Born and raised Arizona boy headed to Cape May January. Any advise for a desert rat who has never done any PT in frigid east coast winter conditions?!?!

It isn't that frigid and your body heat will more than make up for the lack of air temperature. Even for a desert rat! Best of luck.

Live in San Antonio, TX. I also ship out January 4th 2011 also. can't wait!!

I'm from Houston Texas and I ship out on Januray 4th too

So excited!! Although I'm not excited about the cold. Lol I hope I can handle it. It never gets that cold here in Houston. Ohh well, atleast I will start the new year right.

From AZ too...but not till the 11th...close lol

so how old are you guys leaving on this date? and what rate are you interested in? im going in as a non-rate

I'm 25 and I'm interested in the ME rate.

How bout you?

well i like ME MK and BM. im most interested in those three. looks like we are probably gonna be shoveling snow during boot camp. My birthday is january 12 i wonder if ill get a cake lol

ya i'm going in as e-3 and non-rated as well, i'm 21 and looking into the DC and MST rates. I have my EMT-B and fire fighter 1 & 2 certifications for AZ that's why i'm looking at DC, but my few undergrad credits are for an environmental science major and that's why i'm looking at MST.

ya i'm going in as e-3 and non-rated as well, i'm 21 and looking into the DC and MST rates. I have my EMT-B and fire fighter 1 & 2 certifications for AZ that's why i'm looking at DC but my few undergrad credits are for an environmental science major and that's why i'm looking at MST.

Where did you get your firefighter 1 & 2? (only asking because I did firescience my senior year at EVIT--east valley technical institute, if you are unfamiliar with it)

I did my fire 1 & 2 at Glendale Community College; it was one of the best experiences of my life for sure. I've never heard of EVIT, what does their fire science training include? -- Also, friescali, I've never shoveled snow a day in my life! And I'm certainly not looking forward to it lol and if you don't get a cake, then the least we can do is sing happy birthday and embarrass the heck out of you haha

Yeah, I would not try to organize a party or anything...

EVIT's like a trade school for high schoolers. It's in the Mesa district, but works with a lot of east valley districts as well. I believe it only does Fire 1, not 2, but it also does EMT as well (I did not do that part, only fire 1). We did a lot of the basic drills, with the firetruck and hoses, etc. We also did some live fire training at I believe Boeing's airfield, putting out a helicopter fire (well, fake helicopter), and Chandler Fire department's training facility. I'm guessing you had the same kind of deal, with heated up rooms and gas flames, etc. The group I was with had this kid who accidentally knocked his air respirator out of his mask, in like 700 degree temps. We all hear this hissing and look back and he's sitting there trying to get his respirator back in--it took us all of about one second to get out of there, tripping over everyone and landing in a big pile lol. Looking back on it, it was quite funny. Not so funny then, though. After that, not sure if I want to be a firefighter

Anyways, it was definitely a great experience, don't know if I'd do it as a career though, don't like to sweat Good luck at DC though, if you go for it.

i also just got my shipping date today...im pretty excited...im ready to start doing something constructive

Where are you from?

I live in Oxford MS....but i am shipping out memphis

cool. wow i have a feeling ill be the youngest one there. man i hope the obstacle course and pugil sticks don't get canceled because of the frigid weather :/

I'm with you on that one; so how old are you fries? You never said lol just told us about your birthday

I'm currently 18 and turning 19 during basic..

im 25....now i feel old going into boot camp....

LOL I'm 25 also khas. 26 in March! I feel like I'm going to be the oldest one there! Haha

Man I wish I had told my recruiter I wanted to wait until after Christmas to leave. Really regretting that one since Christmas is my favorite time EVER.
It's just going to be kind of depressing seeing all of the Christmas stuff and knowing I'll be in basic. Oh well it's only one.

nice.....haha...yea i turn 26 in Aug sooo you got a few months on me :p

I'm 25 also turn 26 in July.

Lots of old people. AARP bootcamp haha j/k

Jan 4th, baby! 23 and shipping out of Cincinnati. Looking forward to working alongside all of you.

Have any of you DEP'ed in yet?

I'm going to December 2nd

Ya I DEP'ed in the begining of September. It was pretty simple, I was only there for like 2 and a half hours.

I DEP in 16 November.

Senor Black, I heard the cermony only takes 5 minutes, so what do you do for the other 2 hours 25 minutes??

I Swear in the 16th of Nov as well.....i can see myself sitting up there for 5 or 6 hours again

Jan 4th as well! Im shipping out of Springfield, MA. I'm 23 as well.

My recruiter is making me go to the recruiting station on dec 1 then he's driving me to meps. He said I have to stay the night at the hotel again and DEP in the next morning.

Did you guys have to do that?