Are you a veteran?
- Thread starter chrlefxtrt
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chaim
Member
I have to utmost respect for those of you who have served, and more than a bit of envy...
I signed up for the Army Reserves while a senior in high school. I planned on serving in the Reserves through college and then going Active as an Officer and I hoped for 20-30 years. Back then, joining while in high school let me go to drills before I went to training. Went to Ft. Jackson SC for BCT but a bad ankle got me kicked out at the end of basic. So, my planned 20-30 year career ended up being 7 or 8 months of drills and all of basic training (they decided what to do the last day of BCT), or about 11 months combined. Man plans, G-d laughs.
I signed up for the Army Reserves while a senior in high school. I planned on serving in the Reserves through college and then going Active as an Officer and I hoped for 20-30 years. Back then, joining while in high school let me go to drills before I went to training. Went to Ft. Jackson SC for BCT but a bad ankle got me kicked out at the end of basic. So, my planned 20-30 year career ended up being 7 or 8 months of drills and all of basic training (they decided what to do the last day of BCT), or about 11 months combined. Man plans, G-d laughs.
macFarlaine
Member
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2007
- Messages
- 422
Royal Marines UK,
Falklands,Bosnia,Sierra Leon,now retired....
Falklands,Bosnia,Sierra Leon,now retired....
oldsoldier
Member
I was in airborne. I haven't even told my family everything I did, I don't think they would understand.
silverking
Member
U.S. Navy 1960- 1964 Aviation Ordnance
USS Ranger
USS Ticonderoga
USS Lexington
Retired the Demons--Christened the Phantoms
Thank you brothers and sisters.
USS Ranger
USS Ticonderoga
USS Lexington
Retired the Demons--Christened the Phantoms
Thank you brothers and sisters.
lasertech
Member
US Army 1984 - 1992
13B and then reenlisted for 45G.
13B and then reenlisted for 45G.
Oohrah
Member
Recon USMC 57-65 Oohrah
jobu07
Contributing Member
11A still serving.
RoadkingLarry
Member
Looks like I'm the first bubblehead to chime in.
USN Submarine Service 1980-1992, ET1/SS. Fast Attack Tough. USS Haddo (SSN 604), USS Flying Fish (SSN 673) and a tour as an instructor in Groton at Subschool in between
Made deployments to the WESTPAC, the Med and way up north where it gets really freaking cold and stays that way.
Wouldn't have missed it for the world, wouldn't do it again for all the tea in China.
USN Submarine Service 1980-1992, ET1/SS. Fast Attack Tough. USS Haddo (SSN 604), USS Flying Fish (SSN 673) and a tour as an instructor in Groton at Subschool in between
Made deployments to the WESTPAC, the Med and way up north where it gets really freaking cold and stays that way.
Wouldn't have missed it for the world, wouldn't do it again for all the tea in China.
Karma
Member
Navy 1980-87
Cruises on the America and Coral Sea, dets on the Enterprise, Kittyhawk, and Constellation
Coast Guard 1989-2002
Mostly unremarkable apart from some time spent in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea aboard the USCGC Ironwood out of Kodiak, AK.
Cruises on the America and Coral Sea, dets on the Enterprise, Kittyhawk, and Constellation
Coast Guard 1989-2002
Mostly unremarkable apart from some time spent in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea aboard the USCGC Ironwood out of Kodiak, AK.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Draft Dodger
I cleverly dodged the draft by joining the USAF.
1968 - 1972.
Keesler, England, Germany, Greece
Radio Electronics (304x0).
Worked on microwave radio and the stuff that connects to it.
I cleverly dodged the draft by joining the USAF.
1968 - 1972.
Keesler, England, Germany, Greece
Radio Electronics (304x0).
Worked on microwave radio and the stuff that connects to it.
Served as a US Navy Seabee from 1972 to 1976. I was a Utilitiesman, meaning a pipefitter. I worked in water treatment. Also worked on boilers and in fueling operations. Wintered over at McMurdo Station, Antarctica in 1974, hence my screen name here, OAE(Old Antarctic Explorer). I really enjoyed serving in the Seabees.
US Army 28 years 11 months.
Infantry 21 years 11B4HQ8
FA almost 7 (not by choice) 13B5m last DMOS
Jeff
Infantry 21 years 11B4HQ8
FA almost 7 (not by choice) 13B5m last DMOS
Jeff
Picknlittle
Member
Dan the Man
Member
Great Video 
United States Army 1981-1984. 1/325 Airborne Infantry, 82d Airborne Division. MOS 11B.
Regards to everyone!
--Dan
United States Army 1981-1984. 1/325 Airborne Infantry, 82d Airborne Division. MOS 11B.
Regards to everyone!
--Dan
Dave in PA
Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2006
- Messages
- 120
I checked Army....
but it was Reserves. Enlisted as 13B, spent 17 weeks and three days at Ft Sill to come home to a closing unit. Reclassed as 95B for the rest of my enlistment. I received my Honorable Discharge dated August 22, 2001 with mixed emotions coming three weeks later.
My wife later confided to me that she expected me to come home from the recruiter saying I was going back in. Truth be told, I did call and speak to one. (shhhhh, she doesn't know that)
but it was Reserves. Enlisted as 13B, spent 17 weeks and three days at Ft Sill to come home to a closing unit. Reclassed as 95B for the rest of my enlistment. I received my Honorable Discharge dated August 22, 2001 with mixed emotions coming three weeks later.
My wife later confided to me that she expected me to come home from the recruiter saying I was going back in. Truth be told, I did call and speak to one. (shhhhh, she doesn't know that)
AStone
Member
So far in this thread, I seem to be odd man out as the only (at least one of the only) one who hasn't served. Yet, I know - or suspect - that there are many others on THR that haven't. I'd be curious to know what proportion of members have served in the armed services.
Again I say, I honor and respect those who have served, and thank them for their duty.
But I'll hasten to add that I'm not "ashamed" that I didn't. When my draft call came, I was dealing with some fairly serious health issues (long since thankfully have healed from that). Unk Sam said, "Well, thanks for coming down, but no, we don't want you."
So, I went back to school, and stayed there for a long, long time.
I'd like to think that I've served my country well with what I've done, even if clearly not to the same level that veterans have (especially those that have been injured). I'm a college level educator. I've taught a LOT of vets in my classes, and generally find them to be a cut above in terms of intelligence and - importantly - drive. When they make up their minds they're going to succeed, they succeed. There's no stopping them.
Also, a few nights ago, I watched the first part of a PBS program called "The Marines". Yes, PBS. I haven't seen the entire show yet. I watched the first part during my dinner break at work, but it ended before the show did. I know it'll play again, though, and I want to watch the entire program.
What I saw of it cast the Marines in an extremely good light. There was NO criticism of war, or fighting, or anything. The marines mostly told their own stories.
Just the hour or so that I saw increased my appreciation of all military personnel greatly, and of course, especially the Marines.
I have a better understanding now of their motto, Semper fidelis. Of course, I can't know it as they know it. But at least I understand more now about what the statement conveys.
I highly recommend watching it.
Nem
Again I say, I honor and respect those who have served, and thank them for their duty.
But I'll hasten to add that I'm not "ashamed" that I didn't. When my draft call came, I was dealing with some fairly serious health issues (long since thankfully have healed from that). Unk Sam said, "Well, thanks for coming down, but no, we don't want you."
So, I went back to school, and stayed there for a long, long time.
I'd like to think that I've served my country well with what I've done, even if clearly not to the same level that veterans have (especially those that have been injured). I'm a college level educator. I've taught a LOT of vets in my classes, and generally find them to be a cut above in terms of intelligence and - importantly - drive. When they make up their minds they're going to succeed, they succeed. There's no stopping them.
Also, a few nights ago, I watched the first part of a PBS program called "The Marines". Yes, PBS. I haven't seen the entire show yet. I watched the first part during my dinner break at work, but it ended before the show did. I know it'll play again, though, and I want to watch the entire program.
What I saw of it cast the Marines in an extremely good light. There was NO criticism of war, or fighting, or anything. The marines mostly told their own stories.
Just the hour or so that I saw increased my appreciation of all military personnel greatly, and of course, especially the Marines.
I have a better understanding now of their motto, Semper fidelis. Of course, I can't know it as they know it. But at least I understand more now about what the statement conveys.
I highly recommend watching it.
Nem
Hud
Member
USAF '66-'70
SSgt.
Jet Engine Test Cell (43270)
SAC
93rd Bomb Wing(H), Castle AFB, CA.
376th Strategic Wing, Kadena AB, Okinawa.
Tested engines for B-52's, KC135's, & F106's.
To those that did not serve "in uniform", I thank all of you who supported us & currently support out troops.
Hud
SSgt.
Jet Engine Test Cell (43270)
SAC
93rd Bomb Wing(H), Castle AFB, CA.
376th Strategic Wing, Kadena AB, Okinawa.
Tested engines for B-52's, KC135's, & F106's.
To those that did not serve "in uniform", I thank all of you who supported us & currently support out troops.
Hud
TOADMAN
Member
US Navy Retired
30 years active from 1970 to 2000.
30 years active from 1970 to 2000.
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