Hi I'm Mark.
I've been fascinated by SF since back in the day when talking with my Mum's boyfriend when I was 11-14. He served in the Royal Marines, SBS, and at that time he was working in Mogadishu for a security firm. He would send me photos and letters and tell my about doing HALO jumps, explain how come he was on crutches or had a bloody dressing to his forearm. I loved it. I was set on joining the Marines during that whole time, and all I would do is train for it. Everything was in preparation. I would camp, do ruck marches, I competed in the Ten Tours (camp, hike, navigation expedition on the moors in south west UK).
Anyway, not too long after all that I started smoking weed and doing other things. Lots of stuff my group of friends were doing I did avoid, I and suffered for it; but I've always been kind of "straight." I got away from "that scene" for a couple of years and picked up a UK version of an associates degree in Marine Science. I then slipped back into that scene.
I met my wife in a chatroom on the internet while working as a fruit and veg delivery driver/surf bum. I met my wife, in person, in London nearly 8 years ago and haven't looked back since. We just celebrated our 7th anniversary.
Since marrying my wife and moving to the US I have gotten my act together. I decided to become a nurse rather than enter the US military as I didn't want to be sent away from my wife. I took the ACT at the college here and realized that during my 7 or so years at school in England, I hadn't actually learnt English. I had to start with remedial English and math, but I worked my way through it and have not let my GPA drop below 4.0. I passed my nursing class top of the class and received a plaque and a scholarship (I'm pretty proud of that
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A year into my nursing career and I am bored. I have never really been into civilian life. To me it has always appeared the same as a field of sheep. I have considered the military so many times in my life and have talked to recruiters in England and even when I first got to the US. The mistake I think I have made in the past is when the wave comes over me to join the military it is fueled by the passion to become a soldier, to fight in battle, to live the adventures and hell I have read about in books like Bravo Two Zero, but when I get to the recruiter's office I have the mindset that I better enter with an MOS that will allow me to work in civilian life such as engineer/electrician etc. rather than trained killer. When I talk with recruiters about such MOS's I get really put off and decide that it's not for me. The difference is now I have that security in civilian life. I am a nurse. My wife has become more supportive of the idea (that's all it is right now-an idea), especially since her cousin's husband just signed up.
So, 18x? I don't know. I just turned 28 and do not have my citizenship. I could probably pull it off in time, but I am mulling with the option of joining as 11x with airborne in my contract and going from there.
A long intro, sorry. If you read it all, thanks, and to all those serving in military, thanks for your service. I know it is because of your sacrifices that we enjoy the life we do today.
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