Wow, I could have skipped basic and AIT. All those runs, and push ups, and endless classes on tactics. Skipped the months of helicopter maintenance training. I could have skipped jump school and the fear of a broken ankle on every jump. Skipped Air Assault school and the rappelling from a helicopter and the twelve mile ruck march. And SERE level C with the evading, eating whatever we could find, drinking iodine water and the very realistic POW experience. And dunker training. And the joys of Desert Shield and Desert Storm with the horrible shots we had to take including the frozen one that left a huge lump on your ass for a week, and the depleted Uranium rounds making some of us sick (I was lucky, no effects yet).

All I had to do was go to a surplus store and buy some web gear and boots, and spend a few weekends doing some reenactments to get my military experience and cred? I must be stupid.