be successful too. Riot is a true red, white, blue T'wolves fan.

don't forget to stretch, diet well, and check the workout/fitness thread

Forgetting to stretch can be a real bitch. As what was said before, have a good diet, get plenty of rest, be consistent in your regimen and make sure there is progression in you workouts. Also drink water always. Lots of it.