Whelp, my competitive gaming career may come to an end somewhat soon

[minor pain]

We'll, my entire life is now on a new timeline. One that's heading me into an era, of which, my life will be changed completely. One that will make me into one of the few, the proud, the United States Marines.

Over the past 5-6 months, I have been doing a lot of thinking, research, talking to people, and praying about joining the military. In my heart, I decided on pursuing one of 2 branches of service: The United States Air Force or The United States Marine Corps. Soon after, I decided to chase after joining the Air Force. I called, got prequalified, and was told I would receive a call when they were ready to send me to take the ASVAB test and to get my physicals. That call never came. I visited the office, sent emails, and even had a recruit already sworn in to talk to them for me, but to no avail. they just seemed to have no time for me, and I didn't have time to just wait around for them.

After about 2 months of trying to just establish communications with the Air Force, I moved on. I called the Marines Recruiting Office and was immediately prequalified and scheduled for an appointment 3 days later. After talking with them and taking a practice ASVAB test, I committed myself to join the marines, and the paper work (which was as thick as a book) started. That was this past Monday. After staying at the Marines recruiting office until 1:30, I came back in at 7:30am on Tuesday, finalized paperwork, took a urinalysis test, and later went to Columbia, SC to take the ASVAB test (of which I scored an 84, and my recruited was ecstatic about such a high score, and even the test admin saying it was the highest all day), stay the night at a Marriott Hotel, get up at 3:45am the next morning (Wednesday) and get my physicals done and get bio-metrically registered. All this happened in less than a week, whereas I was waiting 2 months to just be able to talk to the Air Force recruiter.

Unfortunately, because I was waiting around on the Air Force, the Marines Recruiting Office already reached their maximum persons to swear in this month. So on Feb. 1st, I'll be swearing in, because over the past 2 days I have been fully qualified. That is when I'll get my ship date for basic training. When I ship, I'll be in basic for 3 months, I'll then have 10-24 days of leave (depending on how dates fall), then I'll go for 1 month of combat training, and 2 months of technical (job) training. I'll then be stationed, and my soon to be wife will be able to move in with me.

There is 3 main reasons why I chose to join. The number 1 reason was to be able to make a better life for myself, and my fianc�e. In my opinion, the life she has had to live out is way worse than what she deserves, and I aim to provide her with a better life. The second reason was to have a great starting point for my career, including something that will look awesome on a resume and state-of-the-art technical training. In computer fields (which is the career paths I'm looking in to), everyone seems to only be looking for people with 2-6 years of on the field experience, making it very tough to get in the door for this type of career. This will allow me job security, and when I choose to get out, the field experience I need to find a civilian job. The third reason being that I've always wanted to somehow be a part of keeping this country, and our soldiers, safe and free. Freedom does not come free, and I feel it is my duty to protect that freedom that allows us to be able to do things, like gaming, as we please.

After all my training, and I've settled down and gotten used to the routine of things, I'll come back to gaming. Although I may not be able to do it as competitively as I do now. As I can, I'll try to check in on here, to see how things are going and all. From how things sound, people are currently getting ship dates for mid September. So my ship date will probably be around early October. Which means I'll be out of the gaming scene starting around early September as i do final planning for my wedding, do the honeymoon thing, and finalize preparations for myself for Basic training.

This also means that at that time, my position on BtR will open up. I know that it is still 8 months away, but don't y'all remember how last year flew by? It'll be here before we know it. So all you free agents out there looking for a good team, if y'all are willing to wait to team with rasha fasha, MagiK, and Techna, then they will most likely be holding tryouts around that time. I'm hoping to at least attend an MLG event or 2 before I ship, but we'll just have to play it all by ear.

I do want to thank all of the TLN community for the support y'all have given myself and BtR in all our gaming endevours, all of BtR for the awesome gaming we have done and achievements we've reached, especially MagiK who introduced me to MLG and have always teamed with me and been such a great friend, to the Mr. and Mrs. P who helped bring together such an amazing community (really... thanks for all y'all do), and to the pros for giving us all something to strive for, even when y'all did tear us apart when we've gamed against yall =p.

If anyone has any questions about anything for me, don't hesitate to post here or message me on here or xbox live. It's been an honor to meet everyone of you, truly.

When I have my ship date, I'll enter a countdown clock on here =p.

P.S. Sorry for the long post...

[ARKASoller]

Cool story bro...

Seriously though, thanks for serving. Had some friends go through basic, best of luck to you.

[ThisGuyPwnage]

youre joining the marine corps??.. bro PM me ASAP.. thats an order ther Poolee! lol
ill fill you in on some quick tips on being successful in boot.. if you wanna hear my thoughts that is

[tanman5506]

First off man thank you for choosing to serve this country so that we all can have freedom... That means so much as shouldn't to everyone ... Second inrespect that you are doing it not only to protect this country but for your soon to be family( congrats by the way) and for that you have my respect to the fullest... Be safe and goodluck man

[Antidote]

Don't join the Military. Why would you support America? It's full of morons. Just because you join the military doesn't mean you're a hero. All it says is that you're one of the 4% of people that join. Not trying to be mean, but don't be an idiot.

Minor is my hero. Just for being awesome. Therefore it does make him a hero.

[Antidote]

Anyway. Good luck serving a corrupt country. When you open your mind up a little bit, check out wikileaks. And one last thing. The military doesn't defend or give you freedom, they defend and give you privileges.

Good luck man. I hope you find this to be a good choice.

You know if you were in some countries a message like this would be traced and you would be arrested. Please don't bash a such a difficult decision for a guy.

[Smallz08]

try most of the middle east countries that are radical about their country. If you even mention some subjects in front of the wrong people you would be killed. Where here in America its mostly acceptable but highly looked down upon when you say a disrespectful remark toward any individual you so ever choose and hide behind the freedom of speech act. Which should be used but used correctly instead of trying to justify your act of abusing your freedom of speech to tear others down. I believe that the founding fathers set up the freedom of speech act to eliminate what goes on in most other countries concerning the government controlling what the people say and do. I imagine now they would regret that decision if they saw what most people do with that freedom.

[minor pain]

Raichu, I know that the government for the U.S. does have corruption, and I know about wikileaks, and I all know that you are a moron. There may be tons of morons in this country, but there are also a ton of awesome in this country as well. Besides, joining to protect this country isn't the #1 thing on my list. its #3.

If you wish to try to talk someone out of joining the military, I would suggest that you make constructive reasoning with examples as to why they should not join, as well as not call that person an idiot. If you've read the whole post correctly and retained it with an open mind, you would have seen that I did 6 months of research and talking with people about it, including a very close friend of mine that is in the marine corps, my fiancee, her sister who's husband is in the Navy, my mom and step dad, eventually a marine recruiter, and others. I've read many articles online by different authors, read forums, and watched videos from multiple sites. This was not a decision I made lightly. I built up pros and cons, and I've made the decision that the pros will out weight the cons all in all.

Oh and yes, the military defends this country to allow your freedoms to stand. With out the military, this country would be taken over in a short amount of time. When the country is taken over, you will lose all of your first 10 amendment rights, thus being stripped of your freedoms. Try to imagine living a few days without those freedoms. Try to imagine not being able to speak as you please, or worship, or not worship, the way you please, or not being able to keep your house completely to yourself because a soldier occupies it. Try to imagine you being searched for no reasoning at all, or being thrown in jail without having a trial and then having a bail unnecessarily high. Think about not being able to have your own gun for self defense.

You may not like some things about this country, and I'm sure that everyone has at least one thing, if not many, that they absolutely hate about this country, but trust me, the pros outweigh the cons of living in this great country. If you want to help remove the corruption, then just keep voting and encouraging your peers to do the same. Having the right people in office starts with us, the United States citizen. It is us that vote people in office.

[forefront]

Good on you minor. If you have any questions that still need to be answered, and you are looking for a thorough, unbiased opinion of a full 5 year term in the Marine Corps, send me a PM. I will give you my number and we can talk. I know that you have already made your decision, but I could maybe help prepare you for whats to come. Trust me, it's not all it's cracked up to be. Though, with that said, I would do it all over again. Maybe. Anyway, whether you get with me or not, God Bless and if you focus on the good that happens, the bad will seem insignificant.

Also, Raichu. If you have an opinion, express it. Don't tell other people what to do with their lives. No one else cares what you believe, and thats how it should be. Just because I think that it's people like you that are the major problem with this country, doesn't mean that you need to know, or should care. When you presume to tell others that their beliefs are wrong, you just come across as ignorant and intolerant.

[minor pain]

thanks forefront. I don't really have any questions unanswered because of all the research and talking i've done before making the decision. However, if I do, ill defiantly contact you.

The only thing i'm still working on gathering is information on how to better prepare myself for basic training, both physically and mentally. I do know that my friend, who is in the marines, wants my to try to achieve a 10 min 1.5 mile run, 100 crutches in 2 mins, and 20 pull ups. But what about mentally? and any other additions to that for physically?

[SullyVan]

Goodluck minor! best of luck

[Gweedo888]

Go Minor thanks for serving (they won't let me sadly medical reasons ) but i think its awesome that you would want to help protect this country and freedoms so good luck with it and i know that you will do a awesome job

[TripChee]

Its an honor to have you serve for us. My dad was in the marines and he has a sticker on his back window of the marines emblem and every now and then when we pull into a parking lot there will be a former marine there and he will introduce himself. So im guessing everyone very close in the marines

[PK Toolboxxx]

First off, war is stupid. If you're joining to fight this war for oil, you're wrong. You're not fighting for freedom. You're fighting some guy's war that is sitting behind a desk. I don't hate my country, I like the privileges they give me. We haven't had a good president since before Clinton.

I'm not telling you how to leave your life. I know it was a difficult choice. I respect your choice. I however don't respect you serving to fight the war.

Now, on the other hand. If you're joining for college I fully support you, and I respect you for doing so. We need smart minds, not dummies with guns.

I'm all about peace. Fighting wars will never get anyone any where. All you get is dead people, and spending a ton of money. When the money we have been spending on this war, could have gone or could go to homeless people, helping build homes for them, feeding them. Looking for a cure for aids, cancer, and stds.

I hope you do well in life.

Also ForeFront, don't call me a moron because I disagree with him joining the Marines. I know you were one, so don't get all mad.



Try USING my PRIVILEGE of speech.

your right u are using your freedom of speech...but u also have the ability to gtfo if you dont like it. and from what im reading u like all the benefits of living in a free country but u dont like the people that give it to you.

ot: minor your a good guy, good luck bro. i got respect for those who do things im not sure i could.

[heuer89]

I'm going to be blunt right now.

If you're going to be a douche, GTFO this thread.

Keep the arguments on war, oil, etc. out of this thread because it does not belong here.

Go back to the MLG forums if all you're going to do is be disrespectful.

OT: Minor, I wish you the best and I always had a great time playing with you on XBL!

[minor pain]

Thanks for the support guy, I really appreciate it! Don't worry, I won't stay out of touch with you guys for to awfully long =D I've enjoyed the games I've played with yall as well, we had some great times!

[PK Toolboxxx]

Thanks for the support guy, I really appreciate it! Don't worry, I won't stay out of touch with you guys for to awfully long =D I've enjoyed the games I've played with yall as well, we had some great times!

agreed brochacho

[forefront]

I didn't say you were a moron. I'm sure that you are very intelligent. I just said that people who push their opinions as fact are ignorant and intolerant. That's all.

[ShuTDowNizHyped]

Raichu: You're giving the ability to live in the GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! You have more freedom here than anyone else in the world. And believe it or not, many people had to fight generations before you to give you those freedoms so please be respectful. ( :

OT: Thanks for serving our country bro. I hope you do well and I hope it does turnout to be a great experience like I think it will be. Thanks a lot though.

[SecretSchnitzel]

Oh dear, another young man lured in by the false promises and lies of recruiters. Remember, keep your wits sharp and your head low. The green weenie will try to stick you every chance possible over your next four years. It's going to suck, there's no doubt about it.... But what you take from this experience will change you forever and make you a better person. I did my time and I don't regret a single second of it. I love my country, and by god, I love my Corps. Semper Fi!

[minor pain]

Oh dear, another young man lured in by the false promises and lies of recruiters.

nah not lured =p I didn't speak to a recruiter until last week lol. I carefully laid out the pros and cons from multiple different sources. Like I said earlier, it wasnt a decision I made lightly =)

Semper Fi!

Thanks again for all the support yall =)

[KRILLIN]

Thanks for what you're doing man. As a fellow former soldier I wish you the best. U.S.A.!