Joining the Army

[xDreamseller]

Has anyone here with Shyness/SA ever been in the army or know anyone else who has SA and has been in the army?

I have very poor self motivational skills, but when I have someone else pushing me, I can accomplish pretty much anything I'm set to do. I figured that the army would be a good place for someone like that. It's always sort of been at the back of my mind growing up.

I couldn't really care less about the whole "serve your country" thing, it just looks like an interesting career to me. (I guess that would make me more of a mercenary than a soldier)

 

[coyote]

i served six years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps

travel, adventure, danger, and lots of cleaning and polishing stuff

i don't recall any of my fellow Marines being fans of My Little Pony

 

[Hellhound]

^ Rofl Coyote!

I died XD

 

[Hellhound]

I'm too much of a hippie for that

 

[Lamb]

^ Rofl Coyote!

I died XD

^ x 2.

OP, I don't specifically know of others who have joined with SA but do know some people well informed on the subject if you want to inquire (which means they have anxiety and have considered it, or they joined but don't have SA). My initial interest in joining was similar to yours, but it hasn't happened as I was discouraged from it.

 

[mikebird]

I deeply regret not doing that.

My subtle blood condition would put them off, as my parents stopped me playing contact sport. Researching my condition shows that the status often goes ignored and those who have it lead a healthy life. I can't ever trust a doctor - they play with us to boost their ego and rewards and salary.

I had my time when the UK went to Falkland Isles, Iraq & Afghanistan. I would have been happier there, retired & disabled with a family instead of being a civvy.
My school and family had a lot of royal NAVY class ties with the armed forces.
I chose to be an educated office worker and didn't see the disadvantage.

I wonder what life would be like during war or without it.

Now I feel a personal debt to myself with a passion for weights and athletics, and wished I could have been flying choppers and an electronics engineer

I wish I had mortal combat and gun skills, cuz I've been watching too many movies.

I even did judo before school and was too weak for that. I didn't like cross-country runs at school. It took until 2009 to take running seriously. 10km

 

[xDreamseller]

Why were you discouraged from joining if you don't mind asking?

The only thing holding me back, is my physical strength. I'm only 5'7 and I've always had terrible upper body strength. I don't know if I've just seen too many Hollywood films but I don't exactly fit the whole "Soldier Image".

Mentally, the army would be a perfect fit. Physically though, I'm lacking.

That's what I'm afraid of mike. The army is like a complete different way of living from civilian life. Civilian life just feels so meaningless to me. That saying "working for the weekend" just seems to be everything there is to it and that bores me.

 

[coyote]

don't worry too much about your physical strength.

not all military organizations are the same - they don't all have the same physical requirements. i don't really know anything about ireland's armed forces, but in the U.S. the physical demands of some branches are not as rigorous as others. and as long as you meet the basic requirements, they work with you during the training to get you to the level they want you to be.

i also wouldn't worry too much about your size or height. bigger isn't always better. in most instances on the battlefield, smaller, quicker, lighter guys have the advantage over the stereotypical big, hulking brute - you'll find many of the elite forces units comprised of more slightly built individuals.

good luck!

 

[Hoppy]

I've been conscripted into the South African Army a long time ago,and I read a lot, so my thoughts:

Do not worry about physical strength, that is what basic training is for, and the programs has been developed with the average recruit in mind.

Do not worry about the socialising, there is a reason why the show is called "Band of brothers", you will be accepted as one of the group. You will dress the same, do the same things, sleep in the same room, eat the same food and hate the same drill instructor.

Do find out about all the options available to you. Every army is a big organisation and they have chefs, technitions, medical staff, admininstrators, drivers and many more and they do most of the training in-house. Not everybody is running around with guns. (I once read about this big ex-marine who spend his entire service sorting parcels in the post office. )

Also find out about the options available in the Navy and the Air Force. They are also military but the cultures are very different.

You will be given a salary, food, clothing, medical services, a place to sleep, and a reason to stand up in the morning (or else).

And if you don't want to make a career of it, you will be expected to leave after a few years and nobody will look down on you for doing it, and with most employers it will give you an advantage.

And I've never met anybody who didn't look back on that period of his life without a bit of nostalgia.

Good luck.