LVZ2881 Posted January 24, 2010 Posted January 24, 2010 Spoke to a few friends here locally and my wife/parents and I decided it was time to do it. I decided that I'm not getting any younger (I'm 32, 33 next month), and its time to make a definitive and positive change in my life. It's time to contribute and do something with my life that means something. I also am in a dying industry (auto body) and want to go to college, and this is the only way I can afford to do so, but this is not my primary reason for joining. I have dropped off the preliminary enlistment packet with my recruiter, and I am currently studying for my ASVAB. Its amazing how much math you can forget when you dont use it once you leave high school. Luckily I have a friend who is a math wiz and has been tutoring me. I have started working out daily to get myself in better shape, but unfortunetley, I was a bit overzealous and sprained both my knees. Happily, they are healing just fine, and after a week and half I am walking normal now. I'm going to wait another week, and then hire a personal trainer thru my Housing Development clubhouse, so that I can get on a training regiment to be in shape before I leave. I have also quit smoking (been smoke free for over a week now) using Chantix, and I can already feel the difference in my lungs. I have just the ASVAB and physical to complete and I'll be off to basic (probably in a few months).... I'm looking at MOS's in either engineering or Intel, depending on what I qualify for. I'll keep everyone updated..
Marc @ MPC Motorsports Posted January 24, 2010 Posted January 24, 2010 Good luck, James. I didn't realize that auto body was a dying industry. Come to Oklahoma if you want to be successful in that field. Between snow storms in the winter and hail storms in the spring and fall, body shops here stay very busy.
CAL Posted January 24, 2010 Posted January 24, 2010 Good luck, James. I didn't realize that auto body was a dying industry. Come to Oklahoma if you want to be successful in that field. Between snow storms in the winter and hail storms in the spring and fall, body shops here stay very busy. Yes, it is a dying art. The insurance companies have too much power and not as much stuff is getting fixed as there used to be. Plus more people are just taking the money and run with it and not fixed their cars. On top of that, Colorado, was flooded with body shops, so it is hard to make a stable living at it.
LVZ2881 Posted January 24, 2010 Author Posted January 24, 2010 Good luck, James. I didn't realize that auto body was a dying industry. Come to Oklahoma if you want to be successful in that field. Between snow storms in the winter and hail storms in the spring and fall, body shops here stay very busy. I have been an auto body estimator for over 10 years, and the insurance companies are killing the industry. and quite honestly, I'm burnt out. Done. and I might be coming to Oklahoma anyways.. Ft. Sill is where my advanced training would be for several of the job's im interested in.
LVZ2881 Posted January 24, 2010 Author Posted January 24, 2010 Yes, it is a dying art. The insurance companies have too much power and not as much stuff is getting fixed as there used to be. Plus more people are just taking the money and run with it and not fixed their cars. On top of that, Colorado, was flooded with body shops, so it is hard to make a stable living at it. CAL, change Colorado to Nevada, and you took the words right out of my mouth!!!
george 53 Posted January 24, 2010 Posted January 24, 2010 Good Luck Brother! 32 is kinda old if you ask me! I was 19 when I enlisted in the Marine Corps an let me tell you it was NO picnic!!! And I was IN GREAT physical shape!!! It was 12 weeks of pure hell, and the ONLY thing that got me thru was the fact that I had my Dad,Older brother and 2 Brother in laws who were Marines! I don't think I could have lived with myself had I washed out! My wife was a constant source of support as were my Dad and Brother! One of my brother in laws is a Ke Sahn survivor, another was a radioman ,and I was in a rifle co. If I were to be asked if I wanted to do it again I'd tell them where to go!I spent 13 months in Viet Nam. Don't fool yourself into thinking you WON'T go into combat, caz in this day and age,you WILL!!! It WILL change you, it did me. Combat IS NOT a video game! Learn WELL or you WILL DIE! This is NOT a scare tactic , just words from expierience! Do what you feel you must,but remember this, the enemys ONLY job is to kill YOU! YOU must kill him FIRST!!!!! Good luck my brother.
Corvette.Jeff Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 If you want to get in shape i can help you out, im 6' 6" and weigh in around 160, almost zero percent body fat But i was one of the lucky ones that was born with a very very high rate of metabolism.
Guest Mustang3.8 Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 If you want to get in shape i can help you out, im 6' 6" and weigh in around 160, almost zero percent body fat But i was one of the lucky ones that was born with a very very high rate of metabolism. Not to hijack this thread, but you think you can help me get in shape, Jeff? I've already gone down 4 pants sizes, so I think I'm off to a great start.
berr13 Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 James: keep your eyes and ears open, your mouth closed, and you'll be OK. Good luck, and God bless ya, buddy. Jim (USN, 1969-1973)
trogdor Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 I was in the Seabees for 8 yrs. At your age you'll be having an advantage over the kids. Use your maturity to your advantage. You'll gain life long friends and have experiences that will last a lifetime. I wish you luck.
CAL Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 (edited) CAL, change Colorado to Nevada, and you took the words right out of my mouth!!! There are only a handfull of places where the body shops got together and started associtiations and standed strong against the DRPs, Progressive, and the Insurance companies. Every where eles the are a bunch of weak-sucks and rather come off their door rates or get into bed with the insurance companies. It has worked out very well in New Jersy and AZ where the body shop association is very strong and fought it out - especailly with Progressive. Here, and most other places will lay down for Progressive's brain damage just to be a DRP. While it is nice to be a DRP for some companies you will always end up doing what the insurance company says or get booted off. And you never make full door rate being a DRP, which is generally what the job costs with a good profit margin to stay in business. I can say that there is one high end shop that does Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, high end cars and doesn't back down to the insurance companies. He gets away with because usually these people have lots of influance and big accounts so the customer just calls up the insurance company and says why aren't you paying for the whole bill? They just pay. So standing up to them does work just not enough BS owners do it because there is always a guy down the street that will do it cheaper. Doing cheaper than what it really costs always ends in tears. You either have to cut corners and can't put out quality work or you go broke trying to do for cheaper than what it costs. Edited January 25, 2010 by CAL
LDO Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 Congratulations. You might also consider an MOS that's just plain interesting, rather than job training for a post-military career. I was an M1 Tanker for no other reason than I wanted to. I loved it. The M1 Abrams tank is a fascinating machine. I was a driver, loader, and gunner. I constantly worked being better at all three positions and I was darned good. I did 4 1/2 years active and 7 1/2 Guard. I decided to get out when Texas switched from Armor to Infantry. I really didn't want any other job. Any job you get will teach you things that employers love, like getting the job done, being a team player, and working for a boss you can't stand...without the boss knowing how you feel. I'm not joking about that last one. I've had coworkers comment on that. You will learn it, because in the Army, there is no "To heck with this. I'm outta here!". You just soldier on and do your job. A photo I shot in Germany...which reminds me- get a duty station overseas! Go see the world!
James W Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 Thank you James for doing this selfless thing for your country. I know you have said there were personal benefits to gain from this, but there is also self sacrifice and I applaud you for that descision. All the best in your new career
LVZ2881 Posted January 25, 2010 Author Posted January 25, 2010 (edited) Congratulations. You might also consider an MOS that's just plain interesting, rather than job training for a post-military career. I was an M1 Tanker for no other reason than I wanted to. I loved it. The M1 Abrams tank is a fascinating machine. I was a driver, loader, and gunner. I constantly worked being better at all three positions and I was darned good. I did 4 1/2 years active and 7 1/2 Guard. I decided to get out when Texas switched from Armor to Infantry. I really didn't want any other job. Any job you get will teach you things that employers love, like getting the job done, being a team player, and working for a boss you can't stand...without the boss knowing how you feel. I'm not joking about that last one. I've had coworkers comment on that. You will learn it, because in the Army, there is no "To heck with this. I'm outta here!". You just soldier on and do your job. A photo I shot in Germany...which reminds me- get a duty station overseas! Go see the world! LDO, I got that covered too. If I cant get into the Engineering or Intel jobs I want, I'm looking at getting involved with either the MLRS or HIMARS artillery systems. They just look like so much fun!! I thought about overseas too, and would eventually like to go, but if I can, I want to stay CONUS for my first hitch. I figure the kids will be older by then, and it wont be such a difficult move when they are older. and I would want Germany if at all possible. Edited January 25, 2010 by LVZ2881
LVZ2881 Posted January 25, 2010 Author Posted January 25, 2010 If you want to get in shape i can help you out, im 6' 6" and weigh in around 160, almost zero percent body fat But i was one of the lucky ones that was born with a very very high rate of metabolism. Jeff, that will change when you get older, trust me!!! I'm 6'1" and was 155#'s for over ten years, just in the last few years, I've increased to 190. Old age will eventually slow your metabolism.......that and marriage!!
LDO Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 Thank you James, I salute you! By the way, at basic, dont volunteer to drive truck! Don't volunteer to do anything after you enlist!
crazyjim Posted January 25, 2010 Posted January 25, 2010 James, you seem a bit old to enlist in the miliatry, but best of luck to you. It should be an experience you'll never forget. Ran into a troop at Chicago's O'Hare airport over the weekend. He was in the McDonald's line behind me. He didn't have to pay for his meal. Us Vietnam Veterans were treated like garbage upon our return. Luckily, our country has learned to treat the troops like human beings because of the treatment we received - but it's been worth it! I ran 1 mile, 2 mile and cross country while in high school and college and thought I was in pretty good shape when I got to boot camp. That ###### DI ran me into the ground. I wore shorts and gym shoes while he wore BDUs and boots. Still ran me down. Keep your head down and never volunteer. Thank you in advance for serving our country. Better yet, thank you for even considering serving our country. George53 - SEMPER FI and WELCOME HOME, Brother. I was an FO for a 105 battery, 1/13, 1969-70, about 10 miles west of Danang.
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