What is Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a powerful craving for alcohol which often results in the compulsive consumption of alcohol, an addiction. The cause of this craving is heavily debated, but the most ...
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Basic Training/ Surrender
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When I joined the Air Force, basic training was the first step to being a functioning part of the military. They did not just teach us how the AF worked they forced us to work together, whether we wanted to or not. Some people held back and this earned us push ups calesthenics and extra marching time. Some people had to be convinced by the rest of us to get in line or suffer the consequences. When we all finally surrendered to the fact that we were going to do things the AF way, we started getting small rewards. When basic was over we all knew we were part of something bigger than ourselves. My AA experience has been similar, I had to surrender to certain facts about myself and quit doing things my way. Alcohol forced me into working the steps and listening to my sponsor. Before I got to the 4th step I was getting rewards for my efforts. I am finishing up my steps, I almost have a year under my belt, and I am becoming a contributing member of life again.I had to give up to be empowered.
Posted on 07/04/09, 10:07 am |
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Randy this is an awesome post......maybe as you sponsor, you should start making your sponsees do pushups when they f up! LOL! :) "Drop & gimme 20 soldier!!" hee hee... 
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I kind blew that part. The drill instructor got mad at me and I got thrown out because I couldn't stop laughing at him. Dropping acid in basic training is NOT a good idea.
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Good comparison Randy, but the AF was always the softer service lol. if anything, we were taught never to surrender. Did what we was told (sometimes), but always found resources to get our desired result. You got rewards? Damn. You get hot water?
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Randy, you always make sense to me. In AA, the way I see it, I had to go through a lot of pain to gain. The truth is often seen through paradox and one of those truths is "surrender to win." This is difficult for any spiritually unwell alcoholic who is the very definition of self-will run riot.
Having to do the things I would rather not have done at the time(like the thoroughness and honesty required when we go through the Steps) was a blessing in disguise. Alcohol was the stick that beat me into submission. Without that desperation I doubt I would have made the effort required.
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Very good connection and description - you are doing wonderful!
Thank you my friend for your service to this wonderful country. Peace adn sobriety be with you always!
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What a great comparison! We do have to change who we are-- what we do and we suffer to get to the other side which is freedom! We whine and moan about suffering through sobriety at times... cravings, etc. but the fact of the matter is that the REAL and SICK suffering was the self inflicted type when we drank.
Thanks for your service and God bless you.
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Hey Randy, that's a really cool share, I guess it might have brought things alive to some of the people on here that are struggling. I hadn't realised you were in the military!
Have a great day! Lyn
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What a GREAT analogy Randy. It's got me thinking....Here I am, 495 days alcohol free and I kinda have a sponsor, but I've not started the work yet. I think I'm not ready for me...or at least that's how I rationalize it.
YEARS ago (like 21 of them) I took the ASVAP for the AF and scored so high, they were offering me the world. I was working out every day in prep for basic training...but when the time came...I couldn't sign the papers. I didn't want to commit to something I KNEW I couldn't do. Physically, I have debilitating disabilities, and I have a real aversion to sleep deprivation and someone screaming in my face. Hmm...I'll have to take a look at the similarities now. Wow, thanks again...seriously.
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For me, an interesting parallel between the military and here is that nobody asked me what I knew or thought I could already do when I arrived. Rather, I was told what the projected result would be, how I would be taken there or "molded into it", and I was also asked whether I was willing to "submit" to the process.
However, I did not have to take any oath here, and nobody ever sent me to a Captain's Mast for skipping a day or two of "school". Rather, you folks just let me suffer in my own stuff all on my own and for just as long as I could stand it ... and that turned out to be just enough, thank you!
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Ah coogee the AF is the softer service, it's kind of like IBM but eveyone dresses the same. I did go TDY with the Navy and Army quite a bit, and got along well. Navy always had the best chow. Hot water was a luxury for sure. Glad I went in, glad I got out
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