Well Im finally in the army(I was suposed to join 3 months ago but a surgery on my toe slowed me down). I'm 17 years old and a senior in high school. My MOS is 13 Bravo Cannon Crewmember. Look it up on google or youtube. I'm going to basic training/bootcamp on June 10 of this year in Oklahoma, just a couple of days after graduation. I get to go to airborn school after bt and my initial training. Ill most likely do a one year term in Iraq. I get sworn in this Wendsday. Any questions, go ahead and ask. Ill keep this updated.
Congrats again.
On a slightly more serious note, some suggestions for OSUT (I think they still call it that . . . "One Station Unit Training").
First, make sure you're in reasonable shape. Don't start a huge workout regimen, but if you're not doing pushups and situps and running, now is a good time to start. It'll ease the physical transition, and if you're in good shape it'll put you a step ahead of others and give you greater confidence in yourself.
Second, remember that the first couple weeks of the Basic part are mainly psychological and that it is not personal. That can be hard to remember when you've got a drill sergeant in your face calling you every name in the book, but it's true. If you haven't, read Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers," and pay particular attention to what he says about why Basic is hard.
Finally: Have some fun! There will be lots of stuff that seems incredibly pointless--but in Basic, nothing is pointless. And a lot of it is fun--where else do you get paid to get in shape, to learn some history, qualify on a variety of weaponry, and learn so much about yourself?
I don't know anything about field artillery, other than how to call for it, but if you're a 13B I'll guess you'll be on a M109A6. Just wait until you see a live-fire!
