Thanks for the welcoming response ShadowSpear Community
Welcome Brandon. As others have said, good intro, and good luck with your future.
How old are you and where do you feel you are more drawn to at this stage, Military or Law Enforcement?
Background Info
(Goals and Aspirations)- I am 15 years old and with be turning 16 in september. In high school I have started taking advanced courses (computer programming and engineering focused) so I would be able to find a well paying job if I was hurt as a Law Enforcement Officer. However if I decide to join the Military I would not attend college and join after high school.
(LEO vs. Military)- I come from a very law enforcement influenced family and have always seen the job of an LEO highly probable in my future. As a child I read every non-fiction Military book I could get my hands on from WWII books to the
Screaming Eagles to
TO BE A U.S. ARMY RANGER and have always been fascinated by special operations.
(Force Recon)- One of my family member's co worker was a Force Recon Marine who participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was amazed that recon specialists could have so much of an effect on a war (Books, he caused me to research more about special operations). I soon started learning as much as I could about all of the special operations units in the U.S. Military. I extremely enjoyed learning about the Ranger units of American history both past and present.
(LEO)- At this time in my life (Up to 9th grade) I was still leaning to becoming a LEO. Those goals all changed when the San Jose Police Department was hit with Measure B. The officers pensions would be reduced to 70% for 30 years of work instead of 90%. This appalled me that officers with 29 years of work could have wasted 4 years of their lives working (70% for 25 years). Thankfully the Police Union sued and most of Measure B was defeated. But at the moment morale at the San Jose Police Department is terrible and many officers are working 6 days a week instead of 4. The Police Department has lost 300 officers and is rumored to lose another 100. This is not an environment I want to work in at the moment.
(Military)- These recent events have fired up my drive to serve in the U.S. Military. My family has always been extremely supportive of the military, donating and helping veterans. After seeing proud special operations veterans and seeing my family's 9-11 shirts honoring NYPD and NYFD I felt that it was my duty as an American citizen to serve whether at home or abroad. I have been reading ShadowSpear and your communities stories amaze me. These stories have motivated me to hopefully join the brotherhood some day.
(Conclusion and Questions)- At the moment I want to serve in the U.S. military. I have always been an Army reader and have been drawn to the 75th Ranger Regiment. I personally would like to join this unit because they mainly do Direct Action raids and are not FID and UW focused like the Special Forces. Also I would like to join the Rangers because Operation Enduring Freedom is winding down and I see the Rangers as the best opportunity to fight for my country. I would like to start doing pt now so I am prepared by the time I am 17 and 1/2 years old. (If no Option 40 Contracts the Combat Controllers also interest me)
-What should I fill my rucksack with? I read in an earlier post that someone should fill their rucksack with used IV bags because they way two pounds. I do not have IV bags and have no idea what to fill a rucksack with so any ideas would be greatly be appreciated.
-I would also greatly appreciate it if someone could give a more thorough explanation to how a smoke session is conducted. I want to prepare myself now so I do not embarrass myself and my family at selection.
Pardus, I would like to thank you for taking the time to ask a question to a high schooler and taking interest into my future goals. You do not know how much your response has elated me. I would also like to thank you for your service.
Thanks,
BQ
