B.J. Norris Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 August 3rd 2009 will always be a day I remember. Not only is it the 5 year anniversary of when my wife and I started dating, it is the day I took an oath to defend the country from all enemies, foreign and domestic as a member of the United States Army as 11X, option 04 (not AMU). There are a lot of factors in my decision to serve, most of them stemming from the fact that we are able to live in a country after less than 250 years of being where our rights to speak out, defend ourselves and a have fair trial by the justice system are recognized, has the most advanced technology, and the best overall living conditions of the world, and to keep it that way, it must be defended. The only downside is that I won’t have a lot of time to compete over the next few years, but I am confident that it will be well worth the time off of the shooting circuit. I ship out to OSUT on 10/28/09 at Ft. Benning as an 11X, and I will begin Airborne training on 3/1/10, also planning on putting in for RIP as soon as I can. I also want to again thank of all my sponsors for their incredible support over the past several years in my shooting career, and their support in this decision. Smith & Wesson Tony Cruz/XTC Aimpoint Tactical Solutions Montana Gold Bullets Starline Brass Safariland Techwear USA GT Targets Rudy Project USA Grams Engineering Speed Shooting Specialties Wish me luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel1212 Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 August 3rd 2009 will always be a day I remember. Not only is it the 5 year anniversary of when my wife and I started dating, it is the day I took an oath to defend the country from all enemies, foreign and domestic as a member of the United States Army as 11X, option 04 (not AMU). There are a lot of factors in my decision to serve, most of them stemming from the fact that we are able to live in a country after less than 250 years of being where our rights to speak out, defend ourselves and a have fair trial by the justice system are recognized, has the most advanced technology, and the best overall living conditions of the world, and to keep it that way, it must be defended. The only downside is that I won’t have a lot of time to compete over the next few years, but I am confident that it will be well worth the time off of the shooting circuit. I ship out to OSUT on 10/28/09 at Ft. Benning as an 11X, and I will begin Airborne training on 3/1/10, also planning on putting in for RIP as soon as I can. I also want to again thank of all my sponsors for their incredible support over the past several years in my shooting career, and their support in this decision. Smith & Wesson Tony Cruz/XTC Aimpoint Tactical Solutions Montana Gold Bullets Starline Brass Safariland Techwear USA GT Targets Rudy Project USA Grams Engineering Speed Shooting Specialties Wish me luck!! Good luck and stay safe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadeslade Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 We will miss you on the competition circuit, but you will not be forgotten. Good luck. It is an honorable thing you do. Keep your head down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 B.J. - If you want some questions answered about RIP vs. tabbing out Ranger feel free to PM or e-mail. I was the medic at Regiment for a bit and between that and my time at the greatest Division/military unit in the history of the universe (82nd Airborne Division, a.k.a. America's Strategic Response Force/The World's ONLY All Airborne Division) I can make some suggestions based upon your career goals. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritinUSA Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Congratulations on your decision, the US Army just got STRONGER. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latewatch Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 My hat is off to you young man. If the Ranger Regiment is what you want keep pushing for it. Just remember that old saying" be careful what you ask for you may get it". Good Luck and Godspeed, Steve Griffin B 2/75 B 3/75 4th RTB 1st Cav LRSU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Good for you BJ . Let me know if there is anything I can do for your family while you are away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Santiago Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Congratulations on your decision. Thanks for stepping up to defend our country and to your family for their support . Best of luck in your career and stay safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitman Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Good luck & elevate you feet troop, you will be hearing a lot of that at jump school. Thanks for your service and stay safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ima45dv8 Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Very cool, B.J. Once you get to where you can break away check out East Alabama Gun Club's match (it's very close). I can set you up with gear (except Open division). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbs007 Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Good luck man and thank you for your service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little_kahuna Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 B.J. you're a hero and an inspiration. Thanks for your service, and God bless you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dunn Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 It's a solemn feeling taking the oath, thank you for your service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Good on you, you make us all proud. Our country just got a little bit better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark K Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 B.J, As a 20 yr vet of the Army, I congratulate and thank you for your service. As a member of East Alabama Gun Club, Please contact us when you can, and have some free time. We have numerous military members and members that are retired from Ft. Benning, and we all have contacts that can help you get were you want to. If you decide you want to ship your gear here, we can set you up with safe and available storage, or if you just want to play some weekend, we can line you up with all the gear and ammo you can stand. Feel free to contact me, or Lanzo, or Ironequilizer or Kgunz11 or Algator. Pm and I will pass phone numbers, etc. Since you have been here for FB3G, for reference we are 10 minutes down the road from where Max used to live in Alabama, about 25 minutes from post. Again - Thank you. Unlike Mark R, I can set you up with open equipment. Mark K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h2osport Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Congratulations and thank you for your comming service to this great country! Your attitude toward our country is wonderful! We wish you all the best! Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 It's a solemn feeling taking the oath, thank you for your service. I was a recruiter for four years, I got chills every time I witnessed the swearing in (to many to count, most of the time it wasn't my recruit). There isn't much that I enjoy more than witnessing someone enlist/re-enlist. How often have you witnessed someone swear to God that they will die to protect you? I don't think it should be mandatory, but it should be a requirement for public office. I have 17 years of service, I will re-enlist in 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR Gunner Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Best of luck, and thank you for your service! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Good for you, BJ. Good for all of Us too.... Serve proudly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Boudrie Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Wow. More impressive than any of your match wins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Best of luck in your career. And most of all Thank You for your service! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Good luck BJ. Thank you and keep us up to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPatterson Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 BJ, thank you for joining what is not a job or a career but a way of life. I'm not talking about the Army but about airborne, the mentality is a thing of its own because no one else will be asked to enter combat in a possibly surrounded position and fight their way out. The Army can be hard on families with the current deployment cycles but they do take care of their own. God Speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chills1994 Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Holy cow, B.J. I'm impressed. You rock! I don't know that the grunts going through Army basic get to even touch an M9, but, man-oh-man, if you do get some structured range time with a pistola during boot, I would love to see the instructor's faces..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Boudrie Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 I don't know that the grunts going through Army basic get to even touch an M9, but, man-oh-man, if you do get some structured range time with a pistola during boot, I would love to see the instructor's faces..... Especially of BJ gets the boot camp "some of you may think you know how to shoot" lecture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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