I've been playing poker for as long as I can remember. Started with a $5 tournament during the Super Bowl when I was like 10 and have been hooked ever since. Played online underaged using my brother's name, mostly 25-100nl but tournaments as well and pulled off a few impressive cashouts.

My main game is PLO, and I love everything about it. Doyle Brunson says Hold 'Em is the Cadilac of poker, and that's probably true. But Omaha is the Ferrari. I've done extremely well with it, despite only playing in spurts when I'm on leave and only just turning 21 (up until now I've only played at a local cardroom near my hometown; I won roughly $20k last year, and that was only during major holidays when I was able to go home---not intended to be a brag, just throwing it out there).

But I'm in a situation in which poker is almost nonexistant from my life, because I'm a cadet at West Point. And for those of you that don't know much about the United States Military Academy, it's a ****ing prison. I get up at 0500 and don't stop moving until 2300 most nights, am rarely able to leave on weekends, and have to spend more time studying and dealing with bull**** regs than sleeping.

I'm getting ready to start my 3rd year here. This Sunday, I will be required to sign a piece of paper stating that I will be finishing West Point out, and that I agree to serve 8 years in the Army upon graduating and commisioning.

I've been a long, long time follower of 2+2, but only recently have I started making posts. So, I now come to you studs of BBV with open ears, and to listen.

Give me your thoughts. If I decide to stick this thing out and continue down this road, how do you recommend I continue to hone my skills as a poker player given my limited playing time and inability to play online (huge no-go here)? What nearby poker rooms/casinos do you suggest I venture to when I do find the opportunity to escape this ****ing cell? Etc.

And, maybe most importantly, do I sign that paper? I'm 98% sure I will. Yet, I'm 21 now, and just like any 21 year old poker player I too have dreams of moving to Canada to try to become the next Durrr, or taking my shot at playing for a living. I've already missed out on a **** ton of stuff my friends elsewhere have been doing, and I envy their freedom, and I envy those of you who can choose to play at your leisure, instead of drooling over forums and youtube videos like I have for years now.

I don't know about you, but I can understand that there are things in life that are more important than poker. I was in the 5th grade when 9/11 happened, and not a day has passed in which I haven't had the urge to riddle an insurgent **** with bullets from my M4. I would rather get deployed to Afghanistan than get staked in every event at the 2013 WSOP. But the thing is, I don't have to stay here and agree to serve 8 years afterwards---I can leave, enlist (which I nearly did, and maybe should have, after high school), and sign a 3 year contract, and do what I feel I need to do, which is much more appealing than signing away the next decade of my life.

I'm all ears. Make fun of me. Give me pointers. Throw some advice my way. Voice your opinion.

Thanks.

move out of the country and don't look back.

F--- the US.

The US sucks man.

pics of m4 or u will never be good at poker.

Commissioned officer in the us military or busto poker player hmmm...

Stay in the US Army bro. You can retire earlier than anyone else, and your kids will have their education paid. You can always play your fellow officers and take their commission(they'll probably be ****ty also) and get your poker fix.

Stay in the Army.

I thought the idea was to move to Canada to avoid the army, not sign up and then move there.

Wow the thought process of officers in the military never ceases to amaze me. I'm on the enlisted side of the usmc and I can say without a doubt you should stay in. You'll fit in very nicely.

Easy killer. I was enlisted for a year too. You think you can do it, go green to gold. Truth is you probably have the IQ of a ****ing ant but have convinced yourself otherwise, but hey, what do I know?

100% go with the 3 years over the 8.

My friend goes to West Point and is in the same year as you. He doesn't complain much (obviously sometimes, relatively short summer vacations, harder physically than other colleges). Hell he tried super hard to get in that school, it was his first choice and everything.

Free education (of course you pay with your sweat and tears), set up for a job, will get a title after graduating, life's not that bad OP. Just because you can't live the variance filled life of a poker player? I've had those aspirations to move to Canada and play poker all day too OP, but I stay in college. Get a good paying job, and have a fund for poker later in life as a hobby. Go to the WSOP and not worry about going busto and losing your life savings. Play and have fun. Turning pro has its own stresses, and once you leave on that path, you can't just decide to go back to your old life.

Appreciate what you have, you'll be much happier

(of course if you go pro I'll support you, but just trying to look after you OP)

Why would you want to defend a country that doesn't even let you play online poker?

Move up to where the respect your salutes.