Military Service
 

From reading the posts, a lot of your histories intrigue me. I'm curious as to a lot of your military backgrounds.

For the poll, if you were in a Coast guard type unit, answer Navy, as while they are (at least in the US) separate branches, they encounter similar risks and adversities.

And if you'd like to leave a little story, go ahead.

And please, this is not US only. All nations (correct?) have some form of military.

I have never been in the armed forces, but I admire those that had the moxy to serve the your nations. That goes double for the sizable number of vets that we have here on SubSim. You guys are the best. :up:

World-wide, this?
Anyways, i voted Army, served 4 years in the Regs, Infantry, achieved Lance Corporal.
Joined when i was 17 and a bit.
Not much chance finishing High School at that stage, so, off i went to start the process.
Back then, here in Australia, in 1989, it was 3 months in Kapooka, then you had a chance to chose 3 Corps that you wanted to join, from 1 the most to 3 the least.
My choices where 1=Armored, 2=Arty and 3=Infantry.
I got 3.
So, off i went to Singleton for 3 mths, for Corps training.
Then, i was posted to my final destination.
Townsville Lavarack Baracks.
Never went overseas in my stint.
Closest i came was a 24 hr standby with footlocker, webbing and rifle all at the ready on the parade ground when Bougeanville was flaring up in 1990.
Some of the clowns around me were saying crap like: Cool, let's kill some blacks, or idiotic stuff.
Idiots didn't realise that this was the real deal, and that the natives knew their jungles better than we would.
Or maybe they did know better and just didn't care for the consequences.
Anyways, we didn't have to go, can't remember why now, too far in the past.
I was grateful we didn't have to. Who knows what would have happened.
Would i still be alive, sitting here typing this on SUBSIM?
I got out because i had had enough. 4 years was enough. Some people are born to stay in the forces for a long time.
Not me, i wanted a change. I enjoyed a lot of things in the army, ofc the manly stuff like firing all kinds of weapons, repelling out of Black Hawks, hitching rides on armored vehicles while doing live fx's, meeting some really inspirational people, medical and travel benefits, travel to other parts of Australia, the list goes on.
Was i glad i joined? Yes.
Was i glad i got out? Yes.

Royal Air Force, when we still had something to fly, just.

I was in tactical communications and had the best years of my life travelling and living in both tents and hotels. When they moved me to a desk job it was time to leave! I miss it like hell, being a civvy is nowhere near as fun or exciting.

My advice to anyone joining any of the forces is to take every opportunity that comes your way, if there is a skiing exped - do it, if there is a freefall course - do it, play a sport you've never tried before, if there is a volunteer needed for some shtt detachment - do it because it will never be as bad or boring as you think. I look back on what I did and what I could (should) have done and regret not doing so.

I've worked closely with the British Army and the Royal Navy and it was always a good experience - being RAF I got away with sooooo much more than their own people could ever do. I've also worked multinational and still the Air Force of all nations seems to be that little bit more 'individual' than the others.

U.S. Navy
S-3A crewman (ASW Operator)
CVW 11
VS-37
1st deployment-U.S.S. Enterprise WESTPAC 1982

my asthma prevents me from serving. Anywhere. :cry:

At least I'm in the civil protection :)

28-years in the Canadian Field Artillery, retired as a Warrant Officer (E-7 for those in the USA).

Served at various times as gun detachment commander, Troop Sergeant Major, Technical Warrant Officer, Battery Commander's Technician, Assistant Instructor in Gunnery and Regular Support Staff training officer for the artillery reserves.

No regrets, glad I served but equally grateful to be retired now with most of my sanity.

US Navy, 1969-70. Apprentice radioman on a WW2 retread destroyer, 3 months off the coast of Vietnam doing escort duty for carriers, lifeguard duty off the Hanoi coast, and fire support for the marines. Loved life at sea, hated the Navy in general. Part of me wishes I'd never gone in, and part of me wishes I'd never got out.

Lots of entertaining memories, and I still remember a lot of them.

Army - Specialization recon and electronic warfare. Best years of my life.

+1
:salute:

One year in the FDF, reserve and voluntary reserve training since.
Sergeant in a Jäger Brigade recon company/platoon/team, specialization forward observer and assistant team leader.

Allways liked the great outdoors with good friends.:salute:

Normal draftee in Germany, served a normal tour of 9 months with the mechanized infantry, had a desk job after recruit training though.

P.S. I have a higher rank than Hitler ever had.:D

This explains everything. :haha::03:

Me? Never served, and in a way I'm glad because I don't think I would have made the mold. Was invited, by the army of all people, Signals too...but no, I'm not really fit for military service both mentally and physically and I acknowledge that. I have a lot of respect for those who have and do (including Schroeder...but don't tell him I said that).

Just over 5 years in of my career in the British Army.

Didnt Serve, wish i had.

I was 18 yeard old and entering college when i got involved in aviation.

The first place i went was the US Navy recruiting office to ask questions about flying fighters off carriers.

I had Lasik Surgery just weeks prior, and they werent taking people with Lasik at the time is what i was told.

same with the USAF

so i went the civilian route.

Im approaching the max age to do the Navy thing - still thinking about it even if not as a pilot.

Over 22 years service in the RAF for me.

Joined whilst still a boy at 16 and haven't grown up since.

Spent my time fixing aircraft including VC10's, Tristars, Nimrods and GR Tornado's.

More importantly just a few more months and I'm de-mobed.

No stories to tell till I am a Mr again. Then the floodgates can open.

3 rules to obey on detatchment

1 No camera's,
2 No Drinking and Dialling,
3 Always have the party in someone else's room!

I've yapped about my service enough on the forum. So all i'm going to say is when i actually worked for a living, it was as an Civil/Combat (take your pick) Engineer in the USAF. Nothing else has compared, before or since.

I'd like to thank everyone who served their country. Wether they liked it or not.

2001-2009 UnitedStatesMarineCorps, sir!

14th Marines Headquarters Battery. E-4. 0621 Field Radio Operator/0622 Digital Wideband Comms Operator. NCOIC, Forward Combat Operations Center. NCOIC, Communications Equipment. NCOIC, Local Security.

Attached to 2nd BN/ 2nd Marines and deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom II and III. MTVR Operator. NCOIC, Advance Party. NCOIC, MTVR squad. NCOIC, armoury, 14th Marines truck det. NCOIC, Convoy Communications. NCOIC, General Non-Combat Logistics, 14th Marines Truck det. May, 2005-March 2006

War stories? I have many but all are long and I tend to tell them here from time to time, whether anyone wants me to or not.

Overall, though, I'm kind of amazed that I'm even alive. I am the only M-249 machine-gunner out of four in my platoon that made it back from OIF intact. Of the five trucks that were my personal mounts, three were utterly destroyed, and two of them burned until there was nothing left but piles of slag. R.I.P. "Optimus Prime", R.I.P. "Caboose", R.I.P. "Sandwagon". Somehow, I managed to not be in any of them when they were hit.

I had the vehicle in front of me IED'd. I had the vehicle behind me IED'd on another occassion. I've had (admittedly poorly-aimed but still a little close for comfort) mortars shot at me and my vehicle. I have been on foot patrols where I was placed ahead of the guys with the metal detectors in areas known to be mined. Well, it was just one foot patrol, but it still sucked. Speaking of foot, I almost shot my own off while clearing my weapon (bad sear pin, never got fixed). I've been shot at without the ability to return fire on a few occassions. Two other Marines, and I were left in very close proximity to enemy lines, if you could call them that, for hours because the convoy left and forgot we were still posted on the perimeter of our operations area. And those are just the fun stories.

Navy from 1974-1980

1974 : served on 2 MSI (Mine Sweeper Inshore) M477 and M476 as a sailor (electrician) http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/...php?lid=430871

1975 : Petty Officers school. Ended with succes as 2MR (second master=sergeant)

1976-77 : served on 2 American made MS(H)O (Mine Sweeper (Hunter) Ocean ) as a petty officer (electrician) M903 (Hunter) and M906 (sweeper).
http://www.mso-belgium.org/en/7_mso/m903_en.htm

1977-1980 : served on fregat F911 (section N.B.C.D.) with her first crew she had and made her maidentrip and first big voyage to the middle east .

http://www.losbarcosdeeugenio.com/ba.../bel_F911.html

1980-2000 : reserve as a MTR ( master= 1 sgt )

Memories ...memories ....Oh sweet mem......seems like it was yesterday ...damn...it's 31 years ago when i changed uniform to civilian :o :salute: