Posted on 05/21/2004 1:24:18 PM PDT by COBOL2Java
For the record, Rangers wear tan berets now.
I can vouche for that. Spring training in high school football was tougher than USAF Basic. Even though I was in San Antonio, Tx in the middle of summer 100 + most days. I was very disappointed at the softness of physical activity.
If you want skills easier to fit the civilian world and a professional environment, go Air Force.
If you like being on ships, Navy.
If you want tough physical training and down in the dirt fighting, Army or Marines.
Coast Guard if you like little ships.
All branches will give you discipline and teamwork skills. What is your level of education and what would you like to do in the military are important questions to ask yourself. I have 2 nephews in the Marines and they love it. I have another nephew who served in the Navy and hated it.
ROFL
I once saw a sign in an office that was similar.
It said: We the unwilling, lead by the unknowing are doing the impossible for the ungrateful.
We have done so much for so long with so little equipment that we are now qualified to anything at all with nothing.
In SAC we all had little signs that said, "Be alert. SAC needs more lerts."
Same thing. I've seen it 50 ways at least.
Giggle, and thanks for the laugh.
A colleague of mine was in SAC during the waning days of the Cold War.
He has a t-shirt with the SAC shield. Above the shield: "PEACE IS OUR PROFESSION."
Below the shield: "War is just our hobby."
I don't know how accurate his assessment of the Air Force was, but he said he knew guys who had joined and felt that the training was kind of flimsy.
The 5 Scariest Things in the Army!
1. A Private saying, "I learned this in basic training..."
2. A Sergeant saying, "Trust me, sir..."
3. A Second Lieutenant saying, "Based on my experience..."
4. A Captain saying, "I was just thinking..."
5. And a Warrant Officer chuckling, "Watch this $%!#..."
I had the king of all easy boot camps. Navy for older reservists without prior service.
Seventeen days in Great Lakes Training Center. Nothing too demanding. If you could make your beds and march correctly, you were fine. If you were completely incapable of such things like me, you just got yelled at a bit. That was annoying at times, but the key fact is "17 days."
:)
SEMPER FI!
I served with some rock 'em, sock 'em PJ's (Pararescuemen) who could have held their own with any Ranger. They were the exception. The Air Force is a little more cerebral and a little less physical.
Our nation's seventeenth line of defense; somewhere between The U.S. Surgeon General and The League of Women Voters.
If you need a bomb dropped down an air shaft or some pinpoint supporting fire, call us. We'll be at the O'club drinking beer. Somebody's bound to be sober enough to fly.
Yep... We had those in the peak of the Cold War too. I was in from 72-76.
The Navy one looks reasonably accurate, except for the part about knowing how to swim.
Not knowing what you want I can't advise you. There are physical requirements and standards. If you want to build your body join a gym because the Air Force isn't gonna do it. If you are overwieght they won't take you. The tests they give to place you weeds out about half the applicants. If you get into the Security Police or ParaRescue the Air Force has intense physical training.
Flimsy is a relative word but nothing is flimsy about the USAF. I'm 50 and I'll be glad to discuss flimsy with your friend who couldn't meet the physical requirements to enter the NAVY.
E-9 at 33. I knew 33 year olds who had just made Staff Sergeant. (E-5) The guy had a chest full of Air Medals and Silver Stars.
Even the golf course sucks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.