8-Yr Active Duty Air Force Cop
Jason,
Thanks to my 8-years of Active Duty in the regular U.S. Air Force as a Law Enforcement Journeyman, I have fired a MYRIAD of weapons.
You never mentioned you were joining the military, so the impression I received and responded to is the impression YOU GAVE. Too little information can do that.
My experience as a cop is what makes me wary of allowing the young unrestrained access to dangerous weapons--I've seen the results, and they are NOT pretty. So, don't get all defensive just because I care enough to ask the tough questions.
BTW, thank you for having the courage to want to join the best-trained military in the world. You are going to have an absolute BLAST!!!
The adventures you will have travelling the world and meeting folks from all over--not only Americans (in your units), but from other countries and cultures--will completely change your perspective about this small world we live in, and will stay with you the rest of your life!
You've also chosen the best time to join the military, simply because you are not likely married or "attached" yet, so your options are a lot more open--plus it's much easier to reach your ultimate physical state when you are younger and more limber.
Here's a tip for you: If you want to see as much of the world as possible, choose to go overseas for your first station assignment [Europe, England (they almost speak English there), Turkey, Japan, or even Alaska/Hawaii!], and don't cave-in to homesickness and come back to the States until you've seen all you want to see. Once you are stationed CONUS (within the contiguous United States), it is very difficult to transfer to an overseas location. Use your vacation time ("leave") to visit family/friends.
Also, if you get sent on temporary duty assignment (tdy) to Saudi Arabia, you are likely in for a treat. And, I'm NOT talking about the smell. Yes, there IS a smell, because they don't have waste treatment plants--they just dump it in the desert early each morning.
So, what's the "treat"? Anytime you get an opportunity--when off-duty--to visit one of their cities, TAKE IT! Saudi Arabia does not adhere to any International Copywrite laws or treaties, so, just about ANYthing you can get here is PIRATED and sold there CHEAP!!! Including music CD's, games, etc.
And, if you have a girlfriend, think about GOLD. Saudi sells gold by gram weight only (per gram price posted daily), and their gold starts at 18K and goes all the way to 24K for the same gram price! The jewelry comes from Italy, and their jewelry stores look like our specialty candy stores here in the States--it's draped all over the walls!
I bought a 20-inch, 20-gram, 18K diamond-cut rope chain for $240 bucks ($12/gram) during my rotation there. Someone from my base went on the next rotation and came back with a 20-inch, 60-gram 18K Figaro chain (weighed almost 2 lbs!) and said he paid $600 for it ($10/gram)!!!
The deals almost make up for the smell, the heat, the dryness, and the multiple Islamic prayers played publicly over all the loudspeakers.
