Звездный десант

           NaturallyIlistedalloftheSpaceNavyjobs(otherthanpilot)atthetop;whetherIwentaspower-roomtechnicianorascook,IknewthatIpreferredanyNavyjobtoanyArmyjob—Iwantedtotravel.

           NextIlistedIntelligence—aspygetsaround,too,andIfiguredthatitcouldn’tpossiblybedull.(Iwaswrong,butnevermind.)Afterthatcamealonglist:psychologicalwarfare,chemicalwarfare,biologicalwarfare,combatecology(Ididn’tknowwhatitwas,butitsoundedinteresting),logisticscorps(asimplemistake;Ihadstudiedlogicforthedebateteamand"logistics"turnsouttohavetwoentirelyseparatemeanings),andadozenothers.Clearatthebottom,withsomehesitation,IputK-9Corps,andInfantry.

           Ididn’tbothertolistthevariousnon-combatantauxiliarycorpsbecause,ifIwasn’tpickedforacombatcorps,Ididn’tcarewhethertheyusedmeasanexperimentalanimalorsentmeasalaborerintheTerranizingofVenus—eitheronewasaboobyprize.

           Mr.Weiss,theplacementofficer,sentformeaweekafterIwasswornin.Hewasactuallyaretiredpsychological-warfaremajor,onactivedutyforprocurement,butheworemuftiandinsistedonbeingcalledjust"Mister"andyoucouldrelaxandtakeiteasywithhim.