Made a post about starting over couple months ago.
Landed a job, worked it for 5 months.
That sales gig didn’t workout.
Landed a new role at a promising tech company in SF.
Put in a coat rack for my clothing.
Built this little kitchenette in 1 day.
Ordering a small sink. Going to drain it into a 5 gallon bucket.
Yo - I’m just a little too slow to be a SO.
They asked me to go EOD for my packet.
I’ve been training with the Navy doing PSTs for 9 months.
Pretty sure that’s what I’m gonna do. It’s a good job, the economy is whack in private sector.
What am I getting myself into?
What is it like?
Will I go in submarines? Those are cool.
What about aircraft carriers?
What does an officer do?
I don’t know anything about the military some of my questions will be out of ignorance.
Very small quake above Salinas today. Happened during my nap about ten mins ago.
If you want to join the FFL here’s how to do it.
The sports test is a huge part of picking. Lots of guys come not able to do 1 pull up and they were sent home.
When you show up : pack the pack list and only the pack list. If you need to bring other things - it should be a sleeping bag, a jacket, 200-300 euro, only a couple extra things.
Some guys were sent home because they had too much stuff. wtf were they doing going shopping in Paris?
Everyone you interact with - assume they will tell on you, or they are planted to figure out who you are, why you’re there - the selection process starts as soon as you start walking to the gates of Fort De Nogent.
Follow the grooming standards without hesitation. You are going to shave everyday. You will shower everyday for 1-2 minutes. You wash your face, then your armpits, then your balls, then your ass.
Get out - they keep track of anyone taking extra time. You will be kicked out.
Fort de Nogent : this is the French version of MEPs. They are evaluating your medical readiness for military service to France.
You’ll go through hearing test, vision test, blood pressure check, measure your heart with electrodes, height, weight - a standard sports physical and checking for hernia.
A lot of guys are told to get a tooth pulled, or go get their heart checked, or are sent home because they have no business being in (some type of existing medical condition). More than likely you’ll be sent to a medical hospital in Northern Paris ( Persi Medical Center) French Naval Hospital. This stand is what the 200-300 euro is for. Run it in one day and try to get back to base before dinner so you can get a bite to eat.
It is extremely important you use basic French greetings: Bojour Mont Nurse or Mont Doctor Colonel / General.
Merci Bocue Mont Nurse or Mont Doctor Colonel / General.
Before any interaction and after any interaction.
They are going pay attention to how you eat, behave in the mess hall, can you do menial labor like moving furniture for “work duty”.
Same thing - Bojour Caporal Chef or Sergeant during corvei le chamber, or working outside.
When Le responsab needs volunteers - you are the first to raise your hand. You will clean toilets, the floor, take the trash out and be watched the entire time.
At the Mess hall - this is best part of selection. Food! Again say Merci bocue Caporal Chef - say it so they can hear you.
Once you get through pre-selection , you’re on the way to Selection in Aubagne.
Be prepared for culture shock about how different it is in Aubagne. Barely anything is in working condition. It’s harsh there.
Same rules - you are being picked. You will do manual labor, you will run a leaf blower, carry wood, work on the Generals mansion. (I hung drapes with a Caporal)
Everyone kind of bunches up and getting from Au Blu to Au Rouge is a huge deal.
Most guys washout and go home 1 week into Au blu. Stay with your pack, and gut it out. It’s 2 weeks of bs and then you’re a Legionaire.
Once you’re Au Rouge / they contract you and you’re in. Get through the Farm and go to the best regiment you can get into.
Some guys don’t like the 2REP - I personally would not go anywhere else bc of the option to join the GCP and if Corsica isn’t your jam - go to another Regiment.
I’d go back, but am too old and was declared inept idefinitive. I was casually known as Le American.
There is a way in after the age cut off - only 2 men at 40 did it, and 1 man who was 41.
I may make a second run at it.
Good luck to you all.
Hello -
I am an American who went to Fort de Nogent, and Aubagne.
I went through preselection and selection.
Ask me anything.
Starting over in the SF Bay Area.
Family lawsuit was essentially a bitter 20 year divorce btw me, my mom, brother, uncle, aunt, 4 cousins…. It was a living hell for 5 years and ~ $300,000k in legal / cost of living.
It’s not much guys, but it’s enough to start over with my last $8,000 bucks.
I do not wish this on anyone.
Hang in there guys.
Better times are ahead.
I’ve worked in sales for 20years. Off and on.
I’m now at an age where I face age discrimination for startup roles because I am a career BDR.
I’ve worked at companies where they hand the inbounds to favorites, fire the non favorites, revolving doors, leadership gaslighting reps, orgs where 5 of 100 ppl hit (they fire everyone else), retaliatory sales leaders with coke habits…
I’ve seen 3-4 ppl my entire career be promoted from BDR to AE.
I do not understand why being a BDR is considered such a dogshit role.
Unless you go to Anthropic or Uber when it’s an experimental lab that doesn’t have a commercial usecase, your odds for promotion are slim to none.
I’ve hit my numbers my entire career, missed a couple times (they stopped giving me inbounds). Fired for missing my number 1-2 times and I’ve hit a glass ceiling.
If you’re in Tech and you identify with this post, consider other careers.
Don’t waste 10 yrs of your life on a career that doesn’t become more valuable over time after time in seat, experience, and sector knowledge.
The market is never going to promote you.