Dear Readers:

It has certainly been a pleasure writing for you, and I will be back soon, however I must leave now for a while as my country needs me. I decided sometime back to join the Navy and I ship out to boot camp today. While I will be without internet and any form of communication for the next few months, I will be back to writing after basic training. This is a new chapter of my life and I am very excited.

My rate (job) will be AV, which will either be Aviation Electrician or Aviation Electronics Technician. While the difference between the 2 is beyond me, I’m sure I’ll learn at school. For the first 2 months, I will be in Boot Camp at Great Lakes, IL, which is about halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago. After I graduate I will go directly (no leave) to Pensacola, FL, where I will be at A School, which is where I will learn all about AV.

I have signed on for an 8 year commitment, 4 years active and 4 years reserve. I may decide to make it a career but those decisions are best made at that time and not now. I don’t know where I will be based or what ship I will go on or any of that until after A school. During A School (which lasts between 14-26 weeks, depending on the exact job I take) I will be allowed internet access after about the first 6 weeks.

I look forward to writing again and will miss all of you and hope you stay tuned for the great things that I’ll miss like CES.

Sincerely, Seaman Recruit Ben Brody