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Just wondering how many ex or currently serving Military people we have here. I know of 3 from ASVS, but how many more are there. I'm not asking for units or anything that might compromise security, just what branch of the service you were/are in?

To start off I was British Army (infantry) 1989 - 1999. Volunteer, not conscript (thought I'd add that for those here that were conscripts - Britain has a 100% volunteer Armed Forces)

There's you, CmrWilkens, jegs2 ... who else is there?

Not me personally, but three family members and two friends currently and formerly in various branches of the US armed forces.

U.S. Navy 1988-1994, Electronic Warfare Technician

Dargos was in the Gulf War I believe.

AdmiralKanos wrote:There's you, CmrWilkens, jegs2 ... who else is there?

HisDivineShadow (conscript), and Knifes has alluded to it in the Physical Violence thread. I just keep seeing people talking about thier military trining and wondering what branch they were in.

TrailerParkJawa wrote:Dargos was in the Gulf War I believe.

I take it he's moved to Germany recently then?

Tsyroc wrote:U.S. Navy 1988-1994, Electronic Warfare Technician

Another Navy man to join Matt hyde (who i forgot to list not 5 minutes ago - D'OH!)

My dad was a marine rifleman in 'nam....
Not that anyone cares, im just glad to have him in one piece.

Rob Wilson wrote:

TrailerParkJawa wrote:Dargos was in the Gulf War I believe.

I take it he's moved to Germany recently then?

Germany did send support troops.

OK, here's how my family/friends line up:

Father: National Guard
Uncle #1: US Army (ret.)
Uncle #2: US Navy (ret.)
Grandfather: US Army (ret.)

Friend #1: SEAL (in training)
Friend #2: Air Force (in training)
Friend #3: USMC
Friend #4: US Army (in training)

You know, now that I look at it, there's quite a bit of people I know who've served/are serving.

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:

Rob Wilson wrote:

TrailerParkJawa wrote:Dargos was in the Gulf War I believe.

I take it he's moved to Germany recently then?

Germany did send support troops.

200 or it might have been 300 man Chemical warfare unit with a bunch of NBC recon Fox's.

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:

Rob Wilson wrote:

TrailerParkJawa wrote:Dargos was in the Gulf War I believe.

I take it he's moved to Germany recently then?

Germany did send support troops.

Good point.

My dad was a mechanic in the Navy during the Vietnam era. However, he was in the Atlantic the whole time. He worked on a submarine tender. Im glad to have him in one piece too. When I look at his Navy id, he and I look so much alike at that age.

Also, one of my best friends is currently in the USMCR. He has been in since 90. He was activated for the first Gulf War and spent the time in Yuma, AZ. This time he might go to Iraq or he could sit at the unit and answer the phones. It is unclear since he is between MOS' at the moment.

IG-88E wrote:OK, here's how my family/friends line up:

Father: National Guard
Uncle #1: US Army (ret.)
Uncle #2: US Navy (ret.)
Grandfather: US Army (ret.)

Friend #1: SEAL (in training)
Friend #2: Air Force (in training)
Friend #3: USMC
Friend #4: US Army (in training)

You know, now that I look at it, there's quite a bit of people I know who've served/are serving.

Militaries a popular career choice in the US post September 11th. Though Friend #1 must have been military before then to get a shot at the SEAL's.

My father was a gunner on DD-629 USS Abbot during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

My grandfather was a medic during WWII in the Pacific. I think he went ashore at Guadalcanal. He and my grandmother lived in Australia, Hawaii, Midway (IIRC) and other places.

My uncle was in the Navy too and was an expert on small boats. Only one in my family to go to Antarctica.

I think one or two of my aunts were telephone/radio operators.

U.S.Army, Jan '95 to Jun '97. Mechanic.

Amusing times...

Militaries a popular career choice in the US post September 11th. Though Friend #1 must have been military before then to get a shot at the SEAL's.

The bad economy probably helps too. Im at the age where if they are still in the military ( my friends ) they are going for the career. Most of the people who joined right after high school have long since left to pursue civilian careers.

TrailerParkJawa wrote:

Militaries a popular career choice in the US post September 11th. Though Friend #1 must have been military before then to get a shot at the SEAL's.

The bad economy probably helps too. Im at the age where if they are still in the military ( my friends ) they are going for the career. Most of the people who joined right after high school have long since left to pursue civilian careers.

Or to just get the hell out.

TrailerParkJawa wrote:

Militaries a popular career choice in the US post September 11th. Though Friend #1 must have been military before then to get a shot at the SEAL's.

The bad economy probably helps too. Im at the age where if they are still in the military ( my friends ) they are going for the career. Most of the people who joined right after high school have long since left to pursue civilian careers.

I hope they got a vocation in the Forces (get paid to learn a trade ), otherwise all they learnt was how to settle disputes with their bosses real quick.

Or to just get the hell out

Im usually pretty curious when I meet someone who was in the military, I ask them if they liked it. Id say 60-70% always say no. One of my co-workers was in the Navy for 6 years and absolutely hated it. For many reasons I can understand, crappy food, cramped conditions on ship, low pay, etc.

However, compared to my mom's cooking. Id eat military food anyday.

TrailerParkJawa wrote:

Or to just get the hell out

Im usually pretty curious when I meet someone who was in the military, I ask them if they liked it. Id say 60-70% always say no. One of my co-workers was in the Navy for 6 years and absolutely hated it. For many reasons I can understand, crappy food, cramped conditions on ship, low pay, etc.

I really enjoyed my time while I was serving. Now I just look on it as an experience, then it was the only thing that mattered. I know it's not for everyone (some personalities just don't fit into a military shaped life) and for some it's very different to what they envisioned so they go through the whole thing hating every minute. Horses for courses.

Rob Wilson wrote: I hope they got a vocation in the Forces (get paid to learn a trade ), otherwise all they learnt was how to settle disputes with their bosses real quick.

A lot of jobs don't necessarilly translate directly to civilian jobs. With mine there was the basic electronics training but none of the equipment I worked on was used by anyone but the military. I knew a few people who went to work for Raytheon working as tech reps otherwise the usuable training from the Navy was basic general electronics.

The military is also under time and money constraints so they are primarilly interested in teaching you enough to do the job they want to do. From a basics standpoint I was crap as a tech. I was halfway decent in troubleshooting but only because I knew my equipment not because I understooded it like the really good techs.

I was much better operating the equipment. So if you know anyone who wants me identify incoming missile radars and jam the crap out of them just let me know.

My great-grandfather was Army Air Force between the Wars. My grandfather was part of the occupation force in Germany after WWII, with the Eighth Infantry (Pathfinder Division) in Neurengamme. My uncle was with the JAG, now works as a civilian consultant to the Pentagon. My cousin was a minesweeper in the Gulf War, now retired and working as a web page designer in Berlin. My three best friends and I all are working towards entering the Air Force. One is at the Academy, one in ROTC, one enlisted, and I'm working through to become a chaplain.

Rob Wilson wrote:

TrailerParkJawa wrote:

Or to just get the hell out

Im usually pretty curious when I meet someone who was in the military, I ask them if they liked it. Id say 60-70% always say no. One of my co-workers was in the Navy for 6 years and absolutely hated it. For many reasons I can understand, crappy food, cramped conditions on ship, low pay, etc.

I really enjoyed my time while I was serving. Now I just look on it as an experience, then it was the only thing that mattered. I know it's not for everyone (some personalities just don't fit into a military shaped life) and for some it's very different to what they envisioned so they go through the whole thing hating every minute. Horses for courses.

I liked it as an experience and nothing more. I knew I was there to get what I wanted and to then get the hell out. In that regard I had some interesting times.
If I could turn back the clock and do it again I would do so at the drop of a hat. Can't beat the 2 years I spent in Germany.