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July 22, 2007
Career change
So, because I finally got the chance to tell my father and stepmother in person (my mother and stepfather had to make due with a phone call, driving to Alabama can bite me...), I can make a general announcement in my blag.
I've enlisted in the Unites States Marine Corps as a linguist. To be technically accurate, I swore in to the Delayed Enlistment Program, and while I'm currently on an open contract with an October 15th ship date, I will get my job changed to linguist before I leave.
I've already told most of the people who needed to know personally from me, well, personally :) For the rest of you, if you're curious about reasons then I'll write about a few.
First, I truly want to serve my country. If I had my college degree, there might have been other agencies I would choose first, but I absolutely respect the Marine Corps, and I'm excited about the chance to become a Marine.
Second, I'm sick and fucking tired of working with computers. My job is best described as a "computer plumber", and while it has interesting aspects and possibilities for significant compensation, I have been unhappy with my work for well over 6 years. Not the people I work with, mind you, but rather I've been unhappy being a puzzle solver that doesn't feel his work is really all that useful in the bigger picture.
Third, counter-intelligence has interested me as a field for... well, a very long time. This job in the Marines will give me some exposure to that world, and let me decide if I'm interested in making a career of it.
I'm currently intending to be an Arabic linguist. No, I didn't have any previous experience with the language before deciding. Since DEPing in, however, I have gotten a Rosetta Stone account to try to pick up some basics.
Posted by jeff at July 22, 2007 03:24 PM
Comments
I knew your playing "America's Army" was a red flag back in the day...
Seriously, congrats, and you are a badass.
Posted by: Ian at August 10, 2007 03:08 PM
Congratulations, Jeff, and good luck.
Do you still have my knife-fighting book? If so, keep it. It might come in handy someday.
Posted by: Troy at August 20, 2007 10:27 AM
Right on Jeff!!!
I'm scared for you, for sure, because obviously I don't want anything bad to happen to you. However, I TOTALLY get the "computer plumber" comment and wanting to do something that contributes to the bigger picture. I'm a "document janitor" ... nice to meet you.
You rock!
Posted by: Robyn at August 20, 2007 10:29 AM