How many (ex)servicemen

[Cpt_Frank]

Hey, Rob's back!
The circle closes.....

Still looking forward to my time serving the 'glorious' fatherland (will be in 1 year after I finish school).

[guyver]

I was in the Marine's 1992 to 1998. Held the rank of Captain in armor. I was stationed first in Germany and than my unit was transferred to South Korea.

[j1j2j3]

26 months of compulsory service in the ROK army.

Standard DMZ patrol duty, sniper duty.

Of course never got to shoot any humans, but lots and lots of deers and rabbits

Waking every morning to the blaring speakers of North Korean propeganda broadcasts wasn't my idea of paradise, and I was glad it was over.

[MKSheppard]

Waking every morning to the blaring speakers of North Korean propeganda broadcasts wasn't my idea of paradise, and I was glad it was over.

My condolences. Have you guys ever considered building a chain of
McDonalds or other fast food restaurants on the DMZ and giant fans
to blow the smell of food across the border to North Korea?

[Enlightenment]

Have you guys ever considered building a chain of
McDonalds or other fast food restaurants on the DMZ and giant fans
to blow the smell of food across the border to North Korea?

Ouch. There are laws against using weapons designed to cause unnecessary suffering.

[Rob Wilson]

Yeah, 13+ hours was the norm. Problem was, with extra missions or an inspection coming up, it could easily balloon. It frequently did. And that, of course, doesn't count deployments. When we were having a readiness inspection it would be no unusual thing to get off work at 2200hrs and be right back for reveille the next morning at 0600 (and since I was squad leader, I was expected to be in at 0530 to meet with the platoon leader and platoon sergeant) - and this could go on for an entire week or more. Then we're off to the field for a month to train. Then you get back and you have a solid week of range training... Well, you know how it goes.

Oh fuck, Range days! I used to look forward to them -until I had been to about 5000. Stinking of cordite and gun oil, having to clean the fucking rifle and inspect everyone elses "but it is clean sergeant." Then where are all theses brass shavings coming from?? Being range safety and repeating the mantra "With a magazine of x rounds. Load. Down, test and adjust. Ready. Practice x, targets will appear for x seconds, fire x rounds per exposure, x exposures. Targets will/not fall when hit. Does anybody not understand? Watch and shoot, watch and shoot." Again and again and again. Fucking range stew, signing ammo in and out, clearing the brass. How anyone can go through that and still like firing weapons is beyond me.

[Rob Wilson]

15 months conscripted in the Swedish army’s royal engineers 89-91. It was fun learning how to blow stuff up. (Roads, Airports, Harbours).

But all the shit time learning how to maintain all the junk we had to carry around was a real downer…

All in all I would rather worked and earned some cash instead.

The fun of conscription . At least you got to play with Dets, I only got to use them in Assault pioneer training which was brilliant but far too short a stint. Being payed to blow things apart and play with chainsaws, hhhm

[Rob Wilson]

I served in the Corps. from 91 to 97. Durring that time I deployed twice, once as ABC and the other as part of the 31st MEU. Spent the last couple of years as an instructor (weapons and tactics).

Did I enjoy my time in? Absolutly, alot of the things I did, I wouldn't have had the opertunity to do anywhere else. I over all describe it as an honor. I left because I just got married and was having kids. After watching others in my units have difficulties with the deployments and family, I decided to leave and take care of my family as my primary concern.

Ah well another Matlow, they're bloody everywhere

Were you in Germany for Brave Defender 94? With the weapons and tactics, did you guys get to play with H&K's traveling instructing courses?

Shouldn't your Username be "KABAR"?

[Rob Wilson]

On a side note.

Several posters mentioned that they enjoyed their time in germany a lot. Could you expand a bit on this? I´m just curious why.

one word "ReeperBahn"

Plus we got to raid the US bases PX's oh and Apfelcorn, Reeperbahn, old five pences are the same size as 50 fennig pieces, the exchange rate, did I mention the Reeperbahn?

For most squaddies this was heaven and we got to drive at insane speeds on the wrong side of the road.

[jegs2]

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)

Serving in the US Army. Total years of active service is 12 (14 total with Reserve). Enlisted four years. Commissioned now for nearly 8.

[spongyblue]

USAF- aerospace ground equipment mechanic

To be honest there is about a hundred other jobs I could think of doing them the one I got. Then again there is another hundred that I cant imagine doing

Hurlburt Field, Home of the AC-130. I got some of the 105mm howitzer. 40mm, and 25mm shells off the plane the other day. Shined that bad boy and give it to the old Dad for christmas.

http://www.ageranger.com

[Rob Wilson]

I was in the Marine's 1992 to 1998. Held the rank of Captain in armor. I was stationed first in Germany and than my unit was transferred to South Korea.

So you would definitely have been part of Brave Defender in 94. Cool, I probably saw you through my scope at some point.

Don't worry, we won't hold your being an officer against you... much.

[Rob Wilson]

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)

Serving in the US Army. Total years of active service is 12 (14 total with Reserve). Enlisted four years. Commissioned now for nearly 8.

Commissioned? Another one lost to the Dark Side

Now, nearly every US Army soldier I've met has been a Tankie (if their Rangers or Light infantry they tend to say that instead of Army) so I'm guessing your Armour as well (or maybe Mech Infantry).

[Rob Wilson]

USAF- aerospace ground equipment mechanic

To be honest there is about a hundred other jobs I could think of doing them the one I got. Then again there is another hundred that I cant imagine doing

Hurlburt Field, Home of the AC-130. I got some of the 105mm howitzer. 40mm, and 25mm shells off the plane the other day. Shined that bad boy and give it to the old Dad for christmas.

http://www.ageranger.com

Nice planes, wish we had some

[Phil Skayhan]

For most squaddies this was heaven and we got to drive at insane speeds on the wrong side of the road.

So that's why you seemed so relaxed riding in the back of the Wilkens-mobile Mind you, nothing can prepare you for the sheer terror of riding through the snow in a car driven by HG! (BTW, she loved the pic)

My brother said the most fun he had in the Corps was driving a Hummer in Iraq. I've got to get him to start posting here.

[jegs2]

Commissioned? Another one lost to the Dark Side

Now, nearly every US Army soldier I've met has been a Tankie (if their Rangers or Light infantry they tend to say that instead of Army) so I'm guessing your Armour as well (or maybe Mech Infantry).

Have served with two Infantry battalions and one tank battalion. I am an intelligence officer (MI).

[Rob Wilson]

Commissioned? Another one lost to the Dark Side

Now, nearly every US Army soldier I've met has been a Tankie (if their Rangers or Light infantry they tend to say that instead of Army) so I'm guessing your Armour as well (or maybe Mech Infantry).

Have served with two Infantry battalions and one tank battalion. I am an intelligence officer (MI).

James Bond in Combats

So why are most US Army Tankies then? I'm fucked if I can work it out, maybe it's because I met most of them in Germany.

[Rob Wilson]

For most squaddies this was heaven and we got to drive at insane speeds on the wrong side of the road.

So that's why you seemed so relaxed riding in the back of the Wilkens-mobile Mind you, nothing can prepare you for the sheer terror of riding through the snow in a car driven by HG! (BTW, she loved the pic)

My brother said the most fun he had in the Corps was driving a Hummer in Iraq. I've got to get him to start posting here.

Actually that might not be a bad idea.

I have had a brainwave (i knew that Neuron had to serve some purpose).

[jegs2]

Commissioned? Another one lost to the Dark Side

Now, nearly every US Army soldier I've met has been a Tankie (if their Rangers or Light infantry they tend to say that instead of Army) so I'm guessing your Armour as well (or maybe Mech Infantry).

Have served with two Infantry battalions and one tank battalion. I am an intelligence officer (MI).

James Bond in Combats

So why are most US Army Tankies then? I'm fucked if I can work it out, maybe it's because I met most of them in Germany.

Likely, they are the majority you met. I haven't run into as many tankers as I have grunts (Infantry). If I remember correctly, we have an Armor Division in Germany, which would be necessarily packed with tankers. The intel I do is at a tactical level. We gather intelligence on enemy units and analyze it IOT give the commander the most likely and most dangerous course of action (MLCOA & MDCOA). Here's a good public-domain website about what tactical intel officers and NCO's do:

http://www.s2company.com/index2.php

[Knife]

I served in the Corps. from 91 to 97. Durring that time I deployed twice, once as ABC and the other as part of the 31st MEU. Spent the last couple of years as an instructor (weapons and tactics).

Did I enjoy my time in? Absolutly, alot of the things I did, I wouldn't have had the opertunity to do anywhere else. I over all describe it as an honor. I left because I just got married and was having kids. After watching others in my units have difficulties with the deployments and family, I decided to leave and take care of my family as my primary concern.

Ah well another Matlow, they're bloody everywhere

Were you in Germany for Brave Defender 94? With the weapons and tactics, did you guys get to play with H&K's traveling instructing courses?

Shouldn't your Username be "KABAR"?

No, never went to Europe, though I hope to go as a civilian one day in the near future. All my deployments were in the Pacific, and no I didn't get a chance to go to SAWIC. If I'd stayed in I would have gotten a chance to go to Quntico to go to SAWIC.

And I though about KABAR, but my call sign was "knife" so I stuck with it.

[Rob Wilson]

Have served with two Infantry battalions and one tank battalion. I am an intelligence officer (MI).

James Bond in Combats

So why are most US Army Tankies then? I'm fucked if I can work it out, maybe it's because I met most of them in Germany.

Likely, they are the majority you met. I haven't run into as many tankers as I have grunts (Infantry). If I remember correctly, we have an Armor Division in Germany, which would be necessarily packed with tankers. The intel I do is at a tactical level. We gather intelligence on enemy units and analyze it IOT give the commander the most likely and most dangerous course of action (MLCOA & MDCOA). Here's a good public-domain website about what tactical intel officers and NCO's do:

http://www.s2company.com/index2.php

Oh I know what they do, i used to have to report to them as part of mission De-briefs, but most of ours seemed to think they were James Bond so we always called them James Bond in Combats.

[Rob Wilson]

Ah well another Matlow, they're bloody everywhere

Were you in Germany for Brave Defender 94? With the weapons and tactics, did you guys get to play with H&K's traveling instructing courses?

Shouldn't your Username be "KABAR"?

No, never went to Europe, though I hope to go as a civilian one day in the near future. All my deployments were in the Pacific, and no I didn't get a chance to go to SAWIC. If I'd stayed in I would have gotten a chance to go to Quntico to go to SAWIC.

And I though about KABAR, but my call sign was "knife" so I stuck with it.

Pity about missing the Small Arms instructors course, lots of fun toys and how to use them properly. I don't know about the US but the UK Army we get to have the H&K guys thmselves give us proper workshops in how to use their range (Mainly because Royal Armouries owns H&K methinks). No hope in hell of ever using them but lots of fun all the same.

[phongn]

My grandfather (maternal) was ARVN, my dad was in South Vietnam's navy. Not sure about much else, though.

[Knife]

Ah well another Matlow, they're bloody everywhere

Were you in Germany for Brave Defender 94? With the weapons and tactics, did you guys get to play with H&K's traveling instructing courses?

Shouldn't your Username be "KABAR"?

No, never went to Europe, though I hope to go as a civilian one day in the near future. All my deployments were in the Pacific, and no I didn't get a chance to go to SAWIC. If I'd stayed in I would have gotten a chance to go to Quntico to go to SAWIC.

And I though about KABAR, but my call sign was "knife" so I stuck with it.

Pity about missing the Small Arms instructors course, lots of fun toys and how to use them properly. I don't know about the US but the UK Army we get to have the H&K guys thmselves give us proper workshops in how to use their range (Mainly because Royal Armouries owns H&K methinks). No hope in hell of ever using them but lots of fun all the same.

Don't know about company reps or anything, but yah, the MP is a fine weapon and HK can sure make good weapons in general

[Rob Wilson]

Don't know about company reps or anything, but yah, the MP is a fine weapon and HK can sure make good weapons in general

Not so much company reps as Ex-servicemen and Policemen employed by H&K to know these weapons inside and out, liase with Forces that use them and find the best tactics and methods of using them, they then demonstrate these around the world. Mostly they deal with MP-5s, G3's and USPs but they also have specialist courses just on the MP5K's and MP5SDA3's. Quite good little freebies if your a soldier looking to learn about the sort of weapons he's never going to see again outside of films (when he can point and laugh at how they're misused).