Reddit Account: u/spyraxes
Discord Tag: spyraxes
Name and House: Visenya Targaryen
Age: 54
Cultural Group: Valyrian
Appearance: Visenya is a woman covered head to toe in striking features. With silver-gold hair worn braided or bound, allowing herself easy motion and vision in combat, purple eyes that stare from a harsh face with deep cheekbones and stern expressions, the Bloody Queen is a dominant figure in courtly and martial situations. Some say she bathes in blood to keep her youth, others that her rigorous training and love for battle keeps her body fit. Whatever the case, Visenya is a unique and unsettling woman.
Trait: Strong
Skill(s): Dragonrider, Swords (e), Essosi Blademaster (e)
Talent(s): Training, Glaring, Thinking Deeply About Things
Negative Trait(s): too cool
Starting Title(s): Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Lady of Mooncrest, Mother of the True King, the Bloody Queen, Wielder of Dark Sister, Rider of Vhagar
Starting Location: Opening Event
Alternate Characters: jesus christ its day 1 dont make me alt please!
Name and House: Marsella Egen
Age: 24
Cultural Group: Valeman
Appearance: Marsella is as cold-faced as her Queenly mistress, though more prone to smiles creeping through. She is tall, broad-shouldered, with a powerful build shaped by years of training and journeying the realm. Her hair is red and cut short, her face scarred and her green eyes deep-set and surrounded by scars.
Trait: Hale
Skill(s): Two-Handed Weapons (e), Brute
Talent(s): Dancing, Drinking, Gambling
Negative Trait(s): n/a
Starting Title(s): Sworn Sword to Lae Targaryen, Heir to Mooncrest, Cavalier
Starting Location: Opening Event
—

Bio-Timeline

• 29 BC - Visenya Targaryen is born, the first child of Aerion Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, and his wife Valaena Velaryon.
• 27 BC - Only a few years later, the boy who would later become the Conqueror, Aegon Targaryen, is born. His betrothal to Visenya is arranged almost the moment he is swaddled.
• 25 BC - Rhaenys Targaryen, youngest of the trio, joins the family. She is the last Targaryen born before the Conquest.
• 21 BC - Visenya begins to train with Lord Quenton Qoherys, Master-at-Arms of Dragonstone, and shows exceptional skill at arms. Later on, Aegon and Rhaenys both join her in practising their swordplay. Visenya always seems to get an edge, despite their shared significant skill.
• 14 BC - Between training sessions, Visenya finds herself exploring quiet places on Dragonstone. It is during one of these outings that she comes across one of the island’s non-human occupants. Vhagar, one of the smaller dragons on the island, bonds quickly with her. It takes a few months of bonding, but Visenya quickly becomes close to the beast - and soon enough she becomes its one and only rider.
• 9 BC - As arranged many years before, Aegon and Visenya wed. It is a marriage of duty, but all know Aegon holds love for his younger sister over the elder. Visenya holds no resentment. She knows duty and love cannot always intermingle, but she will do hers.
• 7 BC - Rhaenys and Aegon marry two years later in a pivot from tradition. Visenya spends more time with Vhagar and less with her siblings in the wake of it, though her love for Aegon does not dull. She remains close with the pair even with her physical distance.
• 2 BC - After a while of planning and plotting, the three Targaryens fly forth to conquer Westeros. House Stokeworth fell to Vhagar’s flames, and Duskendale knelt to the Queen after the fall of their army in Aegon’s first test. With the lands that would later become the core of Targaryen dominion secured, Aegon was crowned King of All Westeros, a crown placed atop his head by his elder sister and his title proclaimed by his younger. As the Stormlands fall to Rhaenys, and Harrenhal to Aegon, Visenya finds herself tasked with the conquest of the Vale. After destroying the region’s fleet, though not without losing a large portion of the Targaryen navy itself, Visenya circles back to Blackwater Bay, landing in Crackclaw Point and accepting the oaths of fealty of the local lords in the wake of Harrenhal’s destruction. With the Claw pacified, Visenya flies to join her siblings once more. They take a smaller force to the Reach, to meet an army of the Gardeners and Lannisters in battle. Nearly through dragonfire alone, the armies of Reach and West crumble, House Gardener nearly becomes extinct, and House Lannister kneels to the new royal house. Visenya receives an injury in the battle, taking an arrow to the shoulder, but it does nothing to hamper her skill.
• 1 BC - In the wake of the Field of Fire, Visenya retreats to the Aegonfort to recover from her injury. It does not take long for her to return to action, though, joining her siblings at the Trident to await the arrival of a Northern host led by the King of Winter. Visenya has no qualms with burning every Northman who wishes to cross the river, but Torrhen’s surrender is a move she views as wise. With the northern border secure, Visenya deals with her only loose end once and for all. On dragonback, she travels to the Eyrie as the Queen Regent of the Vale amasses an army, her attempt to arrange a marriage between herself and Aegon a failure. Visenya’s arrival is met by the young King, who sits himself up on her lap to await Sharra Arryn’s arrival. When she turns up, Ronnel asks to fly on dragonback - and that is enough to make Sharra capitulate, handing over the crown of Mountain and Vale to the dragonrider. Visenya’s act of mercy endears her to the young king and his mother, who becomes a close companion of Visenya in later years.
• 1 AC - With the Conquest brought to an end, besides the Dornish and the Ironborn homeland, the royal family fly to Oldtown to witness the crowning of Aegon I Targaryen, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. To gain the sympathies of the people, the Targaryens convert to the Faith of the Seven - though Visenya holds fast to her Valyrian beliefs behind closed doors, unwilling to abandon her heritage to please those who she conquered. With Aegon’s victory, King’s Landing’s construction becomes the focus of the realm. For a while, anyway. During this initial period of peace, one attempt is made on the life of the King, with Visenya putting down the assassins. Aegon believes his guards are more than sufficient usually, and she proves him wrong by opening up his cheek with the tip of Dark Sister before any of his men can respond. Not long after, Ser Corlys Velaryon is named Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and six knights are selected to join him in an act honouring the false gods of Westeros.
  • Far from the capital, in Mooncrest, a daughter is born to Lord Lyn Egen and his wife. She is named Marsella.
• 2 AC - Once again, the peace is fractured. House Sunderland resumes their rebellion against House Arryn and the Crown, and the Ironborn continue to war with Westeros as a whole. Whilst Aegon deals with the raiders to the west, the Queen flies north and puts down Queen Marla Sunderland and her rebels, turning the hold of House Sunderland and the entire line to ash, naming House Borrell as overlords of the Sisters, and bidding them swear fealty to House Stark of Winterfell in place of the young Lord Arryn. Before returning to King’s Landing, she takes a quick stop at the Eyrie to berate the Lady Regent for her negligent handling of the situation - though she leaves with a far more forgiving stance, and perhaps a touch of regret for her harsh decision.
• 3 - 7 AC - Visenya assumes a position in the royal court enforcing Aegon’s will, assisting the Kingsguard in protecting him from attacks, and providing an intimidating presence for those who would overstep their bounds. She maintains contact with the Arryns of the Vale, letters flying back and forth to keep her friendship with the Lady Regent alive. She gives and receives advice, whiles away time writing, and promises to visit.
• 7 AC - At a feast to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the Conquest, during one of Rhaenys’ visits to Dorne, the King is attacked. Goldcloaks perform the assassination attempt in great numbers, and the force of Visenya and the Kingsguard isn’t enough to stop them from getting to Aegon and wounding him. Despite their failure to protect him, the fight ends in royal favour as Ser Malwyn Blackwood takes some of the assailants captive and Visenya tends to the fallen king. He is unresponsive but alive, and Orys promises to take care of him whilst the prisoners are interrogated. Reluctantly, the Queen agrees. It does not take long for the truth to be revealed - that House Tully of Riverrun plotted the attack, in an attempt to kill the King. It seemed unlikely that they would fail, in the end, but Visenya refused to let them see their day of victory. Only she is told, and she acts immediately, leaving the city on the back of Vhagar and heading towards Riverrun with only one objective in mind. When she reaches the castle, there is little hesitation - fire envelops the people and the structures, turning all to ash. No Tully survives, in her reckoning, and she takes the signet ring of Lord Edmyn as proof of her victory and their failure. Naming the land Aegon’s Rest, she pens a writ bestowing it upon Baelor Belaerys, a man in her husband’s service and descendant of dragonlords of old, and names Lord Lannister the overlord of the territory. She returns to King’s Landing, but her visit does not last long - when Aegon’s death is confirmed, and the Master of Laws reveals the plans to split governance three ways, she leaves for the Vale almost immediately. She only stays around long enough to have her pregnancy confirmed - an heir to the throne.
• 7 - 10 AC - It doesn’t take long for Visenya to arrive at the Eyrie, welcomed in her grief by Sharra and her children. She is visibly pregnant, and her small retinue settles in well. Most of her time is spent with the Lady Regent and the children, and the birth of her first child - who she names Laenor - is no deterrent from that. In fact, it often seems that Visenya has more affection for her host’s children than her own. She becomes almost a second mother to the Lord of the Eyrie and his three siblings. Despite her closed-off nature, she finds a constant companion in Sharra Arryn, and becomes as close to friends as she can with many others present in the castle including Lord Lyn Egen, an advisor to the Lady Regent. She splits her time between training, flying, the children, and her own heir.
• 10 AC - Ronnel Arryn comes of age, and is wedded to Serena Stark. It is an arrangement made by Rhaenys, one that infuriates Visenya to no end initially. She becomes irate at Sharra, but quickly turns around and accepts it. Their relationship remains warm and close. However, nearing the end of the year, Sharra dies. Once more, Visenya retreats into herself, spending most of the days in the sky on Vhagar’s back alone. She is convinced to return to life by the Arryn children, and continues to raise them into adulthood. Without Sharra, it is a harder task, but one she confronts all the same.
• 13 AC - Despite their devotion to the Seven, gods Visenya only considered to be hers in name, the formation of the Cavaliers brings joy to the Queen in the Mountains. She places her support behind the order, continuing her return to public life within the Vale. She takes on the duty of training the daughter of her good friend Lord Egen, teaching young Marsella how to fight. Despite their difference in weaponry - Visenya’s preference for smaller longswords versus Marsella’s for large hefty greatswords - the two get along fiercely well.
• 15 AC - When news of the tragedy in the Kingswood reaches the Eyrie, Visenya sends her condolences to the regent for the deaths under his watch. There is something cold about the way it is written.
• 16 AC - News of Dorne’s integration into the Seven Kingdoms pleases her no more than the Kingswood Catastrophe, especially when the stipulation upon which it happened is made known to her. Unwilling to dishonour the deal, Visenya ensures that she has it in writing that Laenor will one day marry the Princess of Dorne’s daughter, but she is irate over Rhaenys’ move - but also a little proud of her younger sister for outmanoeuvring her.
• 19 AC - After a long period of courting and an even longer period of talking, a wedding is held at Mooncrest between Visenya Targaryen and Lord Lyn Egen. There is jubilation, a tournament, a grand feast, and perhaps the first real smile on the lips of Visenya since the death of Sharra Arryn. It is proof that there is still a drop of the old Visenya beneath the cold, disconnected surface, that very few see. It is not the end of ceremony for the Egens in that year, as Marsella is inducted into the Cavaliers. She is sworn to protect Laenor Targaryen, too, her sibling and friend.
• 20 AC - Early in the year, after a prolonged illness, Lyn’s eldest daughter Carolei passes. There is sorrow in Mooncrest, but it is solved in part by good news. Just a year and a bit after their wedding, Visenya and Lyn’s first and only child is born, a young girl named Maegelle. She is Lyn’s third daughter, second living, and only one present in Mooncrest - Marsella left a note in the wake of her sister’s death that she was taking some time for herself in Essos and would be back when she viewed it right. Some wonder if she is participating in Orys’ plans to create closer relations with Essos, but the Egens know that is unlikely - Marsella cares little for politics and less for the enemies of her father’s wife.
• 20 - 25 AC - Visenya and Lyn remain quiet at Mooncrest and the Eyrie, engaging in politics and plotting and regular court life (moreso for the latter than the former), as Laenor becomes more and more shaped into the ruler they’re meant to become. Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Marsella becomes more grizzled a warrior, serving with the Lost Legion before their arrival in Westeros, meeting the Blue Sails and their leader Helya Harlaw and joining them briefly, and taking on mercenary work across the Free Cities and the Disputed Lands for anyone who would pay for a Westerosi warrior. Her contact with Mooncrest is limited, bearing only a few words attached to packages for Laenor alone.
• 25 AC - As Laenor comes of age, and the realm at large is summoned to King’s Landing to celebrate the namedays of her and Rhaenys’ children, Visenya prepares for the worst - her sister will not move aside easily, and she knows well enough that Rhaenys might have to be forced. But there is no doubt in her mind that she is ready for it - she just prays the realm is to join her. From the East, Marsella returns, ready to see her kin and friends for the first time in half a decade. She is not the same woman she once was.

—

Family Tree

House Egen
House Targaryen
—

Supporting Characters

Lord Lyn Egen - b. 24 BC - Archetype: General - Wise and a touch ferocious, Lyn is a skilled commander and a protective father, ready to do whatever he can to protect his daughters and Visenya’s own child. Skilled enough with a sword but more comfortable ahorse or behind a commander’s desk, the man who served as Keeper of the Gates of the Moon during the Conquest and was ready to cut his teeth against dragonfire now acts as the most loyal and proud follower of the very Queen who conquered his lands, his own wife.
Lorra Egen - b. 6 AC - Archetype: Builder - Despite the martial inclination of much of House Egen, Laenor is not the only occupant of Mooncrest who has grasped numbers well. Lorra Egen is a skilled mathematician in her own right, left in charge of the finances of the castle when her distant step-kin isn’t there to run them, and often assisting them in doing so. She is prim and proper and prone to judgement, but she is kind at heart. No niece of Lyn Egen would survive not being so, in truth.

I live in the EU and my Girlfriend lives in the UK. She has now already some time ago paid the HM Passport Office to get her passport, and they are repeatedly asking her to make someone confirm her identity, which can be done online
at : https://www.passport.service.gov.uk/confirm-identity
There is a list of eligible people who can do this, and she had already a few people do it, who know her for many years. But the HMPO does always say that those people are not eligible, while they are on the list and they do have a British Passport and did everything correct, to confirm her identity.
The problem is now, she does not know many people, and has already made everyone do this process that she knows, and they know her for many years, long enough to be eligible. But every time it is being rejected for no reason, and my Girlfriend is also NOT wanted or anything, she is just a normal person without any criminal history.
This rejections do have an impact on her mental health, every time they refuse someone she is getting mentally heavily unstable and I have a hard time calming her down, because she always thinks she will never be able to ever leave the UK and come to me, she is mentally very unstable and this worries me much. What worries me the most is, we do not have any eligible people left she knows, since she has not many contacts due to her mental health issues, it feels to me as if she is living in a communist country, where people are not allowed to leave - how is Britain a "free country" if she has no way now to ever get a passport and come to me to live with me ?
Where can I find eligible people with British Passport that would be willing to confirm her identity online or how do I get help at getting her passport ? On the website it says the following to make sure someone can confirm the identity :
You can only confirm someone’s identity if you:
are 18 or over live in the UK have a current UK passport have known the person applying for at least 2 years know the person applying as a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)
You must work in (or be retired from) a ‘recognised profession’. For example:
accountant airline pilot articled clerk of a limited company assurance agent of recognised company bank or building society official barrister chairman or director of a limited company chiropodist commissioner for oaths councillor, for example local or county civil servant (permanent) dentist director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company engineer with professional qualifications financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker fire service official funeral director insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company journalist Justice of the Peace legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs) licensee of a public house local government officer manager or personnel officer of a limited company member, associate or fellow of a professional body Member of Parliament Merchant Navy officer minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science) nurse (RGN or RMN) officer of the armed services optician paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals) person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE pharmacist photographer (professional) police officer Post Office official president or secretary of a recognised organisation Salvation Army officer social worker solicitor surveyor teacher or lecturer trade union officer travel agent (qualified) valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society) Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers Who cannot confirm someone’s identity
You cannot confirm someone’s identity if:
you’re related by birth or marriage you’re in a relationship with them or live together you work for HM Passport Office you work for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on British citizenship or right of abode applications you’re a doctor - unless you know the person who has asked you well (for example, you’re a good friend)
To me this list seems unreasonably complicated and I do not know how anyone can actually get a Passport in the UK at all.
Anyone knows how to get help ? We already called the HMPO but they give a fuck and do not help at all, they do simply not seem to care. We are getting very desperate and I have a hard time convincing her to stay alive, and this is destroying us and our relationship.

I live in the EU and my Girlfriend lives in the UK. She has now already some time ago paid the HM Passport Office to get her passport, and they are repeatedly asking her to make someone confirm her identity, which can be done online
at : https://www.passport.service.gov.uk/confirm-identity
There is a list of eligible people who can do this, and she had already a few people do it, who know her for many years. But the HMPO does always say that those people are not eligible, while they are on the list and they do have a British Passport and did everything correct, to confirm her identity.
The problem is now, she does not know many people, and has already made everyone do this process that she knows, and they know her for many years, long enough to be eligible. But every time it is being rejected for no reason, and my Girlfriend is also NOT wanted or anything, she is just a normal person without any criminal history.
This rejections do have an impact on her mental health, every time they refuse someone she is getting heavily mentally instable and I have a hard time calming her down, because she always thinks she will never be able to ever leave the UK and come to me, she is mentally very unstable and this worries me much. What worries me the most is, we do not have any eligible people left she knows, since she has not many contacts due to her mental health issues, it feels to me as if she is living in a communist country, where people are not allowed to leave - how is Britain a "free country" if she has no way now to ever get a passport and come to me to live with me ?
Where can I find eligible people with British Passport that would be willing to confirm her identity online or how do I get help at getting her passport ? On the website it says the following to make sure someone can confirm the identity :
You can only confirm someone’s identity if you:
are 18 or over live in the UK have a current UK passport have known the person applying for at least 2 years know the person applying as a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)
You must work in (or be retired from) a ‘recognised profession’. For example:
accountant airline pilot articled clerk of a limited company assurance agent of recognised company bank or building society official barrister chairman or director of a limited company chiropodist commissioner for oaths councillor, for example local or county civil servant (permanent) dentist director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company engineer with professional qualifications financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker fire service official funeral director insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company journalist Justice of the Peace legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs) licensee of a public house local government officer manager or personnel officer of a limited company member, associate or fellow of a professional body Member of Parliament Merchant Navy officer minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science) nurse (RGN or RMN) officer of the armed services optician paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals) person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE pharmacist photographer (professional) police officer Post Office official president or secretary of a recognised organisation Salvation Army officer social worker solicitor surveyor teacher or lecturer trade union officer travel agent (qualified) valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society) Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers Who cannot confirm someone’s identity
You cannot confirm someone’s identity if:
you’re related by birth or marriage you’re in a relationship with them or live together you work for HM Passport Office you work for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on British citizenship or right of abode applications you’re a doctor - unless you know the person who has asked you well (for example, you’re a good friend)
To me this list seems unreasonably complicated and I do not know how anyone can actually get a Passport in the UK at all.
Anyone knows how to get help ? We already called the HMPO but they give a fuck and do not help at all, they do simply not seem to care. We are getting very desperate and I have a hard time convincing her to stay alive, and this is destroying us and our relationship.

When an Airmen reenlists, do they do the Oath of Enlistment again or is there a separate Oath of Reenlistment?

Does the Navy do DD Form 1's when you direct commision? I did my oath today and wasn't sure if it would be mailed to me or if the Navy doesn't do them? I've seen some people get them the same day they swear in and others don't (like myself). Is it something I could request?

I went to the office yesterday to finish up some post oath paperwork. The recruiter wasn’t sure what could happen in the situation so he said he would talk to the chief and get back to me. He called this morning saying the chief told him it shouldn’t be an issue, that they only check for lying of criminal history. I reiterated that this is court ordered, still acted as though it’s nothing. I don’t feel comfortable with this and it’s got me stressed. It’s a legal order, if anything I’ll get in trouble for not paying or reporting my new job (navy).
EDIT: https://www.reddit.com/newtothenavy/s/n44vC6J3PZ
Old post

At a House Oversight and Government Accountability subcommittee hearing on UAP transparency — which was highly-anticipated and well-attended — retired Navy Cmdr. David Fravor, former Navy pilot Ryan Graves, and former intelligence officer David Grusch each testified under oath that they believe such seemingly inexplicable phenomena pose “an existential threat to national security,” and can likely collect reconnaissance information about the U.S. and test for vulnerabilities in the nation’s technology infrastructure.

About a year ago I went to an Army recruiter. He took me to a campus where I took the ASVAB. I passed, but I scored just a little above the minimum requirement.
I got discouraged by my scores and so I backed out despite us doing tons of paperwork and me almost being sent to MEPS; simply because I wanted to study the ASVAB to score higher next time and to get in a better shape.
I apologized for wasting his time, but it was either both of our few hours gone to waste, or my 4 years gone to waste.
I studied the absolute dog-shit out of the ASVAB, got in shape, and now I feel much more confident. At this point I don't give a rat's ass what my score is, I won't back out again since I made an oath to myself to return in a year after I improved.
Now with the backstory out of the way, will I be eligible to join the Navy despite backing out on the Army a year before?

Chapter Two - Part Two
__________________
Decades after the moon landing, the pioneering spirit took humanity to Mars. Robots and probes had long since surveyed the red planet, setting the stage for this monumental step. When human boots finally touched Martian soil, it marked not just a technical milestone but also the crystallization of humanity's dream of becoming a multi-planetary species.
The Moon and Mars served as practical testing grounds for living in extraterrestrial environments. These celestial bodies became sites for permanent bases, which, over time, evolved into thriving colonies. These colonies were the first real instances of human settlements outside Earth, serving as beacons of human ingenuity and resilience.
The successful colonization of Mars and the moon led to further ambitions. Plans were drawn to make these places not just outposts but homes. Technologies were developed for sustainable living—water extraction from lunar regolith and Martian soil, atmospheric processing for breathable air, and the synthesis of food from local resources.
These advancements were pivotal. They proved that human life could sustain itself in alien environments, potentially paving the way for future generations to inhabit other worlds within our solar system. The successes here laid the foundational knowledge and confidence to push further into the cosmos, setting the stage for the next phases of human space exploration.
The continuation of this journey into space promises to unfold more pages of human courage, innovation, and, perhaps, encounters with the unknown. As humanity prepares to take these next steps, the legacy of these early pioneers—their challenges, triumphs, and dreams—remains a guiding light.
As the 20th century faded into history, humanity's push into space intensified, no longer a mere competition among nations but a unified effort to escape the confines of Earth. This era, known as the "Great Exodus from Sol," was defined by a gritty determination to settle the cosmos. The construction of generational ships marked the beginning of humanity's true venture into deep space, propelled by the first primitive versions of Alcubierre warp drives.
These early forms of faster-than-light travel, while crude, were critical. They changed the game from slow, painstaking travel to something quicker, though still agonizingly slow by any reasonable standard. These ships, massive floating cities in space, carried thousands as they embarked on journeys lasting several lifetimes, aiming for distant stars that were previously mere points of light.
The generational ships and the initial steps toward faster-than-light travel represented humanity's refusal to be shackled by distance and time. The Moon and Mars, once the pinnacle of human achievement, were now just the first steps on a much longer journey. These bodies served as crucial test beds for the technologies and life-support systems that would sustain human life far from the Sun's warmth.
With the "Alcubierre Equation," a new age in space travel began. This breakthrough reduced travel times from thousands of years to mere decades. The stars, once unreachable, were now within grasp, and the vastness of space felt slightly smaller. Humanity's reach extended as these new technologies allowed ships to bypass the vast stretches of emptiness and connect with far-flung corners of the galaxy.
The exodus was monumental, a movement of not just people but of human hopes and fears into the O'Neal Cylinder habitats—giant structures spinning silently in the void to mimic Earth's gravity. These habitats were way stations on the journey to becoming a spacefaring species, homes in the void between stars where generations lived and died without seeing a planet beneath their feet.
__________________
Beginning of Entry…
StarDate: Redacted
Perspective: Major Commander Michael Irons
Species: Human, Humanoid Mammalian Species, no tail.
Description: 5 feet 2 inches [1.6 meters] to 6 feet 9 inches [2.1 meters] average height. 185 lbs [84 kilograms] average weight.
Longevity: 70 to 500-year life expectancy with life extension medical tech.
Unique Trait: Resilience and Indomitable Will.
Place: New Paris (Capital City)
Location: New Eden Prime
The harsh blare of the alarms violently roused Major Commander Michael Irons from his sleep, his senses immediately assaulted by the urgent clamor echoing through the air. His wife and two daughters were already poised at the doorway, anxiety etched into their faces as the wailing of the planetary defense system merged with the creeping dawn light, casting a somber shadow over the morning. The threat of an imminent invasion hung heavy in the air, the enemy's ships visible on the horizon above. Instinctively, Michael leaped from his bed, his eyes locking with those of his family in a silent exchange of grim resolve.
"To the bunkers, now! Take the children and the other families, and make sure everyone follows the safety protocols. I'll send a company to assist as soon as I can," he commanded, his voice steady and commanding, in striking contrast to the chaos swirling around them. His leadership was a beacon of hope in the midst of the storm, his calm demeanor inspiring confidence in those around him.
Marie's voice quivered with a perceptible dread as she asked, "What about you...?" Tears brimmed in her eyes, reflecting her fear for what might lie ahead. "I'll be fine, Marie. I've trained for this," he reassured her, his voice filled with a mix of determination and tenderness.
"I'll fulfill my duty for you, the girls, and everyone in this colony. Now go, my sweet love," Michael declared, his voice carrying a fierce determination that Marie had always found admirable. His words were a solemn oath, a promise made with the weight of the responsibility he bore as both a husband and a commander, a sacrifice he was willing to make for the safety of his loved ones and his community.
With a heavy heart, Marie embraced her husband tightly, sharing a kiss filled with the intensity of the moment. This kiss lingered with the unspoken fear that it might be their last. As she pulled away, Michael offered a reassuring smile, an attempt to ease the burden of the imminent danger. Deep down, he knew the risks he was taking, but his duty and love for his family outweighed his fear.
"Don't worry, I'll handle whatever threats think they can overpower the soldiers and workers of New Eden," he assured her with a confident grin, his spirit undeterred by the gravity of the situation.
As Marie and the children hastily gathered only the essentials, Michael quickly donned his combat gear. He watched his wife stride towards the school, where she served as both a teacher and principal. He knew she would orchestrate the evacuation to the bunkers with the same precision and calm required in their numerous drills.
Now alone, Michael, a tall and imposing figure, steeled himself for the confrontation ahead. He made his way to the designated rally point, where soldiers, militia, and police were to assemble. There, he would marshal his forces, ready to confront whatever challenges awaited, driven by a duty to protect his family and the colony that depended on him. The major's path was clear, his resolve unwavering as he prepared to lead his community through the trial by fire that had abruptly shattered their peace.
As Major Commander Michael Irons approached the rally point, the scene unfolded with an impressive display of military readiness. Hundreds of commanders from various units had already assembled, and tens of thousands of defenders were positioned at similar gathering spots throughout the colony. New Eden, still burgeoning as a space colony, boasted a mere nine cities, a few dozen minor cities, and settlements strategically placed near the poles across both hemispheres amongst the nineteen continents. Despite the vast distances separating these major urban centers, a deep earth tram system ran underground, connecting them all—a lifeline designed for rapid mobilization in times of crisis like this.
Major Commander Irons, a seasoned officer with a unique blend of experience as both defender and aggressor in planetary assaults, navigated his way through the crowd to his second in command, Captain Adam Richter. The captain, equally grizzled and imposing, wore his Raider armor with a distinct air of confidence as if it were a second skin. Their handshake, a tribute to their shared experiences and unspoken understanding, was firm and reassuring, reflecting the resilience and determination that had seen them through countless battles.
As they exchanged brief, solemn nods, their attention was drawn to the arrival of Colonel Nick Estrada, the formidable head of New Eden's planetary and orbital defense (POD) Force. Estrada, a giant among men, had a reputation that not only preceded him but also cast a shadow over the entire gathering. A former Marine Raider and Navy Marauder, his presence commanded respect and conveyed a fierce competence, his towering figure making him stand out even among seasoned commanders like Irons and Richter, adding to the definite tension in the air.
"Major Commander Irons, Captain Richter," Colonel Estrada greeted them with a nod, his deep voice resonating with authority. "We're facing unprecedented threats, but I have full confidence in our capabilities. You've both coordinated defenses under fire before. I expect nothing less today." His words, filled with unwavering belief in their abilities, instilled a sense of security and reassurance in the hearts of the officers.
Major Commander Irons returned the nod; his expression was resolute. "We're ready, Colonel. We'll hold the lines and follow your lead," he assured him, his tone imbued with the unwavering resolve that had seen him through countless skirmishes.
Captain Richter chimed in, his voice steady, "Our units are prepped, and the tram systems are on lockdown. We can deploy to any hot spot within minutes."
Colonel Estrada surveyed the array of commanders, his gaze sharp and assessing. "Good. I'll be coordinating the strikes from here. Irons, Richter, you're on the front lines. You know what's at stake—New Eden counts on us to protect it from any incursion."
As Estrada turned to address the gathering of commanders and lay out strategic positions and contingencies, Irons and Richter prepared to relay orders to their respective units. The air was thick with anticipation, each breath carrying the weight of the heavy burden of responsibility. Every commander present knew the enormity of the task ahead, and the tension was intense. The silence was broken only by the occasional shuffle of boots and the low murmur of hushed conversations.
Major Commander Irons glanced once more across the assembled leaders, each face marked not just by determination but also by the readiness to defend their home at any cost. He then turned to face the horizon where the early morning sun cast long shadows over the assembly, a stark reminder of the long day ahead. They were not just warriors but guardians of their new world, and today, they would not just stand but also fight as the bulwark against whatever threats emerged from the stars, inspiring and motivating each other with their unwavering resolve.
__________________
Beginning of Entry…
StarDate: Redacted
Perspective: War Captain Rauxl
Species: Vodroks, Reptilian Species, no tail
Description: 6 feet 2 inches [1.87 meters] to 7 feet 9 inches [2.3 meters] average height. 295 lbs [134 kilograms] average weight.
Longevity: 150 to 300-year life expectancy.
Unique Trait: War Culture and Intellectual Pragmatic Outlook.
Vessel: None
Location: Surface of uncharted planet
In the heart of a drop transport vessel cutting through the atmospheric turbulence of an uncharted alien planet, War Captain Rauxl was a figure of formidable focus. Around him, one hundred battle-hardened warriors from the Vodrok Dominion sat strapped into their seats, each individual radiating readiness and resolve. The cabin vibrated with the intensity of their descent, every shudder of the transport echoing the anticipation of the troops, their bravery shining through.
Rauxl's voice pierced through the rumble of the vessel as they breached the lower atmosphere. "Listen well, warriors of the Vodrok Dominion! War Chieftain Vut has entrusted us with a mission of utmost importance—to conquer this planet! We will eradicate all opposition and claim this world for our cradle world!" His declaration resonated with authority and unwavering confidence, bolstering the spirits of his crew.
The response was immediate and thunderous; a unified roar of war cries vibrated through the compact space of the cabin. Rauxl's lips curled into a proud smile at the cacophony of resolve from his troops, his gaze then shifting to Warmaster Trusk, his trusted second-in-command.
"Once we land, take your fury company and secure the surrounding area. We need it clear for more of our brethren to make landfall," Rauxl commanded. The mutual respect and trust between him and Trusk were clearly evident in that brief exchange, and their strategic prowess instilled confidence in the troops.
"Yes, your eminence! I will carry out your will!" Trusk responded with a salute, his voice as resolute as the steel of his armor.
Silence fell for a moment as Rauxl reflected on the countless battles he and Trusk had faced together. His armor, a patchwork of red and yellow, bore the scars of many conflicts, a monument to their shared history of warfare. It was these battle-worn warriors that War Commander Kruak had in mind when he heeded Fury Chieftain Vut's advice to enlist Rauxl's Fury battalion.
The transport shuddered violently as it made its final descent, and then, with a jarring thud, it touched down on the alien surface. No sooner had the vessel landed than the rear ramp clattered down, opening up to a world of unknown dangers and latent riches. Without hesitation, Rauxl's warriors unstrapped themselves. They surged towards the ramp, their movements a well-rehearsed dance of chaos and precision. Rauxl was quick on their heels, stepping onto the alien soil with a sense of purpose and inevitability.
The planet greeted them with a landscape veiled in mystery; towering rock formations and dense, mist-laden forests added an eerie beauty to the otherwise hostile environment. The air was thick with the scent of unfamiliar flora, and the distant sounds of alien fauna hinted at the challenges ahead.
Trusk was the first to organize the perimeter checks. He barked orders to his company as they fanned out into the surrounding wilderness. "Form up! Eyes sharp, weapons ready," he commanded, the clarity of his strategic mind guiding his actions.
Rauxl watched his warriors disappear into the mist, each squad moving with lethal efficiency. He turned back to survey the land, his senses fully attuned to the slightest change in the wind or rustle in the underbrush.
The sounds of engagement soon broke the initial silence of the alien world. Blaster fire echoed back towards the landing site, a staccato symphony that spoke of first contact and initial skirmishes. Rauxl's warriors were making their presence felt, a violent introduction to the inhabitants of this mysterious world.
"Report!" Rauxl demanded over the comm-link, his voice cutting through the noise of battle.
"Contact with indigenous creatures, possibly hostile. Engaging now!" came the crackled response from one of his squad leaders.
As Rauxl prepared to join his men, the gravity of their mission settled around him like the heavy mist. This planet was not just another conquest but an example of the Dominion's reach and power. This cradle world could one day support their expanding empire.
With a final glance at the chaotic beauty of the alien landscape, Rauxl stepped forward into the fray, his resolve as unyielding as the armor he wore.
The atmosphere was charged with the sharp scent of ozone as plasma bolts sliced through the air. War Captain Rauxl, his armor scuffed and smeared with the dust of the alien planet, took cover behind a large, jagged rock formation. Beside him, Warmaster Trusk crouched, his eyes scanning the horizon for signs of the enemy.
The indigenous creatures they faced were unlike any the Vodrok Dominion had encountered before. Armed with primitive yet surprisingly effective projectile weaponry, they posed a significant challenge even to Rauxl's seasoned warriors. The very same technology had been employed by the alien vessels they had obliterated from orbit. Still, it seemed more potent on the ground. Yet, the Vodrok Dominion warriors stood firm, their determination unwavering.
Rauxl peered from his makeshift shelter, observing as his troops exchanged fire with the enemy. The new plasma rifles in their hands blazed with each shot, thanks to the Dominion's recent upgrade in armament technology. Despite the firepower, he had yet to anticipate such fierce resistance right at their landing zone.
"Warmaster Trusk! Take your Fury company to the left flank!" Rauxl shouted over the din of battle, his voice firm with command. "Warmaster Zaszrisk! You and your Fury company, move to the right! We'll execute a pincer attack and squeeze them in the middle!"
Trusk nodded, his expression hidden behind his visor, but his resolve was clear in the brisk nod he gave. With a grunt, he signaled his troops, and they began their maneuver, moving with the precision of seasoned veterans. The left flank soon became a blur of motion as Trusk's warriors advanced.
On the right, Warmaster Zaszrisk responded with a series of guttural hoots, the traditional Vodrok battle cry, before leading his company forward. The warriors moved stealthily, using the uneven terrain to their advantage as they positioned themselves for the attack.
From his vantage point, Rauxl watched the battlefield unfold like a strategist observing a game board. He could see the enemy's lines faltering under the coordinated assault of his warriors. The air was filled with the sound of plasma fire and the harsh cries of the indigenous fighters as they realized the trap that was closing in around them.
Rauxl felt a surge of pride swell in his chest; this was the essence of Vodrok warfare — brutal efficiency and unyielding aggression. As Trusk and Zaszrisk's companies converged on the enemy from both sides, the pincer movement began to take effect. The enemy, caught off-guard by the ferocity and synchronization of the attack, scrambled to reorganize.
"Push forward!" Rauxl commanded, stepping out from behind the cover. He raised his plasma rifle and fired into the thickest part of the enemy line, each shot precise and lethal. His warriors rallied at his call, pressing the attack with renewed vigor.
The clash was intense, the sounds of combat consuming the landing zone. Rauxl moved among his warriors, his presence a guiding force as they pushed the enemy back step by step. The smell of charred vegetation and scorched earth mingled with the metallic tang of blood in the air, painting a vivid picture of the battle's ferocity.
As the enemy's resistance began to wane, Rauxl caught sight of Trusk successfully overtaking a critical position, his company overwhelming the foes with sheer might. Similarly, on the other side, Zaszrisk's warriors used their agility to outmaneuver the slower, less organized indigenous troops.
The battle raged on, but it was clear that the tide had turned in their favor. Rauxl knew that once this zone was secured, reinforcements could land more freely, and the planet would be another step closer to being a new cradle for the Vodrok Dominion.
His eyes swept over the chaotic landscape, the fires, the fallen foes, and his indomitable warriors. This planet would be theirs, he vowed silently. This victory was but the first of many they would carve out in the stars, bearing witness to the might and the resolve of the Vodrok Dominion. With this thought anchoring his resolve, War Captain Rauxl directed his forces to consolidate their gains, setting the stage for the next phase of their conquest.
[First] [Previous] [Next] [YouTube]

Provisional Premier WAC Bennett of British Columbia has announced that his province will once again be returning to democracy. An election has been called for November 1965, with all Canadian citizens who are residents of British Columbia entitled to vote. New electoral districts [4 ridings per map province] have been formed as the old urban areas are no longer inhabited.
With the old capital of Victoria destroyed by the flood and subsequent warlordism, and with the surviving cities of Kamloops and Kelowna in Anarchist hands, the new seat of government will be in Terrace, BC, where the Royal Canadian Navy declared the Protectorate of British Columbia.
With Premier WAC Bennett refusing to recognize the Anarchist occupation of the Okanagan and Fraser Valley, elections officers have been sent to cities such as Merritt, Penticton, and Chilliwack. Accompanied by RCMP officers, these elections officials will set up polling stations throughout the region to ensure that even those currently under foreign occupation are still able to vote. However, any MLAs elected from the region will still have to take an oath of loyalty to Canada as part of their swearing in ceremony.
[Forgot the map](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/399507772451979265/1238491903083679825/Expansion17.png?ex=663f7af7&is=663e2977&hm=574d14deca68654fb1379c7ccbfda9f42f35362f79c0b37d3559983dc2ad0d93&)

Like the title, I got out of the Navy in August 2020 and started school to get my degree and graduated earlier this year.
I joined up late 2013, so I was still within the 10-yr mark when I got out, but now I hear it's a new 5-yr thing with the SF86 form, but what I DON'T really remember was if I did any continuous evaluation stuff/forms in the year or two before I got out.
Is it very likely my clearance is fully expired and I'll have to go through a whole investigation again, or what should I do? My buddy who I served with has a sweet gig at his job that opened up, but the listing requires a Secret clearance. It won't even let me continue the application process when I answered "NO" to having an active clearance. Just boots me out altogether.
Should I try to reapply and let the company figure out for themselves if it's still active or not before trying to bring me on and then giving me the news, or what should be done here? Even if that doesn't pan out, I advertise myself as being "secret clearance eligible." Now I'm wondering if that's even true or not...I figured at most my clearance was in inactive limbo somewhere.
My buddy went straight into the Reserves in late 2017/2018 (while I reenlisted for another 3) to have something to do while he was also attending school, and then left Reserves sometime in late 2021/early 2022 I believe so I know this is what kept his clearance going...but now I don't know if I should still be applying for these types of jobs, because I know they're expensive, and not too sure which company is going to want to pay for that again.
Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

Long story short, currently in the Army IRR and looking to go AD Navy. Retaking the ASVAB tomorrow so I can reenlist. I'm not too confident I'll do as well as I'd like (I suck at math) so I likely won't get the score I need for CWT which is what I'm aiming for. Are there any other rates for cyber other than IT?

During the past few weeks there have been multiple articles on these subs speculating about “what could be so shocking” that it’s preventing insiders from disclosing the truth about NHIs and UFOs. I’ve recently posted some suggestions in comments on a couple of those discussions, but since the same basic question is regularly being asked, it may be helpful if I wrote a more detailed article with expanded responses. Hopefully this will be a constructive addition to the ongoing conversation.
If you take Lue Elizondo and David Grusch at their word - more from Grusch here – apparently it is a combination of the following:

• Our galaxy is ruled by a hierarchy of apex predators.
  
• Humans are recognised as fellow predators, but we're much lower down this hierarchy than we realise.
  
• The apex predators higher than us in the galactic hierarchy are more intelligent, far more technologically advanced and much older than humans.
  
• They may even be so powerful that they dominate multiple galaxies, not just the Milky Way.
  
• The scale of the difference in power and capabilities between these NHIs and humans would be a huge shock to our notions of our place in the universe. (Elizondo has said that this is the biggest issue that would cause a “sobering/sombre” reaction).
  
• None of the other species in the hierarchy are remotely human, either physically or psychologically. The psychological gulf in particular is causing problems for insiders, because of the difficulties it creates in accurately assessing the NHIs' motives & intentions towards us.
  
• Earth's governments don't currently have countermeasures to sufficiently protect the civilian human populace from abductions or any other kind of potentially malevolent targeting of humans.
  
• UAP behaviour towards our military installations, naval ships and fighter jets correlates with adversarial reconnaissance activities probing Earth’s defences and testing for weaknesses.
  

Those seem to be the main issues.
It's possible to extrapolate this. Some examples:
1. Earth’s position in a galactic superpower: I wrote a "deep dive" article last summer in an attempt to connect the dots, including a TL/DR summary at the start - with the potential explanation being that we're an isolated, backward species on a very minor planet within the territory of a huge superpower ruled by extremely intelligent apex predators.
2. Characteristics of the dominant NHIs: If they have occupied that position of supremacy for millions, tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of years because they’ve been able to out-smart and out-fight everyone else in this galaxy and potentially in multiple galaxies, consider the psychological and behavioural traits of NHI predators who have successfully achieved that level of dominance over that size of territory for that length of time.
3. Mankind’s low status in the hierarchy: Since we haven’t been wiped out yet, they aren't necessarily genocidal towards humans, although this may change if we ever try to do anything that potentially threatens their dominance and/or territorial integrity. In the meantime, the NHIs at the higher levels of the hierarchy may not care much about us because they regard us as comparatively inconsequential and very far beneath them (this also raises questions about whether they simply view us with indifference or actually domineering hostility, or even an utterly alien mindset that is incomprehensible to humans). But discovering the truth about our low status within the superpower, our comparative lack of autonomy, and the power difference between humans and the rulers would be a shock. Especially if the galactic hierarchy is rigid and strictly enforced. And it can be very difficult to defend yourself against a more powerful adversary who can completely violate your physical and psychological boundaries at will.
4. NHIs reinforcing the hierarchy: The reason the NHIs don’t make open contact to “admit humans into the galactic club” is not necessarily because of mankind’s various faults or our perceived “lack of readiness”. It could be due to much more selfish reasons: The NHIs above us in the galactic hierarchy (especially those at the very top) want to preserve their longstanding position of dominance and supremacy; so, they have no interest in helping humans "improve our position" in the hierarchy, and they may react very badly to any future attempts by us to unilaterally do so. They may even have been actively undermining human society and geopolitics on Earth in order to sabotage or delay any genuine progress and keep us permanently weaker than them; “divide and rule” is a very old strategy of subjugation and control.
5. Disclosure and threats: These NHIs may be actively preventing full public Disclosure by making threats against insiders/their families/their governments/their countries/Earth as a whole. An ignorant human populace is easier to manipulate and “keep in their place”. It also prevents us from contacting and forming alliances with other species in the galaxy who may occupy a similar low status in the hierarchy and object to the way they’re being treated (assuming that it’s even possible for us to overcome the psychological gulf and the resulting barriers to effective communication); another example of “divide and rule”.
6. Targeting of global infrastructure: There have been reports of NHI/UAP interference with Earth’s nuclear missiles, including the weapons systems being shut down. If NHIs really have been probing our military defences in order to test for weaknesses that they could potentially attack, they may also have been targeting other global infrastructure systems critical to modern human civilisation, such as our power grids, communication networks, and so on. It is worth investigating unexplained major incidents that have not been definitively attributed to foreign state actors or other hostile human sources.
7. Deep-rooted human reactions to carnivorous higher predators: It's possible that we would instinctively find the NHIs’ physical appearance to be horrific and/or terrifying, with the effect of automatically triggering an extreme and uncontrollable "fight/flight/freeze" response due to being in the presence of a "carnivorous higher predator". This could be another plausible explanation for the NHIs not revealing themselves and their alleged use of human hybrids, "grey pilots" etc as intermediaries instead.
8. Cloaked UAPs and NHIs: Finding out that our skies are full of cloaked UAPs and our streets and homes (day and night) include cloaked NHIs freely wandering around would also terrify many people.
9. NHIs disguised as humans: Elizondo has suggested that there are NHIs present on Earth disguised as humans. If this is true and it became public knowledge, it could trigger paranoia on a huge scale worldwide. It also raises questions about the specific activities of such disguised NHIs (eg. Geopolitical interference, scientific/anthropological curiosity, intelligence-gathering, refugees or fugitives).
10. Genetics: If NHIs did modify our prehistoric DNA, we may not be the first hominid species on Earth that they did this to. In fact, hominids may not be the only species from Earth that they did this to, especially if it involved one-way abductions in the distant past (ie. the animals and their "genetically uplifted" descendants were permanently taken off-world).
11. “Biologics”: Grusch has said the "biologics" that have allegedly been recovered come with some metaphorical "baggage". Possible explanation: The DNA of these pilots may be genetically-engineered and partially human, or based on another still-living or long-extinct species from Earth.
Confirmation that our galaxy is actually ruled by extremely powerful and technologically advanced NHIs would be startling for many people (although not necessarily such a surprise for those of us who are sci-fi fans), but that type of galactic geopolitical scenario does not automatically have disturbing implications for humans. However, multiple DoD and government insiders across the political spectrum - including public figures advocating for disclosure - have made statements indicating that there is indeed something very problematic about the situation. As this article suggests, perhaps it involves the way that spacefaring NHI species regard humans and, correspondingly, the way that they would behave towards us if full disclosure and open contact happened.
EDIT:
The original sources of the "apex predator" claims along with the possibility that hostile NHIs/UAPs have been investigating Earth's military defence capabilities are discussed in detail via the links near the top of the article. However, for readers' convenience, I will also provide the information here:
Lue Elizondo, using the term "alpha predator": https://www.ufojoe.net/lue-curt/

CJ: The last time we spoke, there were two comments that you said that stood out to me. One was the somber, the somber heard around the world, in a sense.
CJ: And then you clarified that or you added to that by saying sobering. I was wondering, we can get to that. [...]
Lue: Yeah. Let me start with somber or sobering. Imagine everything you’ve been taught, [...] Our background and our past. What if all of that turned out to be not entirely accurate? In fact, the very history of our species, the meaning what it means to be a human being and our place in this Universe. What if all that is now in question? What if it turns out that a lot of the things that we thought were one way, aren’t. Are we prepared to have that honest question with ourselves? Are we prepared to recognize that we’re not at the top of the food chain, potentially? That we’re not the alpha predator, that we are maybe somewhere in the middle?
It’s interesting because I was having discussion with a friend, not too long ago. A really, really…we call them gray beards in the government. A really, really smart guy. I’m not gonna mention his name, but I was talking to him probably a couple months ago. And this is a guy who was always paid to solve the hard problems for the U.S. government.[...] So this guy I respect tremendously and we had a conversation, and he said, “You know, Lue, mankind’s been around for a little while and for most of that time mankind’s been around, we’ve been smack in the middle of the food chain. We ate a lot of things and a lot of things ate us, and that’s just the bottom line. And about 70,000 years ago, something fundamentally changed, something changed, and our species was instantly catapulted to the very top of our planet, as far as predatory animals.” And now, all of a sudden, we became the most feared, we were the most lethal and the most successful. In fact, most of the large species that existed on this planet went extinct because of us, believe it or not, because we started eating all of it. There were a couple species that did very, very well with our ascension, our immediate ascension. And we brought a couple species with us, the dog is an example, where the dog species benefited greatly with mankind’s ascension as the alpha predator and wound up succeeding very well off of that. That changed the entire global landscape of our planet, almost overnight. Large animals went extinct because of us.
What if it turns out that there’s another species that is even higher on that ladder than we are? Do we need the social institutions that we have today? Will we need governmental and religious organizations that we have today, if it turns out that there is something else or someone else that is technologically more advanced and perhaps, from an evolutionary perspective, more advanced? Have we been wasting our time, all this time? Or, are we doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing? Does it turn out that mankind is in fact, just another animal in the zoo? Or…because we thought ourselves as a zookeeper before, but maybe we’re just another exhibit inside the zoo? What would that mean to us?
So, when I say sombering and sobering, I mean that there’s gonna come a point in this conversation where we’re gonna have to do a lot of reconciling with ourselves, whatever that means, from whatever philosophical background you have. This is going to impact every single one of us the same and yet equally and yet differently. And I think that’s important. You know, do we find ourselves in a situation where history may have to be rewritten? So that’s what I meant.
CJ: Speaking about humbling, when you mention the word sober and somber, to me, the reason why is not because we’re more special than we think we are, but we’re much less.
Lue: Yeah.
Lue: ... we also have to realize there’s a lot of things in this Universe that are gonna force you to reevaluate. And that’s really, really uncomfortable. Once you really realize that you are truly, we are alone out here in the Universe, from a human perspective, right? I’m not saying from a living thing. I’m saying from a human perspective. That’s scary for a lot of people.
To the best of our knowledge, we are the only humans in the universe. And of course, we have a bunch of animals we can play with on our little planet that we call Earth and it kind of makes us feel good. But, it’s looking more and more like every single day that there’s more out there. It’s just not human. And then the question is, “Okay, well, what are their intentions? What are their motivations? Do they want to work with us or do they want to subjugate us? Or, are we going to be tomorrow’s dinner menu, right? All these things go through the minds of people. And they’re good questions, and questions, frankly, we don’t have an answer for yet. And that makes people really, really uncomfortable and unsettled. And I think we need to be aware of it.
So back to your question: Am I subject to the same box bias that you are and everybody else? You’re damn right I am! Yeah. And we need to figure out how to look at this topic…look at, potentially, a non-human topic, through non-human eyes, is what I’m trying to say. We may have to take our human glasses off that kind of filter everything in human terms.

David Grusch, referring to "apex predator" and using humans vs mountain lions as an analogy: https://pastebin.com/3Dj1yFve

01:39:55 DG But also I live in the mountains of Colorado, right? So there is a Mountain Lion den about 10 miles from my house. In Colorado, literally, you know I am there are lower predatory sentience. I'm higher predatory sentience and I'm using this as a device or an analogy for NHI and US.
[...]
02:13:54 DG Psychological issue with this UAP issue where we might not be the apex predator [...] we may be that Mountain Lion. And we're going to have to be comfortable knowing that we're going to be vulnerable. There's people far superior that may have malevolent intentions, maybe not, I don't know. And almost be humbled. The fact that like, sorry, we're not the smartest [...] Yeah. And that and that might be really hard for a lot of people to process. And I think that's probably I would imagine one of the deliberations they must have done years ago, like we can't disclose because you know people are not gonna feel comfortable in that worldview

Congress UAP hearing, July 2023: Discussion of potentially hostile UAPs investigating Earth's military defences: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61910a2d98732d54b73ef8fc/t/64c278fad611445bd67b0019/1690466554425/Subcommittee+on+National+Security%2C+the+Border%2C+and+Foreign+Affairs+Hearing+UAP+PDF.pdf

Mr. Andy Ogles: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you all for being here and the courage it took to come forward, and again, the sacrifice that each of you have made. I serve on the National Security Subcommittee for the Financial Services Committee, so I really want to stay in the National security lane, if I may. When we think about traditional adversaries, both us towards them and them towards us, we probe their capabilities. We look for weaknesses, and we collect that data, that reconnaissance for in the event we need it in the future. For each of you, yes or no question: Based off of your own experience or the data that you've been privy to, is there any indication that these UAPs could be essentially collecting reconnaissance information? Mr. Graves?
Ryan Graves: Yes.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Mr. Grusch?
David Grusch: Fair assessment, yeah.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Mr. Fravor?
CDR. Fravor: It's very possible.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Again, in the national security vein, is it possible that these UAPs would be probing our capabilities, yes or no? Mr. Graves?
Ryan Graves: Yes.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Grusch?
David Grusch: Yes.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Fravor?
CDR. Fravor: Definitely.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Is it possible that these UAPs are testing for vulnerabilities in our current systems?
Ryan Graves: Yes.
David Grusch: Yes.
CDR. Fravor: Possible.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Do you feel, based off of your experience and the information that you've been privy to, that these UAPs provide an existential threat to the national security of the United States? Mr. Graves?
Ryan Graves: Potentially.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Yes, sir. Potentially.
David Grusch: Same answer, potentially.
CDR. Fravor: Yeah, I'd say definitely potentially.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Mr. Graves and Fravor, in the event that your encounters had become hostile, would you have had the capability to defend yourself, your crew, your aircraft?
Ryan Graves: Absolutely not.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Sir?
CDR. Fravor: No.
Mr. Andy Ogles: Based off of the information that you've been privy to, is there any indication that these UAPs are interested in our nuclear technology and capabilities?
Ryan Graves: Yes.
CDR. Fravor: Go ahead.
David Grusch: By external observation, sure, that could be a fair assessment, yeah.
CDR. Fravor: Yes.

Lue Elizondo and Jay Stratton’s joint statement in response to the Congress UAP hearing: https://twitter.com/jaystratton/status/1684729145626898432?s=20

While working in the U.S. Government's UAP investigation known as AATIP, we knew based on credible data that UAP present serious national security concerns and a potential existential threat. When we and our colleague [former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and former Staff Director of the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence] Chris Mellon tried to raise alarm bells within the Pentagon, we were blocked by the bureaucracy and stigma surrounding the topic. Ultimately, we decided the only way to bring attention to this urgent matter was for Lue to resign in protest and go public to create awareness, while Jay used that change to move the topic forward within the government (eventually becoming Director of the UAP Task Force). We swore oaths to serve the best interest of the American people and this was the best way to do that. Our goal was to be the spark that would light a fire, a fire more powerful than antiquated bureaucracy and stigma.
Yesterday we proudly watched the fire continue to grow in a momentous Congressional UAP hearing. Our brave friends and colleagues, former Naval Aviators Ryan Graves and Dave Fravor, and former Air Force Intelligence Officer / UAP Task Force member Dave Grusch, offered themselves up as witnesses, and spoke under oath about the topic to members of Congress and the public. We are grateful for all those who participated.
This is still just the beginning. There is considerable progress to be made and work to do in order to understand and address the national security concerns. Please always remember that an informed public is a powerful force and can be wielded to create positive change.
We will not be commenting further at this time, but know that we remain hard at work behind the scenes.
Lue Elizondo & Jay Stratton

John “Jay” Stratton: https://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhAbout/Senior-Executives/Biographies/Stratton,%20J.pdf
Stratton retired from the military in 2022; his background included working as a Naval Intelligence officer at the Nimitz Operational Intelligence Center (including representing the Navy as a senior member of the Intelligence Community), Director of Intelligence at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center, Chief of Air and Space Warfare at the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) Defense Warning Office, and Chief Space Technology at the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy’s Defense Technology Security Administration.

Hey, so a friend of mine is going to a fat camp before basic in a couple weeks, and he was wondering what fat camp was like for other people. He's also wondering about phone usage because of some game event that's going to happen while he's there but he couldn't find much online, aside from Sundays being half an hour and only for phone calls, so any help to calm him down?
Link to Comment Chain
How old is too late? Approaching 30 and I've been reconsidering joining. I completed a Challenge program in Wyoming funded by the WY Air National Guard when I was 19 and was on board until I let myself slip away from the drive to join.
Link to Comment Chain
So I took the ASVAB and scored a 98 with GT 133! I passed my medical test in the first go yesterday! I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, albeit a lower gpa of 3.05, but I have more than 2 years of working experience in the same field! I am currently enrolled in a graduate program in Computer Science! I want to do OCS reserve but my recruiter is pushing me to go enlisted. I said I am sticking with what I had said in the beginning which is OCS and I also gave him 3 mos options- 1) 17 series 2) 25 series and 3) 35 series. He is saying 17 is going to be hard and it’s going to take a long time. It also has a test! However, he’s giving me a positive signal about 35 and saying there are 5 vacancies nearby! For 25, there is only one and that is far but Im willing to fly there! For 17, there are 3! What should I choose as my 1, 2, and 3?
Also what benefits do you get if you go to OCS? He was saying I wouldn’t get any educational benefits such loan repayment and so on.
(Edited: I am doing Army Reserve)
Link to Comment Chain
So l've seen a lot of tips and things to bring to basic training, but I wanna know what I really need to bring because a lot of those list say a bunch of things and I doubt that I'm gonna need all of them and mind you I am a female going to basic trading so it be appreciated. If y'all would give me some tips on what to bring to basic training and what not to bring
Link to Comment Chain
I have never served in the military. I want to sign an option 40 to get a tryout at RASP some time in the future, I want to know how physically fit you should be before you even want to consider ranger training for one (What physical feats should you be able to accomplish on a bad day) And how well basic training and MOS training would get you ready (physically) for RASP. And what you need to manage on your own in terms of training. So to recap I'm asking how trained I should be before joining and if I will need to take my own initiative to get physically fit enough for ranger school. I am looking to not be last in line when doing runs or 12 mile rucks because that was 5 days a week every week during high school track. I want every advantage I can get.
Link to Comment Chain
Considering crossing over to Army from a sister service. I lied about my ADD diagnosis at MEPs 6 years ago. Will this prevent me from joining?
Link to Comment Chain
I’m choosing 13m as my mos I just wants info on it I’ve heard it’s a lot of motor pool stuff etc I’m just curious before I sign the contract
Link to Comment Chain
Any Idea how hard it is to re class to a different unit or even switch from reserves to the guard? Trying to go from 35F reserves to 15T National Guard.
Ive just heard Florida Guard has alot more to offer getting activated during hurricanes working during drills going into the field and hopping on orders and helping my community more!
Just wondering what factors come into play such as my incentives on my contract. Does anything change on my GI bill? How likely is it that a unit will sign my release for and how ling itll take.
Link to Comment Chain
Enlistment processing times in these days (2024)
Hi. I am planning to show up a recruiting office but I wonder how long it will take from first touch to basic training? Also does the timeline change for female candidates? Thanks!
Link to Comment Chain
Im a CDT about to attend Sapper school and was wondering if anyone knows rappell gloves other than the petzl ones which are acceptable to bring to the school. I have tried looking to buy the petzl ones online and they're out of stock everywhere! I would also like to ask for ASU cotton tan shirt recommendations since I heard the standard issue ones get annoying (?).
Thank you in advance for hearing out my weird and oddly specific questions.
Link to Comment Chain
I signed a contract with the reserves for 15k as I transition from active duty. When can I expect to see that money? My ETS date is 07/27
Link to Comment Chain
I am a workstudy at my college's Veterans Resource Center, and I get a lot of calls about the most random shit. Today, I got a call about a poolee serving in the Army band, and it was all Greek to me. From his work schedule to his training to his GI benefits, to some $9,000 copay, I didn't have any information as to how to help him.
While I have a lot of knowledge about veteran benefits, the army's benefits are the most confusing by far (imo), and I dont know dick about the band. I'm sending this kid to a few places, but the first place I'm pointing him to is his recruiter.
Recruiters, how much training do you receive about benefits, and what is your role in the poolees' lives after they swear the oath?
Link to Comment Chain
I’m super close to my ship date May14th. & I’m getting extremely nervous and having 2nd thoughts. I’m 33 and just probably overthinking it. Any one else have this problem and came out okay? Or did you really regret it?
Link to Comment Chain
I found out I can join the army in 24 months. I’ll be 21 and I feel kinda like a loser for having to wait cause everyone I know joins at 18. How many of y’all enlisted at 21 and did you feel out of place?
Link to Comment Chain
hi all, so i am currently in the Marines and realized that this branch will not serve me in the way i need for career progression. i eventually want to get into a Physician Assistant Master's Program and want to utilize as many resources as possible that the military offers. i also plan on eventually attempting to get a military apprenticeship as a nursing assistant role through the United States Military apprenticeship program (USMAP) and it requires that you are already in an MOS that closely correlates to said apprenticeship. i see that the Army has the most options for medical. what MOS would you guys recommend for PC experience and just best hands on experience overall? thank you in advance for your response!
Link to Comment Chain
I'm a 35N (E5) Reservist about to graduate college with my bachelors as my initial contract expires. I did a (pretty dang awesome) SOCOM deployment a couple years back, and am now contemplating going active duty once I ETS. I'm weighing other options as well, but this is one I'm taking seriously.
I've talked with a recruiter a little bit, but wanted to cross-check here since they seemed unfamiliar with my particular MOS' situation. How likely am I to get an INSCOM (or SOCOM, although that might be difficult/impossible to check) duty station as an option if I show up to MEPS? I really don't want to wind up in FORSCOM sweeping motorpools all day, but am not familiar with how branch/positioning is looking for 35Ns these days.
If I show up and there is nothing but FORSCOM duty stations, ala Cavazos, Bliss, Moore, etc, I might just take my chances in the civilian world. I'm presuming/hoping that if I show up at MEPS, at least one of my options would be a non-FORSCOM station, but I have no way of verifying for myself until I show up and I don't want to waste a recruiter's time if there is a high probability of me walking out from MEPS slamming that "No Deal" button.
Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Link to Comment Chain
When joining can you negotiate what your ait will be or no, and is it something that a recruiter might lie on?
Link to Comment Chain
When is 09m program ending for 16-20 ASVAB scores
Link to Comment Chain
Is it actually worth it to try and max out your PT scores early on like in Basic and AIT? Are there any real benefits to trying to stand out from my peers at these points? My current long-term plan with the military doesn't go past the completion of my contract, and I would rather just get through the early training component with as little eyes on me as possible and focus on being a good medic for whatever unit I am assigned to while deciding if I'll be making a career out of this or not.
Current Firefighter EMT, 77 ASVAB score, son of a Marine so I have a good gist of the military, deciding between active or reserve, but that might just be a spur of the moment decision. I figure the 68w MOS would make the most sense.
Link to Comment Chain
Hey so I’m leaving for bt on May 28th as a 68w. I’m going to fort sill any advice or tips? YouTube doesn’t really have anything besides Jackson or Benning. I’ll be going in as an e4 because if prior EMT experience and certification
Link to Comment Chain
Shipping out Monday, just want to make sure everything I bring is good. Hygiene= 12 pack of Disposable razors ( to also trade), 2 bars of soap+ container, toothbrush+ paste, stick solid deodorant, Qtips, baby wipes. Shower flops. Battery bank, phone cable. QUESTION- What type of towel/ cloth you guys recommend? Also for my pair of socks; will they allow logo on bottom of toes? What size journal/ notebook to bring? What else is crucial that I’ve failed to mention? Your guidance is much appreciated!
Link to Comment Chain
Need helping deciding career army or usmc..
I’m looking for truthful (preferably non biased) and helpful information on what to decide. My dream is to be able to make a long lasting career out of the military and I specifically would love to be an infantry man. I’m about 3 weeks out from going to any bootcamp and I need some serious insight on this decision. I’ve been doing my research and it seems that for a longer lasting career, a decent bonus, more opportunities(especially after service), and a better quality of life would be the army. It also seems as if going to be a marine wouldn’t really get me more than a fancy blue suit and the title ‘marine’ and also to hate my life for however many years. Can anyone shed light on this? Either one is a life changing decision and I have a limited amount of time to decide between the two… genuine help needed brothers and sisters!
Link to Comment Chain
Hello,
I'm a 16 year old high school junior. I have always had a passion for math, and since the 7th grade, I have been learning computer science. The plan was to complete a PhD in computer science, make loads of money, then go back for a masters and or PhD in math. I have been working hard in school since my freshman year to stand out in computer science and attend a t-20 school. For example, this past fall, I completed my AA in computer science at my local community college and have a 4.0 at high school and a 3.8 at college. But recently, I have started to have a change of heart. My father served, so did my grandfather, and so did my uncle. This has all sparked a great sense of patriotism and nationalism. So I have read up on a bunch of army/military benefits, like 20 year retirement and 100% tuition for college. I'm now torn between what to do. If I join the army, I'm going to be doing so directly after graduation. But then I won't be going to college, and I feel like if I do my 20 years and get out, it will be to late to pick up my studies. I don't waste what time I've put into math and computer science to go to waste as I love these topics and am proud of what I have done. Has anyone experienced something similar? Is it possible to be a college student and we enrolled in the army? Have any of you gone to college after serving? If so, how did it work out? Also, for anyone who has done their 20 years, are the benefits worth it? Their page makes it seem so perfect, to be able to retire at 38 with a pension and medical, but I also understand they want people to think this is perfect.
TLDR: Can I go to college for a PhD and also be enrolled in the army? Do you think serving for 20-years is worth the benefits? Lastly, can I still attend college after my 20 years and be successful in getting a PhD?
Link to Comment Chain
Hi! How low is too low of a GPA for a bachelor’s to commission? Wondering if I should even try, or just go enlisted. Thanks!
Link to Comment Chain
I am leaving 21 May for FSPC Fitness track, I am having a hard time finding much information on it. Has anyone gone through it recently or have any insight as to what it will be like? Thanks!
Link to Comment Chain
My recruiter gave me a take-home packet for OCS where it asks about character references and so on! I submitted it a couple of weeks ago and after that I went to MEPS for medical and all. I just realized that I put some information wrong such as email addresses, and relationship to the person listed! I would like to change them with the updated information. My packet has not been submitted yet because I still haven’t sent him my essay and LORs. The deadline for it is 21st I believe. So now my question is can I change those info before the deadline? I asked him what that take-home packet was for and he said they built off of whatever I put there. I am worried because I know I will need a security clearance and it will come back to haunt me later on.
Link to Comment Chain
What medical MOS's have 4 year contracts?
Link to Comment Chain
Anyone in reserve Civil affairs willing to answer some questions that i have?
Link to Comment Chain
I have some questions before I enlist officially.
I have greencard so I don't have secret. I'm 28. I took my asvab and scored 44 this due to my knowledge on math is really faded away and some questions unfortunately exceed my English. Eventho I can speak and understand daily conversations with no problem. Automation and electrical part I barely understand half of them. Since the component parts and some measurements uses respective terms for them which is not daily so I couldn't even understand. I'm soon will be homeless. So I want to join army 1 for sleeping safe, 2 get my citizenship and 3 get a Job that I can use in my civilian life. So in total 3 things.
What MOS should I go for? If possible I would like to sign for 3 years contract or less. I'm interested in medical field, currently I'm a caregiver. And I would like to learn from my job in military to utilize it in my civilian life.
What is Reserve/Reservist? It still gives me the 3 things I need? If not what does it provides?
I have some stuff with me including clothes, my computer and some other stuff that. Will I have enough space in basics to store them safely?
Thank you for your answers and if possible as I'm very inexperienced to the process please share your opinions on what should I know before signing the contract. Thank you.
Link to Comment Chain
Hey! So I'm super interested in joining as a 35 series (leaning towards 35m) I have a completely clean record and am not worried about myself at all. My family doesn't tell me much but I do know that my grandpa has a pretty intense arrest record including being a sex offender... My dad is telling me not to worry about it and that since its been so long the court cleared his record. I am not close to that side of my family and just want to make sure it won't be a problem. Any input is appreciated, thanks!
Link to Comment Chain
My girlfriend has already gone through Meps and signed her contract. She leaves late May. Despite birth control and condoms we just found out she’s pregnant.
If we go to Planned parenthood and get a termination pill, is that something that would have to be reported? If she did that and went off to basic without reporting it would they Separate her?
We just want to know how to proceed and what will happen to her career because of it.
Link to Comment Chain
Are officers just paper pushers? I’d like to join as an Engineering Officer, I wouldn’t mind pushing papers but if it’s the only thing I’m expected to do then I definitely wouldn’t join, are engineering officers mostly outside?
Link to Comment Chain
Seasonal Allergies Immunotherapy
Hi I’m planning on applying for OCS when I graduate in May. But im currently taking allergy shots for my seasonal allergies. I would have no problem pausing them during basic etc. Resuming when I’m past training, but is this something I have to do? Is it worth having to get a medical waiver for it? Do I need to tell my recruiter?
Link to Comment Chain
Thinking of enlisting
I need opinions from experienced soldiers and officers. I just turned 30. I’ve wasted the last 12 years of my life just getting by, without guidance or direction. I’ve worked for UPS part time loading trailers for the last 6 years. I’m in college now for a BA in criminal justice. I know it’s best to wait until you have a degree to join but that won’t be for another 3 years at least. Should I go Army, Reserves, or ARNG? I’m not worried about losing my civilian job as I would be granted military leave and planned on quitting anyway once I have my bachelors degree. I feel like my life has no purpose and I’m ready for a change. I also want to serve and protect my country. I have a couple months to decide as I’m on probation until October. What are your thoughts? What would you suggest?
Link to Comment Chain
What is current prior service rules? Current e5 with 5 yrs active
Link to Comment Chain
I am thinking of enlisting as a 19D with option 19 for Germany. My husband is German (Bavarian) and we both currently live in Bavaria. My question is, what would hosuing look like?
I would prefer to live off base and commute so that I could live with my husband, but I do not know if that is possible.
Would I have to live in a barracks and only visit my husband in my freetime? Could we both live on base? I am not sure what the housing rules are and what options would apply to someone like me.
I am not sure how or if any of this would effect things, but I currently live in Germany, speak german at a B2/C1 level, have a drivers liscense here, and was told that with my education I could become a E-4 after training. No I am not picking 19D just to get germany, I am actually interested in that.
Thanks in advance for all your help!
Link to Comment Chain
So, I just signed my contract and sadly since I'm not a Citizen nothing that I actually wanted to do was available to me. From all the options 15R seemed the coolest. Did I make a huge mistake? I really don't want to hate my life for next 4 years. If it helps I wanted 25B (IT) because I like fixing computers and trouble shooting issues. Also I'm joining in late (34F), anybody have some experiences going into the army older?
Shipping out May 21.
Thanks.
Link to Comment Chain
Serious concern, need your opinion
Hey guys, I just turned 18 and ive been seriously considering joining up, however, some people around me have been saying that because I am a muslim, i might face some discrimination or unjust treatment while in the military, for all the veterans and active duty men and women, what is your take on this?
Link to Comment Chain
I’m going down to MEPS this Thursday to sign a navy contract. I’m really hesitant and doubts I’m choosing the right branch. The army is in the back of my mind because the possibility of signing a three year contract. I needed a mental health waiver for adhd, adjustment disorder, anxiety. I’m 35 years old. I’m moderately in shape. Do you think it’s worth it to stop a sure thing to inquire about the army? Thank you for your response?
Link to Comment Chain
Currently a 31B trying to reclass over to 35L when I leave Korea. Does anyone know how long this process would take and how much time in service I would need to have left so I do not need to reenlist to accomplish this?
Link to Comment Chain
I asked this on the main page but was told to post it here. I hope this is the right place. I got a few answers on my other post, but more information helps. I’m going into the Army. I’m married to someone who is going into Marine Corps. What are the odds we get stationed together? He’ll be either aviation or infantry and I’ll be a nurse if that makes a difference.
Link to Comment Chain
I ship out tomorrow currently on the meps shuttle but i was previously told i wouldn’t have to do basic training, now my recruiter told me earlier today that i might have to redo basic training and to make sure my contract specifies that im an e5. Im an e5 prior service Marine with 42 months inactive reserves in the Marine corps. Why am i being told this the day before i ship out when they told me i didnt have to do basic?
Link to Comment Chain
Hey guys I’m seriously considering a career as a 35L Counter Intelligence. They seem really cool. I’m wondering what places they are likely to be stationed at. Thank you
Link to Comment Chain
Hey everyone, I was told by the mods to come here for this question, so I did. Anyways, I’m 14 and live in the UK but I am an American citizen and proud American and U would love to serve my country, however I’m also really smart academics wise and so I’d definitely go to Uni and not just a mediocre one. However, once I finish uni I want to join the Army as an officer and my dad was a sergeant back in the 80s in the airforce where he did communications in Germany (also where he met my Mom) and I’m planning on only doing 1 enlistment. Is this a waste of 4 yrs? Also, if I were to join, then which unit would be best to join as I want to join a unit that actually is fun and has a good brotherhood but I am also worried about being deployed as I don’t want to die, seeing as I value my life and I’m my parents only child. Can yall give me some advice please. Have a good day and thank you for your service.
Link to Comment Chain
Hello! I have a question for anyone who knows MEPS regulations.
If someone has had the gastric bypass surgery, had no complications with it whatsoever and is considered by the doctor to be fully healed, can they still enlist?
Link to Comment Chain

Hey, so a friend of mine is going to a fat camp before basic in a couple weeks, and he was wondering what fat camp was like for other people. He's also wondering about phone usage because of some game event that's going to happen while he's there but he couldn't find much online, aside from Sundays being half an hour and only for phone calls, so any help to calm him down?
Link to Comment Chain
How old is too late? Approaching 30 and I've been reconsidering joining. I completed a Challenge program in Wyoming funded by the WY Air National Guard when I was 19 and was on board until I let myself slip away from the drive to join.
Link to Comment Chain
So I took the ASVAB and scored a 98 with GT 133! I passed my medical test in the first go yesterday! I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, albeit a lower gpa of 3.05, but I have more than 2 years of working experience in the same field! I am currently enrolled in a graduate program in Computer Science! I want to do OCS reserve but my recruiter is pushing me to go enlisted. I said I am sticking with what I had said in the beginning which is OCS and I also gave him 3 mos options- 1) 17 series 2) 25 series and 3) 35 series. He is saying 17 is going to be hard and it’s going to take a long time. It also has a test! However, he’s giving me a positive signal about 35 and saying there are 5 vacancies nearby! For 25, there is only one and that is far but Im willing to fly there! For 17, there are 3! What should I choose as my 1, 2, and 3?
Also what benefits do you get if you go to OCS? He was saying I wouldn’t get any educational benefits such loan repayment and so on.
(Edited: I am doing Army Reserve)
Link to Comment Chain
So l've seen a lot of tips and things to bring to basic training, but I wanna know what I really need to bring because a lot of those list say a bunch of things and I doubt that I'm gonna need all of them and mind you I am a female going to basic trading so it be appreciated. If y'all would give me some tips on what to bring to basic training and what not to bring
Link to Comment Chain
I have never served in the military. I want to sign an option 40 to get a tryout at RASP some time in the future, I want to know how physically fit you should be before you even want to consider ranger training for one (What physical feats should you be able to accomplish on a bad day) And how well basic training and MOS training would get you ready (physically) for RASP. And what you need to manage on your own in terms of training. So to recap I'm asking how trained I should be before joining and if I will need to take my own initiative to get physically fit enough for ranger school. I am looking to not be last in line when doing runs or 12 mile rucks because that was 5 days a week every week during high school track. I want every advantage I can get.
Link to Comment Chain
Considering crossing over to Army from a sister service. I lied about my ADD diagnosis at MEPs 6 years ago. Will this prevent me from joining?
Link to Comment Chain
I’m choosing 13m as my mos I just wants info on it I’ve heard it’s a lot of motor pool stuff etc I’m just curious before I sign the contract
Link to Comment Chain
Any Idea how hard it is to re class to a different unit or even switch from reserves to the guard? Trying to go from 35F reserves to 15T National Guard.
Ive just heard Florida Guard has alot more to offer getting activated during hurricanes working during drills going into the field and hopping on orders and helping my community more!
Just wondering what factors come into play such as my incentives on my contract. Does anything change on my GI bill? How likely is it that a unit will sign my release for and how ling itll take.
Link to Comment Chain
Enlistment processing times in these days (2024)
Hi. I am planning to show up a recruiting office but I wonder how long it will take from first touch to basic training? Also does the timeline change for female candidates? Thanks!
Link to Comment Chain
Im a CDT about to attend Sapper school and was wondering if anyone knows rappell gloves other than the petzl ones which are acceptable to bring to the school. I have tried looking to buy the petzl ones online and they're out of stock everywhere! I would also like to ask for ASU cotton tan shirt recommendations since I heard the standard issue ones get annoying (?).
Thank you in advance for hearing out my weird and oddly specific questions.
Link to Comment Chain
I signed a contract with the reserves for 15k as I transition from active duty. When can I expect to see that money? My ETS date is 07/27
Link to Comment Chain
I am a workstudy at my college's Veterans Resource Center, and I get a lot of calls about the most random shit. Today, I got a call about a poolee serving in the Army band, and it was all Greek to me. From his work schedule to his training to his GI benefits, to some $9,000 copay, I didn't have any information as to how to help him.
While I have a lot of knowledge about veteran benefits, the army's benefits are the most confusing by far (imo), and I dont know dick about the band. I'm sending this kid to a few places, but the first place I'm pointing him to is his recruiter.
Recruiters, how much training do you receive about benefits, and what is your role in the poolees' lives after they swear the oath?
Link to Comment Chain
I’m super close to my ship date May14th. & I’m getting extremely nervous and having 2nd thoughts. I’m 33 and just probably overthinking it. Any one else have this problem and came out okay? Or did you really regret it?
Link to Comment Chain
I found out I can join the army in 24 months. I’ll be 21 and I feel kinda like a loser for having to wait cause everyone I know joins at 18. How many of y’all enlisted at 21 and did you feel out of place?
Link to Comment Chain
hi all, so i am currently in the Marines and realized that this branch will not serve me in the way i need for career progression. i eventually want to get into a Physician Assistant Master's Program and want to utilize as many resources as possible that the military offers. i also plan on eventually attempting to get a military apprenticeship as a nursing assistant role through the United States Military apprenticeship program (USMAP) and it requires that you are already in an MOS that closely correlates to said apprenticeship. i see that the Army has the most options for medical. what MOS would you guys recommend for PC experience and just best hands on experience overall? thank you in advance for your response!
Link to Comment Chain
I'm a 35N (E5) Reservist about to graduate college with my bachelors as my initial contract expires. I did a (pretty dang awesome) SOCOM deployment a couple years back, and am now contemplating going active duty once I ETS. I'm weighing other options as well, but this is one I'm taking seriously.
I've talked with a recruiter a little bit, but wanted to cross-check here since they seemed unfamiliar with my particular MOS' situation. How likely am I to get an INSCOM (or SOCOM, although that might be difficult/impossible to check) duty station as an option if I show up to MEPS? I really don't want to wind up in FORSCOM sweeping motorpools all day, but am not familiar with how branch/positioning is looking for 35Ns these days.
If I show up and there is nothing but FORSCOM duty stations, ala Cavazos, Bliss, Moore, etc, I might just take my chances in the civilian world. I'm presuming/hoping that if I show up at MEPS, at least one of my options would be a non-FORSCOM station, but I have no way of verifying for myself until I show up and I don't want to waste a recruiter's time if there is a high probability of me walking out from MEPS slamming that "No Deal" button.
Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Link to Comment Chain
When joining can you negotiate what your ait will be or no, and is it something that a recruiter might lie on?
Link to Comment Chain
When is 09m program ending for 16-20 ASVAB scores
Link to Comment Chain
Is it actually worth it to try and max out your PT scores early on like in Basic and AIT? Are there any real benefits to trying to stand out from my peers at these points? My current long-term plan with the military doesn't go past the completion of my contract, and I would rather just get through the early training component with as little eyes on me as possible and focus on being a good medic for whatever unit I am assigned to while deciding if I'll be making a career out of this or not.
Current Firefighter EMT, 77 ASVAB score, son of a Marine so I have a good gist of the military, deciding between active or reserve, but that might just be a spur of the moment decision. I figure the 68w MOS would make the most sense.
Link to Comment Chain
Hey so I’m leaving for bt on May 28th as a 68w. I’m going to fort sill any advice or tips? YouTube doesn’t really have anything besides Jackson or Benning. I’ll be going in as an e4 because if prior EMT experience and certification
Link to Comment Chain
Shipping out Monday, just want to make sure everything I bring is good. Hygiene= 12 pack of Disposable razors ( to also trade), 2 bars of soap+ container, toothbrush+ paste, stick solid deodorant, Qtips, baby wipes. Shower flops. Battery bank, phone cable. QUESTION- What type of towel/ cloth you guys recommend? Also for my pair of socks; will they allow logo on bottom of toes? What size journal/ notebook to bring? What else is crucial that I’ve failed to mention? Your guidance is much appreciated!
Link to Comment Chain
Need helping deciding career army or usmc..
I’m looking for truthful (preferably non biased) and helpful information on what to decide. My dream is to be able to make a long lasting career out of the military and I specifically would love to be an infantry man. I’m about 3 weeks out from going to any bootcamp and I need some serious insight on this decision. I’ve been doing my research and it seems that for a longer lasting career, a decent bonus, more opportunities(especially after service), and a better quality of life would be the army. It also seems as if going to be a marine wouldn’t really get me more than a fancy blue suit and the title ‘marine’ and also to hate my life for however many years. Can anyone shed light on this? Either one is a life changing decision and I have a limited amount of time to decide between the two… genuine help needed brothers and sisters!
Link to Comment Chain
Hello,
I'm a 16 year old high school junior. I have always had a passion for math, and since the 7th grade, I have been learning computer science. The plan was to complete a PhD in computer science, make loads of money, then go back for a masters and or PhD in math. I have been working hard in school since my freshman year to stand out in computer science and attend a t-20 school. For example, this past fall, I completed my AA in computer science at my local community college and have a 4.0 at high school and a 3.8 at college. But recently, I have started to have a change of heart. My father served, so did my grandfather, and so did my uncle. This has all sparked a great sense of patriotism and nationalism. So I have read up on a bunch of army/military benefits, like 20 year retirement and 100% tuition for college. I'm now torn between what to do. If I join the army, I'm going to be doing so directly after graduation. But then I won't be going to college, and I feel like if I do my 20 years and get out, it will be to late to pick up my studies. I don't waste what time I've put into math and computer science to go to waste as I love these topics and am proud of what I have done. Has anyone experienced something similar? Is it possible to be a college student and we enrolled in the army? Have any of you gone to college after serving? If so, how did it work out? Also, for anyone who has done their 20 years, are the benefits worth it? Their page makes it seem so perfect, to be able to retire at 38 with a pension and medical, but I also understand they want people to think this is perfect.
TLDR: Can I go to college for a PhD and also be enrolled in the army? Do you think serving for 20-years is worth the benefits? Lastly, can I still attend college after my 20 years and be successful in getting a PhD?
Link to Comment Chain
Hi! How low is too low of a GPA for a bachelor’s to commission? Wondering if I should even try, or just go enlisted. Thanks!
Link to Comment Chain
I am leaving 21 May for FSPC Fitness track, I am having a hard time finding much information on it. Has anyone gone through it recently or have any insight as to what it will be like? Thanks!
Link to Comment Chain
My recruiter gave me a take-home packet for OCS where it asks about character references and so on! I submitted it a couple of weeks ago and after that I went to MEPS for medical and all. I just realized that I put some information wrong such as email addresses, and relationship to the person listed! I would like to change them with the updated information. My packet has not been submitted yet because I still haven’t sent him my essay and LORs. The deadline for it is 21st I believe. So now my question is can I change those info before the deadline? I asked him what that take-home packet was for and he said they built off of whatever I put there. I am worried because I know I will need a security clearance and it will come back to haunt me later on.
Link to Comment Chain
What medical MOS's have 4 year contracts?
Link to Comment Chain
Anyone in reserve Civil affairs willing to answer some questions that i have?
Link to Comment Chain
I have some questions before I enlist officially.
I have greencard so I don't have secret. I'm 28. I took my asvab and scored 44 this due to my knowledge on math is really faded away and some questions unfortunately exceed my English. Eventho I can speak and understand daily conversations with no problem. Automation and electrical part I barely understand half of them. Since the component parts and some measurements uses respective terms for them which is not daily so I couldn't even understand. I'm soon will be homeless. So I want to join army 1 for sleeping safe, 2 get my citizenship and 3 get a Job that I can use in my civilian life. So in total 3 things.
What MOS should I go for? If possible I would like to sign for 3 years contract or less. I'm interested in medical field, currently I'm a caregiver. And I would like to learn from my job in military to utilize it in my civilian life.
What is Reserve/Reservist? It still gives me the 3 things I need? If not what does it provides?
I have some stuff with me including clothes, my computer and some other stuff that. Will I have enough space in basics to store them safely?
Thank you for your answers and if possible as I'm very inexperienced to the process please share your opinions on what should I know before signing the contract. Thank you.
Link to Comment Chain
Hey! So I'm super interested in joining as a 35 series (leaning towards 35m) I have a completely clean record and am not worried about myself at all. My family doesn't tell me much but I do know that my grandpa has a pretty intense arrest record including being a sex offender... My dad is telling me not to worry about it and that since its been so long the court cleared his record. I am not close to that side of my family and just want to make sure it won't be a problem. Any input is appreciated, thanks!
Link to Comment Chain
My girlfriend has already gone through Meps and signed her contract. She leaves late May. Despite birth control and condoms we just found out she’s pregnant.
If we go to Planned parenthood and get a termination pill, is that something that would have to be reported? If she did that and went off to basic without reporting it would they Separate her?
We just want to know how to proceed and what will happen to her career because of it.
Link to Comment Chain
Are officers just paper pushers? I’d like to join as an Engineering Officer, I wouldn’t mind pushing papers but if it’s the only thing I’m expected to do then I definitely wouldn’t join, are engineering officers mostly outside?
Link to Comment Chain
Seasonal Allergies Immunotherapy
Hi I’m planning on applying for OCS when I graduate in May. But im currently taking allergy shots for my seasonal allergies. I would have no problem pausing them during basic etc. Resuming when I’m past training, but is this something I have to do? Is it worth having to get a medical waiver for it? Do I need to tell my recruiter?
Link to Comment Chain
Thinking of enlisting
I need opinions from experienced soldiers and officers. I just turned 30. I’ve wasted the last 12 years of my life just getting by, without guidance or direction. I’ve worked for UPS part time loading trailers for the last 6 years. I’m in college now for a BA in criminal justice. I know it’s best to wait until you have a degree to join but that won’t be for another 3 years at least. Should I go Army, Reserves, or ARNG? I’m not worried about losing my civilian job as I would be granted military leave and planned on quitting anyway once I have my bachelors degree. I feel like my life has no purpose and I’m ready for a change. I also want to serve and protect my country. I have a couple months to decide as I’m on probation until October. What are your thoughts? What would you suggest?
Link to Comment Chain
What is current prior service rules? Current e5 with 5 yrs active
Link to Comment Chain
I am thinking of enlisting as a 19D with option 19 for Germany. My husband is German (Bavarian) and we both currently live in Bavaria. My question is, what would hosuing look like?
I would prefer to live off base and commute so that I could live with my husband, but I do not know if that is possible.
Would I have to live in a barracks and only visit my husband in my freetime? Could we both live on base? I am not sure what the housing rules are and what options would apply to someone like me.
I am not sure how or if any of this would effect things, but I currently live in Germany, speak german at a B2/C1 level, have a drivers liscense here, and was told that with my education I could become a E-4 after training. No I am not picking 19D just to get germany, I am actually interested in that.
Thanks in advance for all your help!
Link to Comment Chain
So, I just signed my contract and sadly since I'm not a Citizen nothing that I actually wanted to do was available to me. From all the options 15R seemed the coolest. Did I make a huge mistake? I really don't want to hate my life for next 4 years. If it helps I wanted 25B (IT) because I like fixing computers and trouble shooting issues. Also I'm joining in late (34F), anybody have some experiences going into the army older?
Shipping out May 21.
Thanks.
Link to Comment Chain
Serious concern, need your opinion
Hey guys, I just turned 18 and ive been seriously considering joining up, however, some people around me have been saying that because I am a muslim, i might face some discrimination or unjust treatment while in the military, for all the veterans and active duty men and women, what is your take on this?
Link to Comment Chain
I’m going down to MEPS this Thursday to sign a navy contract. I’m really hesitant and doubts I’m choosing the right branch. The army is in the back of my mind because the possibility of signing a three year contract. I needed a mental health waiver for adhd, adjustment disorder, anxiety. I’m 35 years old. I’m moderately in shape. Do you think it’s worth it to stop a sure thing to inquire about the army? Thank you for your response?
Link to Comment Chain
Currently a 31B trying to reclass over to 35L when I leave Korea. Does anyone know how long this process would take and how much time in service I would need to have left so I do not need to reenlist to accomplish this?
Link to Comment Chain
I asked this on the main page but was told to post it here. I hope this is the right place. I got a few answers on my other post, but more information helps. I’m going into the Army. I’m married to someone who is going into Marine Corps. What are the odds we get stationed together? He’ll be either aviation or infantry and I’ll be a nurse if that makes a difference.
Link to Comment Chain
I ship out tomorrow currently on the meps shuttle but i was previously told i wouldn’t have to do basic training, now my recruiter told me earlier today that i might have to redo basic training and to make sure my contract specifies that im an e5. Im an e5 prior service Marine with 42 months inactive reserves in the Marine corps. Why am i being told this the day before i ship out when they told me i didnt have to do basic?
Link to Comment Chain
Hey guys I’m seriously considering a career as a 35L Counter Intelligence. They seem really cool. I’m wondering what places they are likely to be stationed at. Thank you
Link to Comment Chain
Hey everyone, I was told by the mods to come here for this question, so I did. Anyways, I’m 14 and live in the UK but I am an American citizen and proud American and U would love to serve my country, however I’m also really smart academics wise and so I’d definitely go to Uni and not just a mediocre one. However, once I finish uni I want to join the Army as an officer and my dad was a sergeant back in the 80s in the airforce where he did communications in Germany (also where he met my Mom) and I’m planning on only doing 1 enlistment. Is this a waste of 4 yrs? Also, if I were to join, then which unit would be best to join as I want to join a unit that actually is fun and has a good brotherhood but I am also worried about being deployed as I don’t want to die, seeing as I value my life and I’m my parents only child. Can yall give me some advice please. Have a good day and thank you for your service.
Link to Comment Chain
Hello! I have a question for anyone who knows MEPS regulations.
If someone has had the gastric bypass surgery, had no complications with it whatsoever and is considered by the doctor to be fully healed, can they still enlist?
Link to Comment Chain

Admiral Wedol Venin, finest officer of the Stralqi fleet and guardian angel of twelve billion souls, was about to die. He was sure of it.
Three hours ago, he had been in command of the finest armada the Stralqi Confederacy had ever marshaled. Two hundred of their best ships, handpicked from the vanguard of the Confederate fleet, were marshaled in a barren star system and all chosen for a single purpose. They were going to destroy Earth.
The Stralqi Confederacy had long suspected Earth of collaborating in secret with their enemies, though these suspicions were shared by few, and its leadership had tried and failed to ram an extermination order through the debate forums of the Galactic Coalition. Now, with a diplomatic course of action impossible, they had decided to brazenly defy Coalition orders and take matters into their own hands.
That was why Wedol Venin had been sent to his grave, Alpha Centauri, to marshal his fleet and await the order for the attack on Earth. If he was troubled at all by this act, the possibility that he might be scouring an inhabited world clean of all life, his discipline was such that he did not show it.
He had stood there, lean and proud on the bridge of his dreadnought, every bit the pride of the Confederate navy until eight hundred attack ships blew his fleet into smithereens. That was why he was in the position he was in. That was why he was tired and afraid, huddled next to the failing life support of his flagship, the Midnight Requiem. The lights were red and dim. The ship was crippled and mostly uninhabitable. The crew, what little was left, were slowly choking to death as their air filters failed.
There were worse ways to die. This was still not a good one.
“How many hours?” asked the admiral. His chief engineer, burned on half her body from shutting down the unstable main reactor, stirred to look at her datapad.
“Thirty, sir.”
“And have the technicians rigged up a distress signal?”
The engineer sighed. “Only in-system, sir. The hypercom is beyond repair.” They both knew what that meant. The Centauri system was empty. “Nobody’s coming to help us.”
“Stay strong,” Wedol breathed. “The Confederacy doesn’t abandon its own.” Even as he said it, he knew that was a lie. The Confederacy had bigger problems than him.
“Shut up,” said the engineer, her yellow body and blue uniform bathed in red emergency light. The light began fading. The batteries were almost dead. “Conserve oxygen this way.”
He did. He reflected on his defeat, just five days prior, wondering where it all went wrong.
The ships that came for him were not from Earth. They were not assembling to Earth’s defense, either, but he could not have known that at the moment. They were Earth’s enemy as much as they were his, and they were marshaling there for the same purpose he was. It was merely blind, ironic fate that the two parties discovered each other.
If Wedol Venin could chuckle, and it would not have wasted oxygen, he would have. Sheer blind luck, and nothing else, had been the end of nearly two million Confederate lives. It was almost comical, in a dark sort of way.
The engineer showed him a datapad. Twelve Stralqi ships remained. Most were capitals, and all were crippled. None of them seemed likely to end up as anything more than a massive, expensive tomb.
Wedol mouthed his thanks. Knowing some of his men had survived, even if they were only delaying the inevitable, had breathed new life into his old and battered body.
A marine, tired and weak, entered the room shortly afterward. He carried a case of vials and a medical injector. “I’m to knock any non-essential crew unconscious,” he explained to the admiral. “Save breath for the rest of us.” He looked around the massive room, the beam of his flashlight illuminating the derelict air filters and inactive water recyclers that had once been the lifeline of fifty thousand people. “Suppose I’ll move on, then.”
“No,” Wedol gasped. “Give me the injection.” The marine wheeled in shock. “I’m useless now.”
His posture straightened up. His shaking hands steadied. When he finally spoke, he did so with discipline. “Sir, yes, sir.” Admiral Wedol Venin, leader of the Confederate fleet and master of the black of space, had never felt more proud.
The marine’s hands were steady as he prepared the injector. They were calm, in spite of his racing mind. “You’re a good soldier,” Wedol assured him. “I wish I had done better for you.”
“No need, sir, no need,” said the marine. “I remember my oaths. I’m not afraid to die.”
“I’m so sorry for this,” said Wedol. “You and yours deserved to live.” Then the injector hissed against his neck, and he drifted off to a peaceful sleep. His ship was dying. His crew were dying. His last thoughts were of how sorry he was that he could not have saved them.
When Wedol Venin awoke, he was not on board the Midnight Requiem. He was not in any place that he could recognize. His blue admiral’s uniform had been stripped from him, replaced by a white hospital gown. He was surrounded by sterile white walls and beeping medical devices. He realized with joy that he was in a medical facility. He realized with horror that he was in a Terran medical facility.
A doctor entered the room. He was obviously human, and his uniform was clearly of Terran make. Wedol’s assessment of the situation grew even more grim. His name tag identified him as ‘E. Abelman’, and he wore a friendly smile on his face. “I’m so glad to see you’re awake.”
“What happened to my ship?” Wedol snapped. “My crew? My fleet?” The fact that his first words were about the lives under his command did wonders for Dr. Abelman’s opinion of him.
“We saved all we could,” the doctor reassured him. “Sixteen thousand of your fleet survived. Your ships are mostly destroyed, but the salvage is yours to claim.”
At this, Wedol was shocked. Most parties would not have been so generous. “Thank you,” he said, feeling a great darkness within him at what he was willing to do to this man just days earlier. “I’m in your debt.”
“You were unconscious for a few weeks,” Dr. Abelman explained, caring nothing for the debt he was now apparently owed. “A colony ship found your distress signal and reported you to us. The United Nations of Earth and Her Colonies,” he said, pointing to a logo on his medical uniform. “You’re being treated on a hospital ship orbiting the planet Canaan, along with the rest of your fleet’s survivors.” That vessel was their only hospital ship. If it were not for the wreckage above Earth, the product of another brutal space battle, they would have been there much sooner.
“Thank you so much.” Wedol sat up in his hospital bed. “If there’s any way I or my fleet can repay you, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I won’t. And I’ve been meaning to ask,” said Dr. Abelman, “Would you have dropped the bombs?”
Wedol Venin froze. “On Earth?” Abelman nodded. “If ordered?” He nodded again. “I… don’t know.” The answer was hesitant, cautious, and genuinely unsure. The pride of the Stralqi fleet was not a dishonest man. “I like to believe I wouldn’t have.”
“Please,” Abelman laughed, making a joke of the situation, “I’m Jewish! Everybody’s tried to kill us Jews over the years. And, like it or not, I’m required to treat you regardless of your choice. It’s part of my oath as a doctor.”
“Why?” Wedol had to ask. “Why save me? Why save my fleet? Why ask for nothing in exchange?”
“Well, it’s a few things,” explained the doctor. “For one, Jews are religiously required to aid those in need. And, technically, you still count.”
“Even with my… orders, as an officer in the fleet?” Admiral Venin knew better than to say he was just following them. The weight of his decisions, influenced or not, was his alone to bear.
“Orders to stand by to attack Earth. Not even to do it, but to be ready to do it,” said the doctor. “I’ve read your file, admiral. You of all people don’t seem the type to glass a planet.”
“I understand. I hope that those I command hold the same morals.”
“You look surprised,” said the doctor. “Understandable, under the circumstances.” He was checking his datapad at the moment. It contained medical reports.
“What I want to know is why,” asked Wedol. “You give me charity, you take me in, you treat my men’s wounds and offer us a place to stay, knowing what we would have done if the situation was reversed. Why do this?”
The doctor paused. He thought for a moment. “Well, I swore an oath to treat even my enemies. I was a combat medic once. Even if you had followed through with your orders, leveled cities with AM-bombs, I would have to save you from death if only to see you tried in a court of law.” He did not look pleased about it, either.
“Will I be tried in a court of law?” Wedol hoped he would. He did not believe in wrongdoers evading justice, and the way he had been treated proved that his orders were wrong indeed.
“Well, probably, but I think the sentence will be light. Even if the defense can't make a case, you're a hero to a lot of people in this galaxy. The Confederacy's allies would raise hell over any harsh punishment, and Earth can't afford any more enemies,” Abelman thought aloud. “Better to show mercy.”
“I would not have shown mercy,” Wedol confessed. “I do not deserve it.”
“Probably not,” said the kindly doctor. “You and your fleet were sent here, agents of an enemy state that were fully prepared to kill eight billion innocent people, and a lot of us would have preferred it if you all just died in your metal coffins.” Suddenly, he did not seem so kindly. “But, well, I’m a humanitarian.” He looked down at his datapad for a moment, then back up at Wedol. “Compassion is the very definition of humanity.”

I'm a prior service MM2 reenlisting in the Navy Reserves soon and I was wondering what all an MM could actually do during AT and Mobilizations. I can't imagine any meaningful training can be done in just 2 weeks and I'm not sure if Mobilizations are just like going TAD to another command for several months. It seems kinda confusing as I can only imagine the navy in fast paced optempo

Any nukes do the BCNR process in the last year for all of us who didn't do a zone B reenlistment and extended instead because we're dummies who were counciled wrong by our CCC? Just got mine approved, I'm out the navy now but was wondering what your timeline was like for receiving that bonus payout after receiving your letter of approval.

So I’m planning to join the Navy as a nuke, my forms are all signed just waiting to finish school for the day and send them in, but I have some questions that I want to ask you all instead of the recruiter.
As a nuke, do you get paid well? At least decent pay raises for reenlisting?
After your stint, can you normally go right into the civilian nucleus field or do you need more schooling, and how much and what kind?
If I do need more schooling can I take it while on a carrier or would I have to wait until I’m back on solid ground?
How do you like the navy in general?
I probably have more questions but that’s all for now.
Edit: Nuclear not Nucleus

In my earlier post, "My Kaiserreich Story/Headcanons", I went with John Nance Garner winning the US Presidential Election of 1936 for a number of reasons: 1. With Hoover screwing up so much, I don't see the Republicans winning; 2. I don't see Long or Reed winning as despite the worse Great Depression, their factions are too radical; and 3. The Farmer-Labor Party is too new on the block to have a real chance, in my opinion.
My second choice for winning the 1936 Election, however, would be Floyd Olson of the Farmer Labor Party. This post will effectively be an AU of "My Kaiserreich Story/Headcanons", where the only difference is that Floyd Olson won the 1936 Election, and how that affects the 2nd American Civil War, and also the 2nd Weltkreig. Without further ado, let's begin.
Everything's the same until the Presidential election of 1936, in which Floyd B. Olson, of the new Farmer-Labor Party, wins by a hair, becoming President in 1937. He negotiates with Jack Reed and compromises with him to create governmental organizations supervised by the SPA that would act as liaison between unions and the government. The compromise is made, resulting in Huey Long leading the “American Union State” in rebellion, starting the 2nd American Civil War.
Sadly, President Olson dies later in 1937, his battle with stomach cancer taking his life. His Vice President takes the oath of office and swears to see the Longist rebellion crushed.
In 1939, New Orleans falls and Huey Long is captured, resulting in the USA’s victory in the 2ACW, once again putting down a southern rebellion. As America begins a 2nd Reconstruction, relations with Canada grow cold. Thanks to Olson’s compromise with Reed and them fighting alongside the Federal government, the Syndicalists have gained an amount of legitimacy in the eyes of the American public. Moderates in the SPA have joined the Farmer-Labor Party, swelling its numbers and bringing moderate Syndicalist thought into the mainstream.
Wanting nothing to do with the Americans now, Edward makes no offer for them to join the Entente. Without the Syndicalists menacing New England, it, Alaska, and other territories remained in American hands.
In 1941, Kaiser Wilhelm II dies, and his son, Wilhelm III, becomes the Kaiser of the German Empire and appoints Kurt von Schleicher as Reich Chancellor. They lead Germany down a reactionary path, concentrating power in the Kaiser, a small group of nobles, and in the military.
On September 1, 1942, the 2nd Weltkrieg begins as the Third International (Commune of France (Sorelians, Georges Valois), Union of Britain (Maximists, Oswald Mosley), Socialist Republic of Italy (Chairman Benito Mussolini), the Spanish Workers’ Front (PCE, Jose Diaz Ramos), and others) declares war on the German Empire and also launches attacks on other non-Syndicalist countries, such as the Republic of Ireland and the Kingdom of Portugal.
The Dominion of Canada and the other nations in the Entente begin to prepare for their own invasion of the Third International. Just as with the First Weltkreig, the USA fully intends on staying out of this one. Despite Syndicalism gaining moderate traction through the Farmer-Labor Party, many look towards the United States of Mexico, a Totalist state under Plutarco Calles, with worry and anxiety.
The Atlantic theater throughout 1943 to 1945 is a bloodbath. Using Greenland and then Iceland as stepping stones, the Canadians hoped to then aid in Ireland’s defense against the Union of Britain and then invade the homeland directly to liberate it. Unfortunately, the Union’s navy hasn’t lost any of its ability, resulting in frequent naval battles between Union and Dominion ships and the loss of many Canadian troop transports.
In early 1944, the violent class warfare of Totalist Mexico spills over into the southwestern US, resulting in the deaths of American civilians. In retaliation, the US goes to war against Mexico. The Empire of Brazil, having mopped up the Syndicalist nations of South America, joins in, making Mexico into a curbstomp sandwich. Totalist Mexico is completely destroyed by the USA and Brazil. Both sides establish occupation zones, the US to the North, and the Empire of Brazil to the South.
By the end of 1944, the Third International in Europe is beaten. The Commune of France fell completely to the German Empire, and between them and the Republic of France invading from the south, Italy and Spain have fallen. Only Britain stays in the fight, battling the Canadians in the Atlantic, the Germans in and over the English Channel, and the Irish on the Emerald Isle. On January 12, 1945, the Russian State attacks the eastern nations of the Reichspakt, wishing to regain Russian territory lost in the First Weltkrieg, imitating the blitzkrieg tactics of the Germans.
On August 6, 1945, the German Empire drops an atomic bomb on the vanguard of the oncoming Russian horde. Three days later on August 9th, a second bomb is dropped on London, killing Oswald Mosley. The Union military surrenders to the German Empire, and the Russians halt their advance and call for an armistice.
The 2nd Weltkreig ends with the European nations of the former Third International becoming puppets of the German Empire and members of the Reichspakt, while its former, eastern members are annexed by the Russian State, closely reestablishing the pre-First Weltkreig borders between Germany and Russia. The Republic of Ireland, the Kingdom of Portugal, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, and the Scandinavian nations join the Reichspakt too.
The Kalterkreig has begun.
In an unexpected move, Kaiser Wilhelm II offers to give Britain back to King Edward VIII as a gift and a token of reconciliation between their two empires. While despising Germany for their hand in weakening Britain to the point of Syndicalist revolution, Edward is not foolish enough to refuse this offer. The Canadians, resentful of Edward’s tyrannical rule and of the thousands of young Canadian soldiers who died in the icy waters of the Atlantic, are more than happy to see him and his English supporters leave.
With the departure of Edward VIII and his supporters, and the recreation of the Canadian Parliament, the Quebec independence movement returns with a vengeance, threatening revolution if they aren’t granted their independence. With their own government just barely coming back into being, the Canadians grant the Quebecers their independence. Even more resentful of the British now, the Canadians begin to look instead to the United States of America as their main ally and friend.
A few months after the end of the 2nd Weltkreig, in the state of New Mexico, at the town and research center of Los Alamos, the Manhattan Project's Trinity Test takes place and is an explosive success. While not the first to create and test the atomic bomb, this achievement in the face of the 2nd American Civil War and the ongoing 2nd Reconstruction is a testament to American ingenuity, industry, and scientific prowess.
With the threat of Integralist Brazil to the south, of the ever stronger German Empire and of the returning British Empire in Europe, of the Greater East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere and the Russian State to the East, the United States of America proposes an alliance to the other nations of North America. Thus, the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) is born, consisting of the United States of America, Canada, and the new nations of Quebec and North Mexico, promising to bring the Monroe Doctrine into the modern age.
In 1950, the tension that has been brewing between North Mexico and South Mexico comes to a head as the South Mexicans invades the north. The North Mexicans are pushed north, only for the tide to turn when the forces of the US military arrive to reinforce them, along with soldiers from Canada, Mexico, and Quebec. The South Mexicans are pushed back into their own territory, but when it looks like the North Mexicans are going to win, the Brazilians arrive. The North Mexicans are pushed back into their own territory.
The “Mexican War” devolves into a stalemate between North Mexico and South Mexico, between the United States of America and the Empire of Brazil. General Douglas MacArthur is forced to resign after proposing to use atomic bombs on the South Mexicans and Brazilians. In 1953, the war comes to an end with a DMZ created between the two Mexicos. As far as the Mexicans are concerned, the war never really ended.
With the Kalterkreig having gained another front in the New World, the other factions begin courting NATO and the Empire of Brazil, looking to increase their power and standing on the world stage.
Results

• The Empire of Brazil dominates South America. Mexico is divied into the US-allied North Mexico and the Brazilian-allied South Mexico.
• After puppeted France and Italy join the Reichspakt, the Republic of France falls to colonial revolt.
• While dominating Western Europe, Germany has lost its eastern puppets, Mittelafrika has fallen apart, and Rommel is pushed out of Vietnam by the Viet Cong.
• Japan stayed a democracy and was able to create its Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere through investment and military aid, China having been unified under the Fengtian faction
• The Cairo Pact brings down the Ottoman Empire and begins looking towards the newly-freed African nations
• The only Syndicalist nations include the Bharatiya Commune of India (which somehow didn’t turn Totalist) and Vietnam
• Canada’s admission into NATO was effectively a defection from the British Empire into the American fold, which greatly vexed Edward VIII, as he wasn't able to do anything about it

Kalterkreig (Cold War) Factions

• German Empire
• Cairo Pact
• North American Treaty Organization (USA, Canada, Quebec, North Mexico)
• Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere
• Russian State, Empire of Brazil
• United Kingdom of Great Britain, Australasian Confederation, South Africa
• Bharatiya Commune, Vietnam

Thoughts?

I go to Dallas MEPS on Thursday for my medical screening and hopefully am looking to find insight on the process. I went down there for my verification test and the people weren’t at all rude but weren’t necessarily friendly either. I don’t know if it’s different for medical…also i live in the area so will I still have to stay at a hotel or can I just go there then go home when I’m done, and lastly do they record the oath of enlistment? My brother who joined the navy was recorded on the Facebook account but I don’t know if that for navy or for all branches. Any and all insight is helpful

This will most likely be my last post I make on this subreddit. I officially get my DD-214 late June and I am finally happy the military's medical evaluation board bullshit is finally over.
I have been reflecting on these past five years and I can honestly say that the Navy has been the most easiest job I've had, you are basically a toddler in a kindergarten class and you don't need to have any original thought. All you need to do is follow what the teacher says and don't commit a felony. I will say that type of lifestyle comes at a cost since there will be very little personal development on your part that you need to do and should you choose to stay in, you're essentially locked in a pod for 20 years working for the ever so lovely Washington District of Crimin- er I mean Columbia.
I had to attend various reenlistment ceremonies at my command while I was at work and all of the fools reenlisting looked miserable as shit and all of their wives were fat and out of shape, no thank you. I like to thank this subreddit for its resources. Thankfully as I am getting out in two months, they are no longer needed.
Terminal leave here I come.