So Monday I gotta go to MEPS (USAF) for a console, so what should I expect?
So yeah, I leave tomorrow I head out for the hotel and stay the night. How long will the console take? After it will I be done for the day and go home like I did last time? What should I expect?
Do military veterans look down upon civilians who tried to enlist but were medically DQ'd?
No, we don't. He tried and things out of his control happened. Your father understands that. What we don't like is when people try to impress us by saying, "Yeah I thought about joining the military once." Tell him he got a bum deal but there are other ways to serve. Police, State def forces, volunteering, and fire departments all serve too. Most fire departments are even volunteer. It might be a good opportunity since most departments can't find enough people willing to serve on them. Good luck to both of you.
Can I bring my Xbox One console to a Navy boot camp with me?
Of course! Training instructors are there to facilitate your comfortable transition to military life. They are not monsters!Be sure to pack it in an inconspicuous box until you finish reception. Other trainees units may try to steal it from you. A Costco economy size Fruit Loops or other large cereal box works. I recommend a sugary childrens cereal, as many of your fellow trainees will be voluntarily dieting to meet weight standards and so probably won’t steal Lucky Charms as readily as Raisin Bran.PerfectWhen you see the Quartermaster for your initial issue of uniforms, be sure to request a larger screen TV for your day room. The one normally installed is big enough to keep up on your favorite shows (after 5 PM of course) but too small to play a split screen multiplayer game as you’ll most likely want to do. You may need to ask a couple of times (they are forgetful), but remember that you are entitled to basic comforts.I think it is a 52 rather than 44 inch flat screen, but don’t quote me on that.Don’t draw attention to it at “Shakedown”. If the trainers see it they will politely ignore it. The purpose of shakedown is to keep weapons and drugs out of the barracks. Don’t interrupt their important work with questions about trivial things like XBox’s or your pet Guinea Pig.Stick to smaller animals. You may not have time to walk a dog in basic.Try to keep your game choices PG-13 or softer. Your fellow seamen may have religious concerns and be offended. You’ll be playing in a semi-public area. There are no personal televisions in basic unless you bring your own… this isn’t the Hilton!Don’t overdo it though. If you stay up too late and can’t wake up in the morning, you might miss first formation. They’ll only give you 3 missed formations before you will face consequences.
I am autistic, overweight, anti-social, but a brilliant video game player. What are my chances of joining the Army as a drone flyer, or a cyber-warrior?
I think you meant the Air Force as the Army doesn’t operate large drones. The ones you see on TV or operate as armed aircraft are operated by the Air Force.If you’re overweight, basic training will fix that. Same for anti-social. You’ll be forced to socialize with your fellow recruits and soldiers. It is unavoidable. You are not going to be able to serve without interacting with people from a variety of roles and backgrounds. Especially in aviation or cyber warfare.I can’t speak to autism. If you’re able to function in society and not under a doctor’s care or taking medications, you may be able to enlist. I’d speak to a recruiter. The worse they can do is say “No” upfront or during recruit processing.Being a “brilliant video game player” won’t help you much. Hacking computers or flying drones, believe or not, is actually pretty boring but focused work.Can you sit at a console for hours on end and follow instructions?Can you do a task over and over again for hundreds of hours in training as needed?Can you follow a routine?Can you accept being told what to do and not necessarily with being a given a reason other than “Because I said so?”,These are qualities you’re going to need to have to serve in the military. Especially in aviation as that is not easy to qualify for but Air Force has recently opened drone operator positions to enlisted personnel. It still is not easy to qualify to do it though.Cyberwarfare is difficult too. It isn’t like in the movies with glittering displays. Most cyberwarfare is text-based, command line stuff with a lot of technical research and application of that knowledge to find or take advantage of vulnerabilities in remote systems. It is not point-and-click stuff.Bottom line is talk to a recruiter. But be assured they can take of the overweight and anti-social aspects of your personality very quickly.