Not a Political Pillow

[BarryBobPosthole]

It tells me your brother might have got the brains!

Julie and I attended a wedding aboard a big sailboat in Key West once. The groom, best man, and groomsmen were all Coasties. We got evacuation orders because of a hurricane coming our way and we had a rental car so we bugged out to Fort Lauderdale to catch a plane hone. That drive on A1A at 10mph the whole way is a whole nother story. We gave a lift to one of the Coasties who was headed to Hawaii for his first assignment out of tech school or whatever they call their officer training school. He was a deisel/power plant engineer and knew his damn shit. An officer obviously, with an engineering degree.
Anyway, I was impressed with those kids. They all had promising careers ahead of them and a place to get amazing work experience too.
BKB

[Thumper]

It tells me your brother might have got the brains! BKB

Actually, I "thought" I'd pulled the brainiac move. Coasties ... as well as ALL the other branches BUT the Army, require a 4-year hitch. The Army was only 3 years. I thought it was a no-brainer and joined the Army!

Problem was, once I took the entrance exam, I was pulled aside and asked to go into Mil. Intel. The mental image of a sports car, cool little weapons and a hot chick hanging on my arm, sucked my ass right in. I had brief thoughts of changing my last name though. For some reason, saying, "Kribbs .... James Kribbs" just didn't sound all that cool. Anyway, I gladly signed on the dotted line, then was informed, since spy school required extensive training, the hitch was 4 FRIGGING YEARS!! Maybe my bro DID have the brains afterall.

Honestly though, as it turned out, I wouldn't trade my stint in the military for all the tea in China. The lifelong friendships established and the experience itself is pretty much priceless imho. Without that lottery hanging over my head, I'd have never in a bazillion years even considered going into the military.