... I've thought twice and more. The adjustment will be severe but not impossible. I can handle a guy almost half my age treating me like trash--mentally it will be alright.
DOn't worry, you won't be treated like trash. It's not like the movies, it's not basic training your entire time in the Army. If you have good NCOs, without inferiority complexes, you won't be abused. If you're on the ball, the last time you're treated "like trash" is when you leave OSUT and Ft KNox behind. But...here's a big but...it IS a severe nanny-state for the junior enlisted. Expected to bear the burden of other knuckleheads. Keep your nose clean, you'll be okay. But as everyone has chimed in, there's a tendency for "privileges" to be taken away when your buddy abuses it (even if that buddy is in another squadron/battalion). Room inspections, drug tests, motorcycle safety, safety lectures, etc. As someone has said, you'll be treated like a 15 year old...all because your buddy acts like one. And truthfully, it IS B-S. But the Army likes to "protect" its soldiers. They'll be upgrading our IBAs to full Bear-Fighting Bomb Suits someday...and give us laser ray guns that have to be keyed by commanders...and have automatic butt wiping mechanisms...and hand cleaning dysentery sanitizers...and UV eye protectors...and blister preventers...
Oh, and expect a lot of old jokes. It means they like you! YOu'd be in trouble if you didn't get them.
Regarding
on-the-job range time, In case i wasn't clear, or if other posts have diluted the message... As a gun enthusiast you won't get enough. And the Army has a tendency to take all of the fun out of it. If you're not firing machine guns or 120, I can guarantee it's maddeningly lame to shoot in the Army, at pink circles, yellow triagles, dummies, etc. Again, I'm in a line combined arms battalion in a cavalry regiment. I could very well be your Platoon Leader when you're a qualified Scout. I have a crystal ball to your future
I'm not speaking as a Army fuel specialist, Air Force security guy, or Marine retiree...I'm speaking from the Cav.
Off duty free time is what you make of it. YOu won't feel you have enough...but really, as a jr enlisted you won't have the same responsibilities as your NCOs. Provided you're a good soldier, you'll only be pulled in when the rest of the Troop/company is. As I said, it's a 9-to-5 with caveats. Like 15 month ones in Southwest Asia...
Lastly, it takes a special kind of masochist to seek to be scout (or tanker or infantryman). You'll feel the "pogues" got it better. And they honestly do. While the constant cool, jaded, tough routine will be all over the place, deep down, the solidarity and pride is unlike in any other job in the military. In a line platoon in a CAB, you're the tip of the spear...don't let the constant BS remarks we all say get into your soul...griping, bitching and complaining is job #1 as a soldier.