Military experiences.

[donCarlos]

One question: What led you all to the decision to join the army? Does it bring some benefits for further life in the USA?

For my experience - there is none. If the compulsory 1 or 2 years service was still in effect, I would be recruited this year. Luckily, this was canceled about five years ago. And even though, the only member of our family who was in the army was my grandfather in the beggining of the 50´s. After his training as a wireless operator, he was assigned to the chemical warfare department of the generality and then he was sent to Korea as one of the UN negotiators after the war.

 

[Story]

Joseph Heller's Catch-22 is timeless, ain't it?

I remember comming to work one day and all the guards to the command post, had been changed. General Olds was the base commander and as I understand it, he had a picture of a monkey put on his ID badge. He went in and out of the command post for a week without anyone challenging him, so he had all the guards reassigned.

Dude, you owe me a new computer screen.

Army nameplates are held on by Velcro now. I have a spare with OBVIOUS on it.

No Sir, it's not pronounced that way.. it's a long 'o'.. yes Sir, it's French.

One question: What led you all to the decision to join the army? Does it bring some benefits for further life in the USA?.

Having done about 100 Commander's interviews over the last two years: Some do it for the experience, for traditions' sake or simply to serve their country.

Financial incentives draw most enlistees in whole or part, either with purely cash bonuses or college tuition reimbursement.

 

[Diamondback]

Army nameplates are held on by Velcro now. I have a spare with OBVIOUS on it.

No Sir, it's not pronounced that way.. it's a long 'o'.. yes Sir, it's French.

And you owe me a new keyboard from snorting Cherry Pepsi all over it...

 

[Story]

For the benefit of the Peanut Gallery

Timeless subversive military humor.
http://skippyslist.com/list/

Now, fess up -whose had a troop like this under their command?

 

[Foofoogal]

If the compulsory 1 or 2 years service was still in effect, I would be recruited this year.

If or what you do, always, always get it "all " in writing.

 

[Gaige]

Timeless subversive military humor.
http://skippyslist.com/list/

Now, fess up -whose had a troop like this under their command?

That is hysterical! lol

 

[Diamondback]

Now, fess up -whose had a troop like this under their command?

Well, let's just say that assuming I find a way to get commissioned, if I found Skippy in my platoon, I'd want to make him either a squad-leader or get him kicked up to Platoon Sarge--both take a little wind out of his sails, and help keep morale up from his antics!

Question still stands, but I'd like to add a corollary: anyone seen an officer-ranking equivalent "Company Clown"? (Not like a clueless Colonel Klink, I mean an officer deliberately doing Skippy-stuff...)

 

[carebear]

There are an awful lot of Marines on here.

The rest of services may use this thread to support those allegations of vanity.

 

[carebear]

One question: What led you all to the decision to join the army? Does it bring some benefits for further life in the USA?

For my experience - there is none. If the compulsory 1 or 2 years service was still in effect, I would be recruited this year. Luckily, this was canceled about five years ago. And even though, the only member of our family who was in the army was my grandfather in the beggining of the 50´s. After his training as a wireless operator, he was assigned to the chemical warfare department of the generality and then he was sent to Korea as one of the UN negotiators after the war.

I joined the service because I wanted to serve, like all of my male ancestors.

The Marines in particular because with my vision I couldn't fly and didn't have a degree so I'd be painting the ship, not driving it. So, if I was going to be using my feet, I wanted to be the baddest creature on two legs. I wanted a challenge.

I just got lucky that the only Marine unit in my state was a Recon unit. I ended up with more self-confidence than I planned for.

 

[Puyallup Lee]

I work swing shift and just got home. It's 12:30 AM and I want to relay a few more experiences I had when I was in the Air Force, before I go to bed.

I remember going back to the barracks after my shift, remember I worked graveyard, and my roommate comming in all upset. Man was he upset!! He was a Radar specalists and had a call in the Command Post that one of the Radar units was not working. He spend all night testing the equipment and everything tested OK, yet he could not get a sweep to appear on the screen. He was frustrated and at the end of his rope when day shift came on. He explained the problem and what all he had done to troubleshoot it to the technician that was comming on duty. The technician looked at the unit a minute, walked over and turned the intensity up on the screen and there was the sweep. My roommate spent the night troubleshooting a piece of equipment that was not broken.

While I was at March AFB, I was dating this girl, who later was to become my wife, and her girl friend was also dating an airman at the base. The other airman's name was Phil and he worked in the Fire Department on one of the crash trucks. One afternoon he was on duty on the flight line in his Fire Truck. He must have really been bored because he fell asleep while smoking a cigarette. He caught the truck on fire. He was OK but after his commander got through with him, then the guys took over and he never did live it down.

One more and I am going to bed. I told you in my previous post that I took care of the Crypto Equipment in the command post. While we were in Tech School, they informed us that if we went over to Viet Nam, we would never be captured. We all thought that was OK, until we found out that everyone going to Viet Nam was issued a Cyanide pill. If capture was iminite, we were instructed to take the little pill. If we refused, then our buddy would shoot us, but we would never be captured!! I don't know how many of you remember the Pueblo Incident when the North Korean's captured the intellagence ship. Only one crew member was lost and official records state he was killed by incomming fire. This crewman happened to be the Crypto Specalist. Enough said!

Well good night everyone, or should I say good morning.

Lee

 

[WH1]

There are an awful lot of Marines on here.

Once again proving that all us Gyrenes are men of style, taste and quiet, understated dignity. lol lol lol

The rest of services may use this thread to support those allegations of vanity.

What services? There's other services what like the Peace Corps?

I also joined because it was a family tradition to serve (part of being a citizen). I figured if I was going to put myself in a position to be shot at I wanted the best training possible. I think all will agree that as a service the Marine Corps offers the best "boot camp". When I was a young lad I had read Leon Uris' Battlecry and decided I wanted to be a MARINE.

The Skippy link is a good one. You always need a few like him to keep the perspective real, but god can they be a "leadership challenge", what we call a great field Marine.

My favorite was "Rockin' Rodney". His only stated purpose in the Marine Corps was to be a civilian again. Think Klinger without the dresses. Always did stuff but never bad enough to get in too much trouble. One time he showed up for a Service Alpha inspection wearing Argyle socks. The platoon commander and platoon sergeant felt it was an improvement because as the Platoon Sergeant observed "at least he is wearing socks this time, Sir!"lol

 

[Harp]

There are an awful lot of Marines on here.

The rest of services may use this thread to support those allegations of vanity.

"We once had a Marine Corps like this."
---USMC Major's comment upon reviewing US Army RANGER battalion.

 

[J.B.]

RM1, USCG 1963-1968...

Dominican Blockade 5/65
Survivor search Pan American World Airways crash 9/65, top of Chances Peak, Montserrat
Camarioca Boatlift, Cuba, 1965
Countless Search and Rescue ops for distress calls/ships/aircrafts/survivors in the Bermuda Triangle 1964/65
Companion vessel escort voyage for Cutter Eagle (ex-Horst Wessel)
Three North Atlantic Ocean Station Weather Patrols
Operation Market Time, RVN, CG Squadron Three, ("White Ghosts" to the VC), 1967-68

 

[Story]

RM1, USCG 1963-1968...

Countless Search and Rescue ops for distress calls/ships/aircrafts/survivors in the Bermuda Triangle 1964/65

So.... 100% poor seamanship/flying and/or operator error, or is there something to the tales?

 

[J.B.]

So.... 100% poor seamanship/flying and/or operator error, or is there something to the tales?

We may never know...

At age 19, I knew everything. And I was a skeptic.

I know much less today. There's a case that can be made for either position re: The Triangle, but I think the "best" answer may be Buddha's concept that it's wise to make a proper examination before committing to any belief. His advice basically was: "Do not be led by what you are told. Do not be led by whatever has been handed down from past generations. Do not be led by hearsay or common opinion. Do not be led by what the scriptures say. Do not be led by mere logic. Do not be led by mere deduction or inference. Do not be led by considering only outward appearance. Do not be led by preconceived notions. Do not be led by what seems acceptable or believable. Do not be led by what your teacher tells you is so."

BTW, one of my shipmates had been a close friend of George Sloat, the radio officer aboard the ill-fated Marine Sulphur Queen.

 

[airforceindy]

Must've Missed This One...

Cool thread for us GI types. Question: how many of you prior-service fellows still keep your watches on 24-hour time? It's funny, I can't stand to have mine on 12-hour anymore. Brainwashing, I tell you!

SSgt Andrew Worrick
USAF
19 June 2001 - Present
AFSC: 3E071, Electrical Systems Craftsman

Runs in the family...
Dad - USA, 2 tours in 'Nam, Armored (not sure of unit), separated as E-5
His Dad - USA, WW1 and 2, separated as O-3E
His Dad's Dad - USA (all the info I got)
Step-Dad - USAF, '78-'95, Power Production, early retired as E-7
Mom's Dad - USAF, '58-'65, Radio Maintenance, separated as E-4 Buck Sgt.

So far, only one tour to the AOR: A-Stan for 6 months in '04. Last summer got sent on 'vacation' to Honduras for 4.5 months. Hopefully I get Iraq the next go 'round. Everybody's been to Balad but me!

-Andy

 

[carebear]

Digital watches are and were all in 24 hour.

Saves math when you're tired.

Mostly wear watches with hands anymore, civilian-side. They can give me navigation tips.

 

[DrSpeed]

Skippy no. 25

25. Never confuse a Dutch soldier for a French one.

This is easy. Dutch, beret to the right, French, beret to the left.

Furthermore, the Dutch speak Dutch (and usually English, some German, perhaps a bit of French). The French speak French. Unless of course they're Legion, and then they can speak about anything. On second thought it's perhaps better to stick with the beret item .

 

[Story]

We may never know...
At age 19, I knew everything. And I was a skeptic.
I know much less today.

Ooooummmm...

Considering how Freak/Rogue waves ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2002/freakwave.shtml ) were considered mere Sea Lore til recently, there's probably logical explanations for the majority of incidents out there.

Cthulhu is a logical explanation, too. fftopic:

(Never had to mobilize against Godzilla, Mothra or Cloverfield/Cthulhu).

 

[carebear]

Ooooummmm...

Considering how Freak/Rogue waves ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2002/freakwave.shtml ) were considered mere Sea Lore til recently, there's probably logical explanations for the majority of incidents out there.

Cthulhu is a logical explanation, too. fftopic:

(Never had to mobilize against Godzilla, Mothra or Cloverfield/Cthulhu).

Yet....