just hit 1000 on the bike.

[Archren]

Originally Posted by Amorok

I fucking hate you. It took me longer to make E-5, and I'm waiting another year to test again for E-6. I've been in 9 years active and you outrank me, that chaps my ass. And I didn't do a cush 6 month deployment in a year, I did two to four month trips. Four to five times a year, with assorted TDY's in between. And I was a flying crew cheif on medivac missions, so they weren't always the tamest missions.

Army promotion system is different than it is for Air Force. Doesn't mean I'm more or less qualified than you. And I guaran-fucking-tee you get paid more for TDY than I do. And you have better accomodations anywhere you go (unless you have to stay in Army barracks, haha.. and then you get paid more because you have to live in "sub-standard housing"). And you are far less likely to get stuck as a warm body on a gun truck in a convoy. And I'd take two-four month deployments over a year-long mobilization (9-10 months for this next deployment.. 11 months for my first one.. in one shot, except for my 2 week R&R leave.. and that's not including all the fucking training leading up to mobilization) any day. I don't mobilize until late June/early July, but between now and then I have 5 separate courses lined up (only one of which isn't related to deployment). 9 weeks of training, and I still have to work my normal schedule in between, AND go to drill weekends (which I don't get paid any extra to do).

I got lucky in that they promoted me to E6 because there was a conditional waiver due to deployment. I paid for it dearly, though, because there was a lot of responsibility thrown at me that I'm not really certain I was prepared for. E6 at 21? Not exactly the best gig in the world when you lack the experience. I learned a lot.. trial by fire is a quick way to learn, but I don't necessarily recommend it.