You are (re)called to volunteer for active duty. YES/NO to GO?

[Quartus]

I'll go against the grain. My answer is NO. I almost got a free funeral in 1991 over there, I don't feel like pushing my luck by going back into the infantry. Plus, I can do a whole lot more now that I am an RN if I just go work at the VA hospital.

You did your time, you served your country. You have every right to decline to lay your life on the line again, and the only thing you'll hear coming from this corner is, "Thanks for serving!"

 

[Battlespace]

I am a 54 YO male with 25 years of military service and now a civil servant. I would have no problem with being recalled, however my civil service job is classified critical by DoD so I doubt if I would get recalled. I already have a mobility agreement as part of my emplyment conditions so I can end up where ever Uncle Sugar decides my skills and talents are needed. Right now that is in the midwest US of A.

 

[telewinz]

At 51 and fat I guess I would serve best as a General. I'm sitting at my phone waiting for the call....still waiting...waiting...still waiting....I gotta go pee.

BTW; I did 6 years and enjoyed 90% of my time.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Yep.

 

[Firethorn]

Moparmike:

* Bad eyesight. Nearsighted, lenses measure -4.25 on each side.

They'd still take you. I'm -7.x in each eye, so you're eagle-eyed compared to me. I'm not even elgible for laser surgery, because I'm an excellent candidate for messed up night vision and artifacts if they do. The civies would have done it I was told, but then I'd be out of the military.

 

[RED-DOG 40]

In a heartbeat....retired/disability ,as they call it in `89. Three back surgeries from t-3 through s-1, one open heart by-pass(widow maker artery) and I am still going strong. Got disipline and the heart(no pun intended) to do it. Intended to be a lifer ,had my extended leave, ready to resume with a vengence.... ...

 

[Kharn]

Since the Romans, citizens have been expected to put down their plows and take up arms to fight for the Republic. It is still the same today, I would go without hesitation.

They might have to put me in the fattie platoon for a while so I could get better at running (it takes 16 minutes to travel a mile at my fastest pace even though I'm otherwise reasonably fit), but I've got nothing else holding me back (22yo single guy graduating from college in May).

Kharn

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

GO!

The only thing holding me back is my lack of a HS diploma (17 y/o and I graduate in a year).

 

[stevelyn]

Yep. You betcha. 40 years old and still going in breaking up bar fights and chasing bears into the alders in the dark. I would be hesitant to join with the regular military again. Gummint stupidity really tests my patience these days and I'm not inclined to put up with typical Army BS as I was in my younger days.
However I'm fully open to hooking up with some of the private contractors and I'm intrigued by the idea of a group of modern-day rowdies like TR's Rough Riders.

 

[tailgunner]

In a heartbeat if they would take away the half of my retired pay my ex-wife gets, even if they gave it to The Home for Orphan Boys where no religion of any sort is taught!

 

[Lennyjoe]

Absolutely, even after I retire from the Air Force.

Its my way of life.

Even if those out there dont want to go back in the military there is a whole lot of things you can do to support them.

Volunteer to help their families out while they are gone, help out in your community when those that are "able" depart to the war front and support the military.

Most of all though, thank a military man for his service when you see him.

Every time I hear someone thank me, it makes it worth serving that much more.

 

[seeker_two]

If things are desperate enough that they need to draft ME, then we've lost already...

I'd be willing to help, but I don't think I'd be much use. I'm the type of guy who'd have cut Capt. Sobel's drag line on our first parachute jump in Band of Brothers .

Maybe if the other side drafted me, America would win easy...

 

[Politically Incorrect]

We'd really be in trouble if they needed me. Can't run, cannot carry anything too heavy. Right now, I'm resting from arthoscopy knee surgery. I'd go, but what could I do?

 

[CarlS]

I turn 60 this year and am a retired Army senior NCO. Being in the Retired Reserve, I am subject to recall and I would go willingly.

 

[RED-DOG 40]

..quote:
..."We'd really be in trouble if they needed me. Can't run, cannot carry anything too heavy. Right now, I'm resting from arthoscopy knee surgery. I'd go, but what could I do?"

.....P-I, there is a ton of things to do. The knee will heal, and if you have it ,Desire/commitment, you can do any thing you set your mind to.

 

[Cougar]

Still Willing to Serve My Country

I am a former USAF academy nominee that was screwed over by genetics - bad eyesight, and bad timing - the years right after Viet Nam when the military was downsizing. I really wanted to serve.

I'd bet I could still serve in some capacity. How 'bout with a .300WM M-24??? Reach out and touch someone!!!

 

[Chuck Jennings]

A few dozen varmint hunters with their personal rigs would be devastating and demoralizing to the enemy.

 

[cheygriz]

Active duty 1961-1965
Reserve 1965-1967
Honorable Discharge 1967

I'm 60 years old. Enlarged heart, gout and diabetes. Would I go if they allowed me to? YOU'RE DAMNED RIGHT I WOULD!!!

Maybe all I could do would be to pull KP, perimeter guard duty and clean barracks and latrines. But if that would free up a younger healthier man to do a more important job, I would do it, and be damn proud to serve my country again!

And if I died serving my country, whether from battle wounds or a heart attack, that would be far better than dying in a hospital bed.

 

[PATH]

Geez Louise! It sounds like a whole bunch of us need to push away from the table and start engaging in some serious PT. Older fellas can drive trucks, push paper, and a whole host of other duties freeing up the younger folks. Bottom line is that everyone should still be proficient with a rifle!

 

[Art Eatman]

Back when I was young and healthy and physically competent, the Army used me as a typewriter jockey.

At near-70, I obviously can still type. And, obviously, I understand a little bit about computers.

Same for all you guys who've listed various less-than-perfect physiques. Overall, our military has some eight to ten folks in support for every guy out there at the sharp end--so most anybody can be of good use to a grunt.

, Art

 

[Joe Demko]

I already served once, and was honorably discharged twenty years ago. I have enough doubts about the present situation and its C-in-C that I must say no. I'm not a member of the World Police Force, either.

 

[AZLibertarian]

...like it not, acknowledge it or not, we are in the opening phase of a multi-generational, culturally-based war between the Western Judaic/Christian democracies and the Middle Eastern Islamic theocracies (in essence, the Crusades, Part II). We either annihilate this enemy now, or we await his development of significant weapons of mass destruction. My children, and especially my grandchildren, may not survive that option.

RWK, you hit the nail on the head. With your permission, I'd like to copy this and use it elsewhere. As much as many/most of us in a secular society hate to think about it, we are very much in a religious war.

I am 47, about 30 pounds overweight, and like most middle-aged folks, things are starting to happen with my body. Quite honestly, I wasn't the best specimen back in my best days.

But if they asked, I would go back in a heartbeat. There is too much at stake, IMO.

 

[4v50 Gary]

First, I've never been in the service. However, if called, I wouldn't want to go. But like the Spartiates, "in obedience to their laws," I'd go. They'd make me a REMF/Canteen Commando in some sort of PoW camp. While not having any Scottish in my blood line, I'd use the time to learn to play the bagpipes so I could serenade the PoWs.

 

[morganm01]

I am the one that signed on the dotted line. I go.

 

[RWK]

AZLibertarian . . .

You certainly may use my post. Further, you may wish to review my post (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53259&highlight=japan), which provide additional depth and facts.