[ Outline ] · Standard · Linear+ going to be busy, army starting 12.7.2004

[Deepone]

that is, my servitude in the army here in Finland starts in under a month. just thought to say that I wont be having free time for about anythin durin the servitude which will take about a year or so..
leaving a bit early warning here for all the good fellas in here. it is unfortunate that I wont be able to access the internet much / at all.. but its better to take care of that now than some time later when it wont be so nice to me anymore. after all, I got about to the place where I wanted to be - and usually u have to go there via quite hard exams but I got there directly :)
in other words, I will be serving my time in the army in Electronical Warfare-section. oh well, I still have some civil-days left and will be going to have some time on the boat just before going to there. if the weather permits that is, but hopefully it will be nice time with few friends :)
dont worry for the mean time, I will be around until I have to go there.. but after it starts, well, who knows.

This post has been edited by Deepone: Jun 21 2004, 07:32 PM

[amourdevin]

I voluntarily (no draft or compulsory service) spent four active years (plus two inactive) in the USMC. With few other economic or educational opportunities at the time and a teenage rebellious streak that needed some taming, it was a good thing for me. They had a recruitment campaign at the time (1983) advertising it as a "Good Place to Start," which is exactly what it was.

Assuming a globally typical hitch of two years for mandatory service, it will be over before you know it. Chances are you will make friends that you will remember for the rest of your life. It sounds like you have an opportunity to further your marketable skills in the Electronic Warfare Division . . . good choice! I have plenty of respect for the ground pounders but the skills they develop do not transfer as well into civilian life. With any luck, you will be stationed somewhere not too isolated. If so, it will go very fast.

If you are like literally millions of people before you, there is some anxiety over the unknown and uncertainity just before entering the service. This is the height of the anxiety and you will probably soon reflect back upon it as, "That was not so bad."

The upside to compulsory military service is that it is equally applied to everyone, regardless of economic status. There are down sides too but I will spare that for now.

Best of luck and wishes on your upcoming endeavor.