Better get ready for basic... EDIT 5th of July is the date

[1Cie GevGn]

9.45 this morning:

<cellphone starts ringing...>

GRMBL "myehello?"

"Goodmorning mister Wynants, I'm your liason with the DOO (Sorta public affairs office and recruitement) and you have been accepted for communications egineer for July, do you accept this?

"YES I accept"

"Ok we will send you the paperwork, I wish you goodluck, and call if you have any questions ok?"

"thank you, m'am!"

WHOHOOOO

So I *finally* got the word, I start basic training in July, for 4 months, then specialized training in the School for engineers, in Namur and then to Burcht, home of the 11th engineers battalion.

My task will be constructing and maintaining roads, also airport maintenance is our job. I personally would have preferred a job more "military"-like, but because of height restrictions (I'm 1.93 limit is 1.85) for the APC's, I was not allowed most of the Combat Support jobs, only Paratrooper (which is way to popular over here) and M109A2 how gunner (applied, but didn't get it).

The good thing is that the engineers go abroad very often, building schools in Africa (Benin) is a long lasting project. So I guess I came out ahead anyways!

I made some calls and managed to get in touch with a sports advisor that is gonna prep me for basic in just under 3 weeks time, so I should be ok. I better focus on that first.

Well, I know I'm quite a new member here, but still, if anyone got any tips for me, be sure to share them!

woot

[mack pl]

Congratulations m8 :) I see you are very happy, good for you :)

regards

[chauncy republicans]

Good **** man, good luck.

[1Cie GevGn]

tnx, I'm really looking forward too it :D

[digrar]

There are a heap of "what to expect at basic" threads on the boards with a lot of good advice.
Just wondering what a communications engineer has to do with building roads? Sounds more like a signals tech type job.
Good luck anyway, get your cardio up and do a heap of push ups and situps, upper body and core body strength will really help.

[1Cie GevGn]

Yeah I know, there is Combat engineer who's job is to clear obstacles; build bridges and stuff. It appears that a comm spec has to maintain roads and runways, build bases (like bunkers), also secure the communication network and stuff like that. Remember Russia being pissed because belgium send 4 F-16's over to protect the new EU members? They send the 11th Engineers over to prep the airfield.

I've been doing a lot of pushups, I managed 40 yesterday (and the right stuff, not ones with my ass 1 metre from the ground ;) ), I need to so some more situps though, and ofcourse quite some running ;)

[CannibalSquirel]

Congrats m8!

Hell of a job!

[digrar]

A good push up routine which will increase your max reps, is to find out the max amount you can do then do 3 sets of half that amount (if your doing 40, do 3 sets of 20). On your last set go to failure. Do it about 4 times a week. At the end of the week find out what your new max is and change your routine to suit. You should see results pretty quick.

[1Cie GevGn]

Would that result be my arms falling off? :D

Just kidding, will surely try it tnx for the advice!

[DrunkenMaster]

if you tire out when you do regular pushups you can shake up your chest and get more out if you rotate incline (by putting your hands on a stair or elevate them higher than your feet by 6in.) and and decline by vice versa.
good luck

[NcDeuce]

Engineers fall under Combat Arms here in the USA along with Infantry, Artillery, Special Forces, etc. ;) Good luck man.

[MEGR]

Man, seems like everyone is gettin ready for training.. Good luck to you man, hope you succeed.

[1Cie GevGn]

I hope so too ;)

In Belgium it's

-G3: Operations and training (infantry and armor)

-G2: Security and Intelligence (Recon/SF)

-3D: Fire Support (Artillery)

-2D: Engineerssupport (Engineers + bomb-disposalgroup DOVO)

-G6: Communication and Information-systems (Comms)

-G4: Logistics (All the logistic units.)

So I would be........2D. :)

[Vance]

Good luck woot

[memphiz]

Congrats Man, stay safe and good luck

[1Cie GevGn]

rgr and ty :hug:

Oh and adress me as "MAGGOT", for preparation's sake :)

[Mark Sman]

Good luck MAGGOT.

And I say that with love. Not the dosn't ask don't tell type either.

[AFG]

yo MAGGOT did you mean TOW launcher not HOW launcher? that puzzled me for a sec...

[Roger Rabbit]

Good luck hope you make it.

[1Cie GevGn]

So do I ;)

I just got the date mailed to me, 5th of July is dday.

Well, I hope I will be missed?

:oops:

Anyone?