Military Service

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Wait until you are in the armed forces and see what's what before you sign anything that you might regret later.

Precisely. There are things that happened to the squad I was in, that were pretty harsh and not our fault. It got to the point where we were ridiculed infront of the rest of the companies and threatened with official investigation.

All this because we supposedly had smoked in our barracks, but it turned out to be this gupsy fellow who was in the next room. But of course, some of us weren't arsed to take a shower and sprayed some deodarant around to mask the sweat, so we were accused. All in all, the fellow next door just wanted out and said it was him who had done it etc. Anywho, we asked our squad NCO, if we could talk to him freely behind closed doors and asked him to apologize, he was a great guy, we all liked him, so he did not only apologize to us personally, but the next morning in public to every company in the brigade.

Respect to him.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

I mentioned that Coast guard would be the navy since I wasn't sure how each country handled that separation, and the two services are similar enough to lump together.

As for National Guard guard, I considered that too, but as their are different forms of national Guard, And I didn't want some huge poll list, I was hoping people would select the version that fit them the best.

I was responding to Torvald von Mansee´s post above mine (edited my original post to clarify). I have served with the mechanized infantry (and hated every day of it.)

[LtzS_Petersen]

I was 4 Years Sailor on any Merchants, then i was 4 Years in the german Navy, Navigator at a Fast Patrol Boat. Thats why i love surfaced Units i think...
Had a really good time in both Jobs.
But Shipping Trade is not the same today, Container reduce the Time in Ports from 1-2 Weeks to 8-12 Hours. Good for Trade, bad for the Sailors.

[August]

Originally Posted by RickC Sniper

Feb 1970 to Dec 1971. Two months shy of 2 yrs. I got a so called "early out", dropping the last 2 months.

I attended this controversial school or NCO Academy as it was called.
http://www.ncoclocator.org/PAGE6.HTM

Well darn good job. E-1 to E-5 is usually a 3-4 year journey. Always nice to run into another Paratrooper.

Army Infantry, 82nd AirBorne Division.
Back in the 80's

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Catfish

Someone has to peel the potatoes, and clean the toilets.
Ever thought about that ?

Behind the one percent "cool" jobs like flying a Tomcat or serving in the Virginia, there are 99 percent of bore, cleaning up the mess, maintenance and administration in dusty offices

Here is the real Air Force



This is about as real as it gets.

Did 3.5 years in the US Navy with an S-3B squadron then moved on to a helo squadron which was the biggest mistake of my life... I probably won't do another enlistment but at least I can say I gave it a shot and served 7 years by the time it's all said and done. The navy now isn't the same as it was when I joined in '05, I'm ready for a career change but not disappointed that I joined and served.

[Bubblehead Nuke]

Name says it all.

Nuke MM on a US Fast Attack Submarine. Served before and after the Berlin Wall came down.

Been there, done that. Had fun when we went to sea basically on a war footing every time the dive alarm sounded.

Loved what I did. Hated the BS you had to put up with to do it.

Some of the best times of my life.

[Penguin]

Didn't serve, didn't want to. This doesn't mean that I am anti-military. I don't like state forced labour - we had the draft untill last year. I didn't do no substitute civilian service either.

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Nope, no national guard here.

The closest analogy would be the BGS/Bundespolizei - though not 100% comparatible they do have some of the same responsibilities in case of a crisis.

[DarkFish]

What is the National Guard anyways?

All we've got in the Netherlands are Army, Navy, Air Force and Military Police.

Didn't serve, don't plan to. I can see no reason to get involved in wars far away from the Netherlands because some politician deems it necessary.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Never served. Relieved of conscription on medical grounds. Little bit sad of it as my dream was to serve in Finnish Navy.

My still living grandfather served as combat engineer during WWII and another in armour (lied to be 18-yers old to get in). Greatuncle was Air Force fighter pilot flying mainly American built Brewster Buffalos. He retired as colonel in 50's never had honour to meet him.

My still living grandfather didn't talk about war experiences in over 50 years until in one day he told to me about building bridges for tanks during war. Have to be challenging work while being almost constantly under Soviet artillery and air attacks!

He have never bragged on war experiences just casually told about them.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by DarkFish

What is the National Guard anyways?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationa..._United_States

[Growler]

Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr

...Greatuncle was Air Force fighter pilot flying mainly American built Brewster Buffalos. He retired as colonel in 50's never had honour to meet him....

He flew Buffaloes, and lived to retire? Pretty damned impressive.

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Here is the real Air Force



This is about as real as it gets.

For most blue suiters, i'll bet that's true. I came to the conclusion years ago that no two peoples experience are the exact same. You can have two Airmen in the exact same AFSC, but walk away with entirely different experiences.

For example, i knew guys who had the same AFSC i did. 3E3X1. (Structural specalist - carpenter, mason, sheet metal fabricator and wielder all rolled into one). Within 4 years i had 3 different assignments, had been to five different countries for one reason or another, and had a crap ton of experience on projects ranging from Runway and Hanger construction, to building barracks and chowhalls, to revetment and RRR. Then id meet people of the same AFSC, and same rank that I had, who within the same 4 years, had only 1 assignment, had spent their entire enlistment on one base doing minor maintenance work, and had never been outside CONUS.

edit
There are folk in the AF who work for a living!
(I love the Project Manager, he clearly doesn't like answering stupid questions. lol )

edit:

[Sledgehammer427]

I'm considering Joining the USMC. I'm quickly running out of reasons against joining.

I might look into joining the navy, if I can eek my way into the academy