US Military Service

[nellanaesp]

Has anyone on the site served or plan to serve in a branch of the military? There are a few that I know of. I'm just curious.

I, myself, am in the DEP for the Air Force. I leave March 11, and my job is Airborne Flight Communications Systems Apprentice. (If anyone cares for a job description, I'd be happy to give it to you via PM)

I also found out something sweet today at the recruiting office: Part of my tech school will be Survival training. How cool is that? I get to spend a week or so in the woods and stuff.

[The Ramp]

<<<10 years Army

[crimsonnation713]

<<<10 years Army

Thanks ramp for serving America.:thumpsup::thumpsup:

And thanks to you nellanaesp for taking on the job.:thumpsup:

[Sabanocchio]

Thanks ramp for serving America.:thumpsup::thumpsup:

And thanks to you nellanaesp for taking on the job.:thumpsup:

I echo them sentiments.

[The Ramp]

Thanks ramp for serving America.:thumpsup::thumpsup:

And thanks to you nellanaesp for taking on the job.:thumpsup:

i still look back at those years and realize what the military taught me.

[woo_pig_sooie]

I plan on going to OCS for the Marine Corps this summer. Looking to go into aviation.

[The Ramp]

I plan on going to OCS for the Marine Corps this summer. Looking to go into aviation.

my nephew is flying planes for the MC now. he loves it

[nellanaesp]

Kewl! I look to get my degree while in the AF, either from the Community College or from a school i'm stationed near, then become an officer and fly planes :thumpsup: I love planes :rofl:

[nellanaesp]

Hey DDD, are you still plannin for the military?

[woo_pig_sooie]

my nephew is flying planes for the MC now. he loves it

Did he go to OCS or the Academy? What plane does he fly?

[The Ramp]

Did he go to OCS or the Academy? What plane does he fly?

he went to Quanico and he's flying cargo planes. he just finished flight school in corpus cristi and now is stationed in lejuene. he turned down med school to fly planes

[The Ramp]

Kewl! I look to get my degree while in the AF, either from the Community College or from a school i'm stationed near, then become an officer and fly planes :thumpsup: I love planes :rofl:

i used to jump outta them:laugh:

helicoptors too (well rapel..not jump)

[the Paradox]

USMC here.


RTR

[sheluvsbama]

Thanks to all of you! It is not an easy job and it is very scary! :ohmy:

[azamugg]

i used to jump outta them:laugh:

helicoptors too (well rapel..not jump)

USMC here.


RTR

man are ya'll screwed up or what

[nellanaesp]

man are ya'll screwed up or what
Hey if being screwed up is fun, i'll take it! :lol:

[D^3]

Hey DDD, are you still plannin for the military?

Yup. I'm stuck between the Navy and the Marines now. I know I'm serving... just not exactly how. Surface Warfare in the Navy appeals to me, as does Aviation of course.... mainly I'm looking for the job thats going to best give me experience valuable in the civilian world after I get out. I'd love to go special forces and specialize in blowing shit up and just general badassery, but just being a trained killer alone won't get me many corporate jobs if and when I get out of the military. I'm going to be a military officer, just don't know what I'm going to do yet.

[nellanaesp]

Yup. I'm stuck between the Navy and the Marines now. I know I'm serving... just not exactly how. Surface Warfare in the Navy appeals to me, as does Aviation of course.... mainly I'm looking for the job thats going to best give me experience valuable in the civilian world after I get out. I'd love to go special forces and specialize in blowing shit up and just general badassery, but just being a trained killer alone won't get me many corporate jobs if and when I get out of the military. I'm going to be a military officer, just don't know what I'm going to do yet.
Ya, not many CEO jobs require trained killers and degrees in badassery. :laugh: Good luck on ur decision!

[azamugg]

Hey if being screwed up is fun, i'll take it! :lol:

oh it'll be fun alright *snicker*

[usafbamafan]

Has anyone on the site served or plan to serve in a branch of the military? There are a few that I know of. I'm just curious.

I, myself, am in the DEP for the Air Force. I leave March 11, and my job is Airborne Flight Communications Systems Apprentice. (If anyone cares for a job description, I'd be happy to give it to you via PM)

I also found out something sweet today at the recruiting office: Part of my tech school will be Survival training. How cool is that? I get to spend a week or so in the woods and stuff.

I was a 3C251 (Tech Controller) in the Air Force for 6 years. I basically did long haul telecommunications and computer networking. Joining the Air Force was the best decision I ever made and the training I received was invaluable.

I never had to do the survival training, but from what I hear it's anything but fun.:ohmy:

Basic training is the first place you will go and the very beginning can be intimidating. Expect to be yelled at and doing pushups as soon as you step off the bus in San Antonio. Just remember, It's all a game. Don't take any of the drill instructors too seriously. They will yell and cuss and threaten everyone in your flight. Just keep your head down and do the things you are asked to do. Be as invisible as possible, if you stand out they will target you. Just remember, In a few years you will be the same rank as them, they are just people like you and me and all of their threats are empty.

You should probably go ahead and memorize the reporting statement as well. It looks easy, but when you have an instructor in your face screaming at you and asking you questions it can be hard to remember. Never respond to your instructors questions without using a reporting statement.
Preparing for Air Force Basic Training -- The Reporting Statement (http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/airforcejoin/a/afbasicreport.htm)

[uscrules]

I guess being the old guy on this board you need not ask did I serve in the military. Back in the sixties if your body was warm, you had to serve in the military. The only choices you had were prior to being drafted, then you could opt for what ever service branch you wanted. I chose the Navy hoping it would keep me out of Vietnam. I joined the Navy in 1966 and after basic training in San Diego I was assigned a ship heading for you guessed it Vietnam. I was aboard an aircraft carrier. My job the first tour was to build bombs and missiles, and the last two tours I was in charge of all the bomb elevators on the ship and also a member of the ordance disposal team. I held a secret clearance because of my involvement in weapons, which came in handy while flying, as you were always given a place at the head of the line. I don't recomend this work. I can't say that this experience helped me in civilian life.

[RW13]

I am currently considering the Air Force Reserve, if I don't join this year it prob won't happen ever

[BamaFanNKy]

I guess being the old guy on this board you need not ask did I serve in the military. Back in the sixties if your body was warm, you had to serve in the military. The only choices you had were prior to being drafted, then you could opt for what ever service branch you wanted. I chose the Navy hoping it would keep me out of Vietnam. I joined the Navy in 1966 and after basic training in San Diego I was assigned a ship heading for you guessed it Vietnam. I was aboard an aircraft carrier. My job the first tour was to build bombs and missiles, and the last two tours I was in charge of all the bomb elevators on the ship and also a member of the ordance disposal team. I held a secret clearance because of my involvement in weapons, which came in handy while flying, as you were always given a place at the head of the line. I don't recomend this work. I can't say that this experience helped me in civilian life.

You sound like my uncle. Chose the navy for the same reason. Next thing you know he's in southeast asia on a patrol boat. My other uncle sent me pics today from the palace he's stationed in Baghdad. This fool joined at 17 in 1975. He's turning 50 and still in it. Loves the Army and won't leave. He volunteered to go back to Iraq. He's pretty high up so he's semi-safe. He just got back there two days ago. Saw him last week when he was on R&R.

[usafbamafan]

I guess being the old guy on this board you need not ask did I serve in the military. Back in the sixties if your body was warm, you had to serve in the military. The only choices you had were prior to being drafted, then you could opt for what ever service branch you wanted. I chose the Navy hoping it would keep me out of Vietnam. I joined the Navy in 1966 and after basic training in San Diego I was assigned a ship heading for you guessed it Vietnam. I was aboard an aircraft carrier. My job the first tour was to build bombs and missiles, and the last two tours I was in charge of all the bomb elevators on the ship and also a member of the ordance disposal team. I held a secret clearance because of my involvement in weapons, which came in handy while flying, as you were always given a place at the head of the line. I don't recomend this work. I can't say that this experience helped me in civilian life.

So you seriously learned nothing in the navy that helped you in life? I find that very hard to believe. Of course, I served in a very, very different time and circumstance.

[the Paradox]

I take much quicker showers now plus I eat faster.


RTR

[scunyon]

8 years in the US Army as an Infantry soldier. Drill Sgt, Training NCO, you name it. One thing about being in the Infantry, you learned more than one job... I had to be a Mechanic, Medic, Chaplains Assistant, Armorer, yada, yada, yada.

But I had a great time, but the military has changed to be "user friendly" and I saw no more room for an "old schooler" like myself in it. If I had to do it all over again, I probably would because the life lessons that I learned are invaluable.

[uscrules]

So you seriously learned nothing in the navy that helped you in life? I find that very hard to believe. Of course, I served in a very, very different time and circumstance.I was more or less referring to the job itself. Not too many calls for people to build bombs and such. I must say that the military provided me with a lot of background for my civilian life. I was fortunate to meet a lot of interesting people, I was able to travel to places all over the world and see things I may never have seen. (Although now that I am retired I am doing a lot of traveling) My ship was stationed in San Diego and I was fortuate to be on the ships basketball team. This is the hardest team I ever made. We had 250 come out for the team. They kept only 15. The coach and I were the only white guys on the team. There were lots of fun times but a lot of bad ones. I am sure that being in the service is a lot different if you are not at war, but I never knew anything about that.

[Tator]

I served 4 years in the Army. I joined at 16 (DEP) and shipped out a month after graduating high school. I initially wanted to go Airborne Ranger or 11X-Ray, but as a few have pointed out, not all combat MOS's are compatable with a civilian line of work, so I chose to be a 31F - Mobile Systems Equipment Switching Operator. Basically I provided Battalion and Division level secure landline and radio comms. That training worked to GREAT advantage in the civilian world as I have been in communications ever since leaving the service. I recommend serving in the Armed Forces to every young person(including my three kids). It gives you a great head start in the civilian job market, not to mention giving you the honor of defending the greatest country in the world!

In fact, I'm thinking of reenlisting. It's been ten years since I ETS'd but I'm still under the age limit and have truly missed serving. I just have to convince my wife that it's a good idea!

[azamugg]

I served 4 years in the Army. I joined at 16 (DEP) and shipped out a month after graduating high school. I initially wanted to go Airborne Ranger or 11X-Ray, but as a few have pointed out, not all combat MOS's are compatable with a civilian line of work, so I chose to be a 31F - Mobile Systems Equipment Switching Operator. Basically I provided Battalion and Division level secure landline and radio comms. That training worked to GREAT advantage in the civilian world as I have been in communications ever since leaving the service. I recommend serving in the Armed Forces to every young person(including my three kids). It gives you a great head start in the civilian job market, not to mention giving you the honor of defending the greatest country in the world!

In fact, I'm thinking of reenlisting. It's been ten years since I ETS'd but I'm still under the age limit and have truly missed serving. I just have to convince my wife that it's a good idea!



were you in the field alot laying lines and setting up switchboards (probably a 31C or 31K's job) or did you work in Garrison primarily?

[Tator]

were you in the field alot laying lines and setting up switchboards (probably a 31C or 31K's job) or did you work in Garrison primarily?

Ah the field....it was like a second home. In fact, I probably spent more time in the field than I did in the barracks or motor pool. Especially when I was stationed at Ft Hood.

As far as running lines, I did that only when absolutely neccessary. Usually, I just ran my junction boxes to the Brigade or Battalion TOC that my team was supporting and their comms POC attached/ran their lines from that point. All I had to do after that was program the equipment into the switch.

Greatest part of being in the field as a 31F, was that my comms shelter had air conditioning....that and having access to a civilian land line drop. I remember ordering pizza to the site several times, when they'd ask for directions we'd just tell them what road we were near and just to look for a guy holding a few chemlights! Odd thing was, the pizza place never balked at that, apparently they'd heard those kinds of directions before.

[azamugg]

Ah the field....it was like a second home. In fact, I probably spent more time in the field than I did in the barracks or motor pool. Especially when I was stationed at Ft Hood.

As far as running lines, I did that only when absolutely neccessary. Usually, I just ran my junction boxes to the Brigade or Battalion TOC that my team was supporting and their comms POC attached/ran their lines from that point. All I had to do after that was program the equipment into the switch.

Greatest part of being in the field as a 31F, was that my comms shelter had air conditioning....that and having access to a civilian land line drop. I remember ordering pizza to the site several times, when they'd ask for directions we'd just tell them what road we were near and just to look for a guy holding a few chemlights! Odd thing was, the pizza place never balked at that, apparently they'd heard those kinds of directions before.



thats funny about the pizza.........one time in Germany on a REFORGE, I went on an advance team to set up a site for a brigade and while out there came a 4 day blizzard and road conditions delayed Brigade from coming out so we were stuck out there for 4 days eating MRE's but some Germans showed up in friggin VW's out in the boonies every day selling brats while the rest of our unit stayed in a Gym somewhere in some village!! I was a 31C primary MOS but got cross trained 93P flight coordinator for an attack helicopter unit........when commo got short I would pitch in so Ive done my share of putting up antennaes, running phone lines, sitting in a RATT but mostly I worked in Brigade HQ TOC directing flight traffic

[WarEagle73]

I joined the Army in May 1990 as a 19D Cav Scout (AKA - Speed Bump). During my time in the army I served in the 5th. Mech Inf Div in Ft. Polk (LA)& in 2nd Armor Div (Ft. Hood & Middle East). I tranferred to the Alabama Army Guard after my stint was up and served there until July 2000 when I got out for good. During this time I also picked up 19K Abrams Armor Crew Member (AKA D.A.T. - Dumb ass tanker :laugh:) I served as a tanker in the Alabama National guard's 2/152 Armor and later in 1/152 Armor (31st. Armor Bgd.). The last two or three years before getting out, I picked up my third and final MOS, 13B Cannon Crew Member with 2/117th Field Artillery. After just over 10 years in first a Bradley, then Abrams, then finally on an M109 SP howitzer my hearing is not all that good. :sad:

[GatorBait15]

My gramps was in the Air Force as a controll tower dude.

[Tator]

thats funny about the pizza.........one time in Germany on a REFORGE, I went on an advance team to set up a site for a brigade and while out there came a 4 day blizzard and road conditions delayed Brigade from coming out so we were stuck out there for 4 days eating MRE's but some Germans showed up in friggin VW's out in the boonies every day selling brats when our unit stayed in a Gym somewhere in some village!! I was a 31C primary MOS but got cross trained 93P flight coordinator for an attack helicopter unit........when commo got short I would pitch in so Ive done my share of putting up antennaes, running phone lines, sitting in a RATT but mostly I worked in Brigade HQ TOC directing flight traffic

LOL, we should enlist those guys to teach cold weather driving courses!

I used to hate putting up the sincgar's antennae, there was not a more crappy design in the entire signal corps arsenal....it was like trying to make a wet noodle stand on end.

[nellanaesp]

Wow, I had no idea there were this many miltary people at SEC talk!

[GatorBait15]

Yup. I'm stuck between the Navy and the Marines now. I know I'm serving... just not exactly how. Surface Warfare in the Navy appeals to me, as does Aviation of course.... mainly I'm looking for the job thats going to best give me experience valuable in the civilian world after I get out. I'd love to go special forces and specialize in blowing shit up and just general badassery, but just being a trained killer alone won't get me many corporate jobs if and when I get out of the military. I'm going to be a military officer, just don't know what I'm going to do yet.

easy to pick... say your name DEVILDAWGdan get it...

[GeauxTo]

82nd Airborne - 1989-91
Anyone remember the Lateral Drift Apparatus (LDA) or the Swing Landing Trainer (SLT)? The SLT is the Airborne way of teaching a proper PLF (parachute landing fall) and a great way to hang and swing like a pendulum only to be dropped suddenly into a pit of pea gravel by a sadistic Sgt. Airborne. Ha-Ha
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k108/GeauxTo/SLT_tower.jpg

[The Ramp]

82nd Airborne - 1989-91
Anyone remember the Lateral Drift Apparatus (LDA) or the Swing Landing Trainer (SLT)? The SLT is the Airborne way of teaching a proper PLF (parachute landing fall) and a great way to hang and swing like a pendulum only to be dropped suddenly into a pit of pea gravel by a sadistic Sgt. Airborne. Ha-Ha
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k108/GeauxTo/SLT_tower.jpg

been there and done that...101 Airborne 1987-1990. i guess you're my sworn enemy now Geaux LOL

[GeauxTo]

been there and done that...101 Airborne 1987-1990. i guess you're my sworn enemy now Geaux LOL

I was in the 175th Engineer Company, 30th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, 3rd Army.

Our patches:

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k108/GeauxTo/20thengbde.jpg http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k108/GeauxTo/30theng175th.jpg