Re chan Q Research/lurk/learning curve, as it relates to this boot camp for the mind…
Anon non-dox back history: My own mil boot camp started out at a disadvantage. I was among the late arrivals (not my choice) at the processing center, so I didn't have the benefit of observing any military protocol for days as had the others. All I came with were high scores on their tests for my chosen technical MOS, plus a healthy, lean athletic body. Before then I was a working musician, which is hardly the basis for adapting to military training.
The first week in BT was absolute hell, which is what it is supposed to be. Mass confusion, torment and annoyance amped to the max, with no indication whether we were accomplishing anything to their satisfaction. By the weekend, that all changed. We survived the worse, and our brains were attuned to LISTENING, OBSERVING and RETAINING a lot of information.
I screwed up royally many times. Ever leave your weapon unattended during a meal in the field? I did. Ever have to stand at parade rest in your boxers and flip flops before a pair of off duty DI's and their girlfriends/wives late at night to admit you couldn't remember your combination lock number? I did. Ever ditch guard duty at 3am in a cold pouring rain to get warm inside the supply tent, and then have a roving officer enter and claim he needed something (it was a setup), all of it going down without guard protocol and procedure? I did KP for a day, which was actually a blessing. A day away from another day spent outside in cold rain during bivouac.
So with all that, how did I end up being one of 3 in our company of 120 to be given a commendation at the end of BT for my accomplishments? For one, I passed every test with high scores on the first attempt, including shooting expert marksman with the M16. I also admitted my screw-ups, took my punishment without whining, and didn't repeat mistakes. Fricking military loves that kind!
PS, this was also a training company under heavy scrutiny at that time because it was only the second BT cycle to have men and women train together. We didn't live, march, do PT, or even eat together, but we did share classes. Also during the training cycle before, a DI was killed by a recruit while on the live fire practice course. A pair of witnesses lived above us, waiting for their court appearances. There were always extra eyes watching what the DI staff, and we recruits, did.
I went on to pass my MOS schooling in half the allotted time, and at the top of the class. I was subsequently give my choice of duty station. I was assigned to a major company attached to a storied Division servicing multi-branch (Army, Air Force) equipment. Within weeks I was doing work beyond my trainling, then assigned as a roving trouble shooter to cover a large facility, doing work for field unit personnel who were not equipped or able to do that level of chore. Oh, and I had an E5 assigned to me as my assistant because I couldn't sign off on parts and tool requisitions.
That was just the beginning. My life and work became very interesting over the next few decades, most of it not involving the military, a lot of it self taught, and at a high level of technical accomplishment. The REALLY interesting stuff, which is RELEVANT to a specific Q research topic, I can't share.
Anyway, that's the sort of anon who visits here. My sort anyway. I've learned a lot here. More than I expected. Some of it not fun at all to learn or realize. Then again, neither was the experience of my BT platoon standing out in the cold at night dressed in boxers while a raging DI tore our rooms apart because some dumb SOB tried to establish a banned goods (candy) selling racket against specific instructions to not do so, and then he wouldn't step forward to take responsibility. He was my squad leader, too! His punishment was being stripped of his responsibilities, and doubly assigned to help his struggling squad mates pass the tests.
For better or worse, we are the front lines for what might eventually have to happen to right this lilting ship. That's why I am here. Getting ready.
Anon out.