Smileys War Episode One: My First Custom Map

The Final Month at Home

After I graduated from high school I only had 1 month of freedom until I started my military career. During that month I fundamentally just partied and built up the anticipation. I met a cute girl for the duration of that time which I could not be with because I was going away. That sucked. At least she accorded to keep in touch while I was gone and possibly one day we could see each other when I came home on leave.

MEPS

The original place they sent me was a place called MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). The one I went to was located in LA. This building is the very original of a series of processing stations you will encounter. There I went through a stringent screening process. They procedure a good deal of potential campaigners for the navy here, one at a time here.

I did the following and more of the following:

Endless Paperwork

I did tons of paper work. Some of the forms seemed like I filled them out a great deal of times. I do not forget sentiment frustrated to have to stand in line after line, to fill out form after form. The whole time I was treated with a lack of client service. There is a phrase employed in the military called, “Hurry up and wait.” You will learn what this phrase means on the day you get processed through this facility.

If you never used a signature before you will be a pro by the time you leave that facility. You had to sign dozens of forms. The recruiters even had me commence practicing writing my signature from day one.

The forms that you fill out go into what they call a service record. This is the record of your whole military career. Along with the service record you will get a medical and dental record as well. These three folders pretty much are the proof of your military career and health history. If you lose one of them you will have to do all the paperwork again and all of the medical examinations, dental examinations, etc.

I do not forget hearing that if you pissed off a Corpsman on a ship he would plainly throw your medical record over board and you would have to get all the shots again.

So basically it is in your best interest to always make copies of each one of your records.

Physical Examinations

The paper work is just one piece of the puzzle. They have to make sure you are physically fit to carry out your duties as a United States Sailor. So they made us go through a series of physical tests. First they gave us a full body physical where they checked each share of our bodies and took some specimens of blood and tested it for everything imaginable.

Next they made us carry out a series of odd physical movements in our underwear. For example, we had to fall from a standing position directly onto our knees on the hard tile floor. I do not forget how, not cool that felt! Then they had us doing things like, crawling around like a monkey, waddling like a duck, respective stretches, walk all over the room tardily so they may check for flat feet, etc.

Another noted thing was this in truth old man with warts all over his face was the one giving the rectal exams. Not the most comfortable of situations, let me tell you.

Also, when they gave you a urinalysis they had to see it come out of the source. At the same time they were looking at me, they were insulting me, saying lots of smart ass remarks, and all kinds of uncomforting things that had to do with sexuality, manliness, etc.

The final constituents of the exams involved an actual psyche evaluation, a criminal background check with interview, and swearing in ceremony.

Mental Exam

The mental evaluation was fundamentally to find out if we were crazy. We wouldn’t want to hire crazy people to defend the country, would we? They asked us a whole lot of interesting questions and I think we took a written test too. I wish I could do not forget some of the questions; they would make for interesting content.

Background Check

The background check and consultation was frightening. The basi thing they did was put me in a private room with a counselor or something and he asked a lot of personal questions when it comes to my past. He asked me questions regarding crimes I committed, drugs I tried, mysteries I had, and more.

They kept telling me, “Don’t lie to us! If you do, we will recognise anyway on your background check!”

I am gorgeous sure it was a test of honestness as well. I do not forget they held making sure that I was sure that I never, ever smoked marijuana in my life. I knew that they wouldn’t find any drugs in my system so but I told them I tried it once as a teenage for experimentation. They of course recorded that in my service record. I bet that by saying that it disqualified me from sure top mystery jobs.

Swearing In (The Oath of Enlistment)

The Navy is all in regards to ceremonies. They have ceremonies for everything! It makes things count for more. Like when I got promoted to E-4 (Petty Officer Third Class), there was a ceremony for all to see that I now had more authority. It was a lot more effective that way.

Anyway, at the very end of MEPS processing you are required to go through a swearing in ceremony. It is basically an out-loud promise that you will defend the country, etc.

Here are the precise words you ought to say with your right hand raised.

I, ___________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will help and defend the Constitution of the United States versus all enemies, alien and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulatings and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So support me God.

I do not forget sentiment very proud for the duration of this time and sentiment like portion of a great thing. At the time I genuinely meant what I was swearing.

Job Selection

Sometime for the duration of the routine you will sit down with someone and determine what occupation you want to do in the Navy. There are a lot of jobs to choose from and you must be qualified for them. They base your qualification on the ASVAB test (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). This is a comprehensive test of attainments in math, language, reading, problem solving and more.

My only focus was to become a SEAL so I didn’t in truth care what my occupation was. I just figured it would be SEAL. They said, “If you take place not to make it as a SEAL what would you want to do?” I told them that I wanted a occupation that had to do with computers. They told me with regards to these 3 apprenticeship programs. They are Fireman, Airman or Seaman.

The things I read when it comes to each one sounded gorgeous good. The Seamen Apprenticeship program was the only one that had noted the use of computers at all. I guess I didn’t score high sufficient on the test to get any other jobs. So I chose the Seamen Spprenticship program. I would be in for a rude awakening later on. We will go into that in a later episode.

Scare Tactics

It was aweinspiring the amount of scare tactics they applied on you for the duration of the process. They fundamentally convinced you that the most necessary thing was to pass the screening to become a fellow member of the military. The whole time I felt scared that I was going to fail on something and they use that versus you. They tell you things like, “Maybe you are not cut out for the Navy.” Or “If you fail at this you will be disqualified.” They make you feel as though there is not one thing else you may do but join the Navy or else you will be a failure.

They use tactics like this for some things in the Navy. They use fear of the unknown and your insecurities versus you. Over time you will realized what you may and can’t do.

Conclusion

The whole routine takes when it comes to 12 hours to complete. You will be there from real early in the morning all the way until the evening. It is a very long and stressful day and you will learn things in regards to yourself.

Shortly after the prcessing you get a plane ticket and a date to fly over to Illinois where you get started Navy Boot Camp. This will be the subject of episode 3. Boot Camp is eight weeks long so it will be broken up into dissimilar episodes.

I wrote this post based on how I do not forget it. If you are strongly taking into account the Navy as a career you must review the actual MEPS internet site for further details.

Smileys War Episode One My First Custom Map

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an evil bequest long believed dead is stirring. Now the dark side of the Force threatens to overwhelm the light, and only an ancient Jedi prophecy stands amid hope and doom for the entire galaxy.
 
On the green, unspoiled world of Naboo, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, arrive to protect the realm’s young queen as she seeks a diplomatic solution to end the siege of her planet by Trade Federation warships. At the same time, on desert-swept Tatooine, a slave boy named Anakin Skywalker, who possesses a strange capacity for understanding the “rightness” of things, toils by day and dreams by night—of becoming  a Jedi Knight and finding a way to win freedom for himself and his beloved mother. It will be the unexpected meeting of Jedi, Queen, and a gifted boy that will mark the commence of a drama that will become legend.

This particular edition features a brand-new Darth Maul short story by New York Times bestselling author James Luceno!

ReviewIf you’ve seen The Phantom Menace in a theater–and, judging from the 1999 box-office figures, who hasn’t?–you’ve in all likelihood been a bit frustrated by the speed with which the fantastic images and creatures fly past. There’s no such problem with this audiobook. All the excitement of the Star Wars prequel is there, but this time there’s breathing room, a prospect to meet the characters, let them walk around in your imagination, listen their thoughts. Actor Alexander Adams’s reading of fantasy master Terry Brooks’s novelization is brisk but never rushed, punctuated at chapter breaks by snippings of John Williams’s movie score. Unfortunately, those who hate amphibian pest Jar Jar Binks’s voice in all likelihood won’t find Adams’s approximation any less obnoxious than the movie’s. (Running time: 9.5 hours, 6 cassettes) –Lou Schuler

Review

“Breathless . . . filled with action from page one.”—New York Post

From the Inside Flapn barren desert lands and seedy spaceports . . . in immense underwater cities and in the blackest depths of space . . . unfolds a tale of good and evil, of myth and magic, of innocence and power. At last the saga that captured the imagination of millions turns back in time to disclose it is masked origins–the get started of a legend–the story of STAR WARS. Based on the screenplay by George Lucas, this novel by master storyteller Terry Brooks probes the depths of one of the greatest tales of our time, providing rich detail and clear or deep perception into the minds and motivations of the characters–and shedding bold new light on Lucas’ brilliant creation. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an evil bequest long believed dead is stirring. Even the Jedi are caught by surprise, their attentions focalized on the political unrest among the Trade Federation and the Republic. Now the dark side of the Force threatens to overwhelm the light, and only an ancient Jedi prophecy stands amidst hope and doom for the entire galaxy. On the desert world of Tatooine, far from the worries of the Republic, a slave boy works by day and dreams by night–of being a Jedi Knight and one day journeying the stars to worlds he’s only heard of in stories . . . of finding a way to win freedom from enslavement for himself and his beloved mother. His only hope lies in his extraordinary instincts and his strange gift for understanding the “rightness” of things, endowments that concede him to be one of the best pod racers on the planet. In another share of the galaxy, the Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, young Obi-Wan Kenobi, are charged with the shelter of Amidala, the young Queen of Naboo, as she seeks to end the siege of her planet by Trade Federation warships. It is this quest that brings Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and the Queen’s finelooking young handmaiden to the sand-swept streets of Tatooine and the shop where the slave boy Anakin Skywalker toils and dreams. And it is this unexpected meeting that marks the beginning of the drama that will become legend . . . An unbelievable audio production finish with original Star Wars music and sound effects.

Smileys War Episode One My First Custom Map Picture

Smileys War Episode One My First Custom Map Pic

Smileys War Episode One My First Custom Map Pic

Smileys War Episode One My First Custom Map Picture

Most helpful client reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
The second best novelization I’ve ever read
By E. A Solinas
Only “Trials and Tribbleations” has put me into the story in a better style. Second best in a bunch of books that tend to be overblown and many times lose me in yards of useless exposition.

Terry Brooks does a terrifi occupation describing the characters and their situations. He creeps into the heads of the characters and helps fetch them to life further in the way only an author can. Qui-Gon Jinn is in particular vibrant.

There are a great deal of inconsistancies. The end battles and swordfighting in the book is somewhat different, I think, from the movie’s version; it includes a lot of lines of dialog cut from the movie (not that I’m complaining); Jar Jar seems more competent; and Brooks seems to be very vague on Queen Amidala’s clothing. None of these significantly detract from enjoyment of this novel. Read it if you’ve seen the movie! You will not be disappointed.

7 of 7 persons found the following review helpful.
Filling in the gaps
By A
Star Wars fans the world over have been waiting sixteen years for the most recent installation of the biggest saga of all time. In May, Americans got their initial look at the most recent movie and, for the most part, have been exceedingly happy. Some, however, were disappointed with the aspect of the novelization before the movie, in numerous cases letting loose secrects they did not want to know. Many were surprised, however, when, upon seeing the film, some of the story elements present in the novel were not in the movie. This is where the strength of “The Phantom Menace” novelization lies. Here, we are staged with an extended imaginativeness of the plot, one which captures the vison and excitement of the film, yet manages to add more than would be possible on the screen. We get an extended history of the Sith, given to us by Darth Sidious himself, as well as some more background in regards to Anakin. In addition to the background, Brooks forshadows the next episode with Anakin’s dreams when it comes to the future. He does it in his standard artful and graceful prose, reminding one of his “Shannara” books. All in all, this book is a very agreeably diverting and stimulating addition to an already outstanding movie.

7 of 7 persons found the following review helpful.
Some feed for thought to all negative reviewers
By A
Let the man work!! I can’t believe how a lot of Star Wars fans were dissapointed because Ep1 didn’t turn out the way THEY envisioned it!! Star Wars is George Lucas’ baby, who are we to tell him what comes next or who dies and who lives!?! As for Terry Brooks, I think he did an splendid occupation doing the adaption, exceptionally if you have read the adaptions for the 2nd trilogy (Ep4-6). You might as well have purchased the screenplay for those novels. Sure there are a few things different, like editing out the character’s names next to their lines and Threepio smiling a lot(if you don’t know what I mean, read Ep4 by GL), but overall, the books are just scripts. Phantom Menace devles into the plot a lot better and gives us background detail which better illuminates affirmations made by the characters (Like, ‘Always two there is: a master and an apprentice’). The pod race scene, which is highlighted in both the book and the film IS central to the story and necessitated the attention tht it got. It shows Anakin’s strange power in the Force. Its one thing to listen that he is more inviolable than Yoda (who is how strong?????) Its yet another to see that strength in action. The book shows this a little bit better than the film since we cn see the crusade involved…Anakin makes it look easy, we don’t get to see the Force at work since it is invisible. So, to ANY and ALL people who think they were let down by the movie, the soundtrack or the book, I quote William Shatner, ‘Get a Life’!!!!!!!

See all 302 client reviews…