Radiohead 04.02.98 SF

06.29.98

7:08PM
Got back from Oakland just about an hour ago. The next four years of my life have been determined by myself and the United States Army...I'm to be a 71D, or 71 Delta, or Legal Specialist...in layman's terms, I'm going to beceom a paralegal for the Uniform Code of Military Justice...shipping out on October 8th, 1998...100 days from now exactly. Eight years from this date I will be fully released from any military duty, active or reserved. Four years from October 8th I will become a "normal" citizen again...

I didn't get the Army College Fund. Due to my being color blind, I was only eligible for about 6 jobs...none of which came with the ACF, and only two of which came with 3 year enlistment options...71D was the only one I would even consider...so they pulled strings like I said they would, and got it for me. Basic Training is at Fort Jackson in South Carolina...then Christmas leave (probably...) then occupation school then...duty...

Dad doesn't approve. "So how are you going to get money to finish school? $425 from the Mont. GI ($16000 over four years) won't be enough"...I *know* dad...I'll be making over $1000/month before taxes...plenty of money for savings and to supplement my 'army school income'...I wish he would get off my back about it, although I know where he's coming from...he doesn't seem to think that I'll go back to school once I get out...maybe he's right, but I doubt it...

I plan on finishing as much of my degrees as possible while enlisted...I know the engineering courses will be hard to find, but at least a few of the english classes should be availible somewhere...75% of any tuition I encurr while enlisted will be covered by the army...

I wanted to get overseas guarenteed me, since I had to go in for a four year commitment and no ACF...but no dice...I'm *told* I can apply for overseas duy later and will have a ***really*** good chance of getting it someday...but who knows. They all keep pressuring me to make sure I apply for OCS, officer candidate school...I've already talked about my reluctance on that front...I'm not looking to the military for a carreer...just a wayside station to put things back together...

So I'm tired, been up since 4AM, doing mostly just waiting around all day. Dinner will be soon, then I'm crashing out. Smashing Pumpkins concert tommorrow...wahoo! My 90mtr's came in the mail today, so I have the right length tape...which is nice to know...no tape changing or slp mode for me!