Military Service

Gargamel · 04-01-11, 10:00 AM

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.

Takeda Shingen · 04-01-11, 10:05 AM

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.

Herr-Berbunch · 04-01-11, 10:25 AM

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.

MaddogK · 04-01-11, 10:31 AM

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

Betonov · 04-01-11, 10:35 AM

my asthma prevents me from serving. Anywhere.

At least I'm in the civil protection

04-01-11, 10:38 AM

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.

Sailor Steve · 04-01-11, 10:54 AM

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.

Polak · 04-01-11, 11:21 AM

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

MaddogK · 04-01-11, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

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.

+1

Feuer Frei! · 04-01-11, 10:14 AM

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.

nikimcbee · 04-03-11, 12:41 PM

diabetic, end o' story

.

ETR3(SS) · 04-05-11, 09:55 AM

US Navy 02-06

Served aboard the USS Kentucky Gold Crew. Came to the boat as an undesignated seaman and then picked up Radioman while onboard. I joined as an E-1 and was up for E-5 by the time I got out but never made it.

Oh and I would disagree that the Coast Guard and Navy have any similarities. We actually went out in water deeper than our ankles.

View Poll Results: Which Branch
Army	18	22.50%
Navy	18	22.50%
Marines	3	3.75%
Air Force	5	6.25%
Didn't serve, Wish I had	22	27.50%
Didn't serve, Glad I didn't	14	17.50%
Voters: 80. You may not vote on this poll

04-01-11, 10:00 AM	#1
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design. Last edited by Gargamel; 04-01-11 at 10:12 AM.

04-01-11, 10:25 AM	#3
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	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. __________________

04-01-11, 10:31 AM	#4
MaddogK XO Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Chicago, Ill. Posts: 409 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	U.S. Navy S-3A crewman (ASW Operator) CVW 11 VS-37 1st deployment-U.S.S. Enterprise WESTPAC 1982 __________________ May fortune favor the foolish

04-01-11, 10:54 AM	#7
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	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. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

04-01-11, 10:05 AM	#2
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	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.

04-01-11, 10:35 AM	#5
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	my asthma prevents me from serving. Anywhere. At least I'm in the civil protection

04-01-11, 10:38 AM	#6
Randomizer Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	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.

04-01-11, 11:21 AM	#8
Polak Grey Wolf Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Poland/Sweden Posts: 808 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Army - Specialization recon and electronic warfare. Best years of my life. __________________

04-01-11, 10:14 AM	#10
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	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. __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

04-03-11, 12:41 PM	#11
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	diabetic, end o' story. __________________

04-05-11, 09:55 AM	#12
ETR3(SS) Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Between test depth and periscope depth Posts: 3,021 Downloads: 175 Uploads: 16	US Navy 02-06 Served aboard the USS Kentucky Gold Crew. Came to the boat as an undesignated seaman and then picked up Radioman while onboard. I joined as an E-1 and was up for E-5 by the time I got out but never made it. Oh and I would disagree that the Coast Guard and Navy have any similarities. We actually went out in water deeper than our ankles. __________________ USS Kentucky SSBN 737 (G) Comms Div 2003-2006 Qualified 19 November 03 Yes I was really on a submarine.