Glad I didn't go

[Katalmach]

A personal update,

I know I am no longer active here, but there were many very cool people from this forum that rooted me on from afar, and supported me with advice for a long time. Years, actually. I've made real world friendships from Cervens, so I thought I'd give a personal update for anyone who's wondered about me recently

I planned to join the Legion because I got kicked out of the US Marines about 10 years ago. Well, I finally got into the US Army. It took an exhaustive amount of time, waivers, doctor's note, psyche tests, and personal references to convince the US Government to allow me back in

I completed infantry school, during the COVID plague, and spent 8 months in basic training and infantry school. I succeeded, and became an infantry soldier.

But during that time, I experienced pain in my knees and spine, that continued to get worse. After finishing training, I came home and got an MRI, and my spinal discs are deteriorating, as are my ligaments in my legs. In short, I'm literally falling apart, and for the second time, I am on my way out of the military. At least I succeeded this time. But I'd trade that success for the ability to walk normally. I can't move around like I used to, and I am bound for a wheelchair or the surgery table in about another 10 years, so says my doctor

I'll never get to deploy, or put my skills as a warrior to use. I'll never be battle tested. It's taken a lot of patience and introspection, but I am at peace with my circumstances. I'll never be a real infantryman, and I'll never be a Legionnaire, but you all have my support and my admiration

 

[Joseph Cosgrove]

Thanks for sharing this mate. I'd have chosen a different title though.
One thing that I find curious is that the only people who gave you a thumbs up, for taking the time to share this, are greens.

 

[Fabrizio De Gregori]

A personal update,

I know I am no longer active here, but there were many very cool people from this forum that rooted me on from afar, and supported me with advice for a long time. Years, actually. I've made real world friendships from Cervens, so I thought I'd give a personal update for anyone who's wondered about me recently

I planned to join the Legion because I got kicked out of the US Marines about 10 years ago. Well, I finally got into the US Army. It took an exhaustive amount of time, waivers, doctor's note, psyche tests, and personal references to convince the US Government to allow me back in

I completed infantry school, during the COVID plague, and spent 8 months in basic training and infantry school. I succeeded, and became an infantry soldier.

But during that time, I experienced pain in my knees and spine, that continued to get worse. After finishing training, I came home and got an MRI, and my spinal discs are deteriorating, as are my ligaments in my legs. In short, I'm literally falling apart, and for the second time, I am on my way out of the military. At least I succeeded this time. But I'd trade that success for the ability to walk normally. I can't move around like I used to, and I am bound for a wheelchair or the surgery table in about another 10 years, so says my doctor

I'll never get to deploy, or put my skills as a warrior to use. I'll never be battle tested. It's taken a lot of patience and introspection, but I am at peace with my circumstances. I'll never be a real infantryman, and I'll never be a Legionnaire, but you all have my support and my admiration

Hi Katalmach,

I am new in here and I wasn’t around when you were active in the forum, but I am very sorry to read about your current circumstances. I am sure this means next to nothing to you, but reading about your journey I have no doubt that infantry man or not, you have the qualities that make a good soldier up. You did not give up one single inch and the reasons you couldn’t reach your goal are, unfortunately, out of your control. I wish you a lot of good luck and all the best, and I also hope that your health will improve soon.

Take care!

FdeG

 

[Jarrettgs]

I completed infantry school, during the COVID plague, and spent 8 months in basic training and infantry school. I succeeded, and became an infantry soldier.

Katalmach, just curious, I graduated US Army Infantry OSUT in 2016, and did recruiting as recently as 2020, but I didn't hear anything about the training being 8 months? I know it got lengthened to 22 weeks, but that only makes up about 5 & 1/2 months?

 

[Papillon]

I planned to join the Legion because I got kicked out of the US Marines about 10 years ago. Well, I finally got into the US Army. It took an exhaustive amount of time, waivers, doctor's note, psyche tests, and personal references to convince the US Government to allow me back in

Well sometimes in life when you push for something when others are advising NOT you end up wishing you had taken their advice the first time round! Don’t no what your after but if it’s sympathy or something else you may be barking up the wrong tree. Suggest you except you cards you have been dealt and move on and get on with your live in Civi street as for the reference to wheel chair think that adds a bit of drama to you story!

 

[USMCRET]

A personal update,

I know I am no longer active here, but there were many very cool people from this forum that rooted me on from afar, and supported me with advice for a long time. Years, actually. I've made real world friendships from Cervens, so I thought I'd give a personal update for anyone who's wondered about me recently

I planned to join the Legion because I got kicked out of the US Marines about 10 years ago. Well, I finally got into the US Army. It took an exhaustive amount of time, waivers, doctor's note, psyche tests, and personal references to convince the US Government to allow me back in

I completed infantry school, during the COVID plague, and spent 8 months in basic training and infantry school. I succeeded, and became an infantry soldier.

But during that time, I experienced pain in my knees and spine, that continued to get worse. After finishing training, I came home and got an MRI, and my spinal discs are deteriorating, as are my ligaments in my legs. In short, I'm literally falling apart, and for the second time, I am on my way out of the military. At least I succeeded this time. But I'd trade that success for the ability to walk normally. I can't move around like I used to, and I am bound for a wheelchair or the surgery table in about another 10 years, so says my doctor

I'll never get to deploy, or put my skills as a warrior to use. I'll never be battle tested. It's taken a lot of patience and introspection, but I am at peace with my circumstances. I'll never be a real infantryman, and I'll never be a Legionnaire, but you all have my support and my admiration

Orthopedic injuries and some form of being arthritis will get you. I have had my Left Hip replaced, the right one needs to be replaced and so does my left knee. But I would not do it differently, I love the Corps and the time spent in it for 20 years, it was my life.

 

[shirly]

Orthopedic injuries and some form of being arthritis will get you. I have had my Left Hip replaced, the right one needs to be replaced and so does my left knee. But I would not do it differently, I love the Corps and the time spent in it for 20 years, it was my life.

I hope you're not in too much pain.
Shirly.

 

[shirly]

Suggest you except you cards you have been dealt and move on and get on with your live in Civi street as for the reference to wheel chair think that adds a bit of drama to you story!

Why do they think the Foreign Legion will somehow change everything? They may find the Grass is not Greener on the other side

 

[RHODIE MURWI WEGA]

A personal update,

I know I am no longer active here, but there were many very cool people from this forum that rooted me on from afar, and supported me with advice for a long time. Years, actually. I've made real world friendships from Cervens, so I thought I'd give a personal update for anyone who's wondered about me recently

I planned to join the Legion because I got kicked out of the US Marines about 10 years ago. Well, I finally got into the US Army. It took an exhaustive amount of time, waivers, doctor's note, psyche tests, and personal references to convince the US Government to allow me back in

I completed infantry school, during the COVID plague, and spent 8 months in basic training and infantry school. I succeeded, and became an infantry soldier.

But during that time, I experienced pain in my knees and spine, that continued to get worse. After finishing training, I came home and got an MRI, and my spinal discs are deteriorating, as are my ligaments in my legs. In short, I'm literally falling apart, and for the second time, I am on my way out of the military. At least I succeeded this time. But I'd trade that success for the ability to walk normally. I can't move around like I used to, and I am bound for a wheelchair or the surgery table in about another 10 years, so says my doctor

I'll never get to deploy, or put my skills as a warrior to use. I'll never be battle tested. It's taken a lot of patience and introspection, but I am at peace with my circumstances. I'll never be a real infantryman, and I'll never be a Legionnaire, but you all have my support and my admiration

Hi China, sorry to hear about your situation. I had a L1S5 fusion 5 days before joining here, Chef chewed me out for joining and not posting anything lol, I knew I would dig it here after that. Look bro, there is a Yanky lad on YT that had the same op as me from an injury he received in the US Army, he had the op and 12 months later passed the Army fitness test and went back full time. 24 months post op he did a US Army version of Iron Man and the surgeons told him his fusion was the strongest part of his back. Don't give in, get it sorted and crack on. If you have the training any how there is the private sector. A lot open to Americans that non US citizens cannot get. I would look there. ATB. Brian.

 

[USMCRET]

I hope you're not in too much pain.
Shirly.

Sadly Shirly I am, a replacement is no silver bullet. I will be on pain killers for the rest of my life I fear.

 

[USMCRET]

Hi China, sorry to hear about your situation. I had a L1S5 fusion 5 days before joining here, Chef chewed me out for joining and not posting anything lol, I knew I would dig it here after that. Look bro, there is a Yanky lad on YT that had the same op as me from an injury he received in the US Army, he had the op and 12 months later passed the Army fitness test and went back full time. 24 months post op he did a US Army version of Iron Man and the surgeons told him his fusion was the strongest part of his back. Don't give in, get it sorted and crack on. If you have the training any how there is the private sector. A lot open to Americans that non US citizens cannot get. I would look there. ATB. Brian.

Rhodie, that's great encouragement

 

[Katalmach]

Katalmach, just curious, I graduated US Army Infantry OSUT in 2016, and did recruiting as recently as 2020, but I didn't hear anything about the training being 8 months? I know it got lengthened to 22 weeks, but that only makes up about 5 & 1/2 months?

I arrived on August 11th last year, and spent 2 months in 30th AG because of the COVID situation. They lost our line number, and wouldn't ship us to basic. So we sat in a room and read our blue books for 20 hours a day, for 64 days. Then we finally started the 22 week cycle.

 

[Katalmach]

I planned to join the Legion because I got kicked out of the US Marines about 10 years ago. Well, I finally got into the US Army. It took an exhaustive amount of time, waivers, doctor's note, psyche tests, and personal references to convince the US Government to allow me back in

Well sometimes in life when you push for something when others are advising NOT you end up wishing you had taken their advice the first time round! Don’t no what your after but if it’s sympathy or something else you may be barking up the wrong tree. Suggest you except you cards you have been dealt and move on and get on with your live in Civi street as for the reference to wheel chair think that adds a bit of drama to you story!

I'm not looking for sympathy. I put this up so my friends here would know what's happening to me. I am fine, working in the civilian world as a security guard and a firearms instructor. Life is good, but I wish I could go out and do what I was trained to do

 

[Papillon]

I'm not looking for sympathy. I put this up so my friends here would know what's happening to me. I am fine, working in the civilian world as a security guard and a firearms instructor. Life is good, but I wish I could go out and do what I was trained to do

Main thing is your doing something sometimes in life we all have to adapt at times for change best of luck.
P

 

[RHODIE MURWI WEGA]

I'm not looking for sympathy. I put this up so my friends here would know what's happening to me. I am fine, working in the civilian world as a security guard and a firearms instructor. Life is good, but I wish I could go out and do what I was trained to do

Bro, you never know where this could lead hey, take some good defensive drivers courses, get a CPO course under your belt, a prope Academi course or Ronin in RSA, for some reason the industry loves the Brit SIA certification so try and get that sourced in the US or Canada my bra. Then you are set. 1. military training, 2. instructor level 3. CPO certified 4. Defensive driver for B6+ then you are set bro. Maybe a FPOS trauma course will help hey. Good luck.

 

[Papillon]

Bro, you never know where this could lead hey, take some good defensive drivers courses, get a CPO course under your belt, a prope Academi course or Ronin in RSA, for some reason the industry loves the Brit SIA certification so try and get that sourced in the US or Canada my bra. Then you are set. 1. military training, 2. instructor level 3. CPO certified 4. Defensive driver for B6+ then you are set bro. Maybe a FPOS trauma course will help hey. Good luck.

Got a very good buddy heading up some stuff for G4S been with them a long time, my advise do the relevant stuff that will get you a PMC contract if that’s what your after once you have your boots under the table you can look at additional courses if you want to specialise in something.

 

[RHODIE MURWI WEGA]

Got a very good buddy heading up some stuff for G4S been with them a long time, my advise do the relevant stuff that will get you a PMC contract if that’s what your after once you have your boots under the table you can look at additional courses if you want to specialise in something.

Yep, that sounds like perfect sense to me Pap. Most of the CV's I receive have the above, it's like a bench mark for them, civi security background and mili, UK forces get their qualifications paid for by the MOD as they leave. Great system. Maritime certification for PMSC, CP certs on and on. Great stuff.

 

[Joseph Cosgrove]

Yep, that sounds like perfect sense to me Pap. Most of the CV's I receive have the above, it's like a bench mark for them, civi security background and mili, UK forces get their qualifications paid for by the MOD as they leave. Great system. Maritime certification for PMSC, CP certs on and on. Great stuff.

Where should I send my CV to?

 

[Le petit caporal]

If it's maratime, i have an adresse in France...but you need to complète the course, of course...i will re message him and get the full S.P. if still valid
For terrestre, Big beef on going between Algérie et la France @ moment...so gas pipe lines and wells are probally out of the bounds
Discount Price wage is the way, nowadays

 

[RHODIE MURWI WEGA]

If it's maratime, i have an adresse in France...but you need to complète the course, of course...i will re message him and get the full S.P. if still valid
For terrestre, Big beef on going between Algérie et la France @ moment...so gas pipe lines and wells are probally out of the bounds
Discount Price wage is the way, nowadays

Sadly this is true. The salaries of of 2004 to 2013 are well and truly gone but we still get decent contracts for FIFO clients, trouble is the 2 months on, its too much for a lot of guys. Maritime is hit and miss, GOG is not bad, GOA and Indian Ocean is chicken feed. We only deal with three establish old clients in the O&G business these days, bulk carriers and cargo are a waste of time.