What age did you join the Military and why? What motovate you? Any regrets?

[FlatLandBeer]

What age did you join the Military and why? What motovate you? Any regrets?

What would advise a young person to do these days?

[strongbow]

Joined at age 24 (commisioned as O-3), retired at age 50. Main regret was I had to serve under an evil, antiamerican dictator wannabe for eight frickin years. Oh yea his name was klinton. Other than that and the usual military complaining I would do it over again in a heartbeat.

[SubMareener]

In the summer of '68 I got a letter from my Draft Board about taking a pre-induction physical. I called them up to find out what that meant, and was told: "It means about a month!" So, because my father had been a Chaplain in the Navy during WWII, and not liking leaches at all, I went down to see my friendly Navy Recruiter.

I would later learn that Boatswains Mate Chiefs were not to be trusted on any subject other than seamanship, however, at the time I believed him when he said: "With your college record, you shouldn't have any trouble getting into OCS, but I have this quota, and it would really help me if you would enlist on a 90-day delay program."

My interview for OCS took place the same day I took my enlistment physical, and I had made my mind right for taking the physical, and not the interview. So, I got to go to Boot Camp at Great Lakes NTC. Even though I got all the question correct on the Electronics Exam, by the time my punch card got to the sorter, the ET class was full, so I got to be an Electrician. That turned out to be really neat, because the Navy was the only place where you could learn about Magnetic Amplifiers, and Amplidyne Generators.

During EM "A" school, I applied to OCS again, and made my mind right for taking the interview. That one took, and half way through Nuclear Power School as an EM, I got picked up for OCS. The story of how I got into submarines with 20/200 vision is for another forum. ;-)

Best thing that ever happen to me, and I can say, in all humility, that it turned out quite well for the county as well.

[Revererdrv]

Had the same experience. My years in the military were probably the most meaningful years of my life! Didn't realize it at the time. Young adults who do not serve, really miss the bigger picture.

[umbagi]

I was 19, crazier'n hell. Pre-lottery draft-motivated Navy enlistment, I suppose -- my rock band was cutting into school, jeopardizing my II-S classification.

Three friends and I went down to the Navy recruiter, bought the line, took the tests -- and they took me, rejected my friends!

Orders to Vietnam, River Patrol Boats, about six minutes after I made Third-Class (although I sewed on GMG2 crows before I got there, so I was a boat captain the whole year). I'd found my place in the world! If I hadn't had a young and beautiful wife begging me to come home, I'd have stayed there on my boat until the war was over.

No regrets, best move I made in my fifty-eight years, and the pride of having served is something no one can ever take from me.

Advice for young 'uns today? When you graduate from high school, you're way too new to know where you're going, and there's no better place than the military to mature and learn about the world while you serve your country. You'll be glad you did.

"For those who fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know." Go for the gusto!

[Chieftain]

Duh!! The terrorist murderers attack was in Munich not Berlin!! It's been a long day/year! Thanks for the heads-up, truth_seeker.

[VOA]

bump (for later read)

[Revererdrv]

Reflecting back on my years in the U.S. Navy are always meaningful and many memories are positive. Many people I met influenced my life for the better. The military trained me to always work to complete the task to the best of my ability regardless of how long it takes. We learned to work together with pride, getting along with others.
The military helped make it possible for a poor country boy to see the world while working with others from every State.
After the military I went on to college, earned a degree and found an excellent job. Now living the American Dream.
I wonder where I would be without the military experience?

[Delta 21]

Eagles Up!

Fightin the good fight!!

[RaceBannon]

The best parts? Well, where else can you experience a full-force Atlantic gale? Or a Pacific typhoon? Where else can you see blue whales, humpbacks, killer whales, dolphins and sharks in huge numbers, in their natural setting? How many other jobs can you get that are nice enough to deposit you on leave in Europe, Japan, Korea, the Philipines, Singapore or Australia free of charge?

Well, you can do it as a Marine and let the squids steer the ship, and then go ashore to see the wonderful indeginous people on those islands you just circled on those carriers!

In fact, I even got to fly in the helicopters that you guys on the boat sailed us around on! :)

[RaceBannon]

Shellback 1980, USS Okinawa

WESPAC was kewel, but I liked the Northern Europe floats, too, the ports were a lot cleaner and closer to ethnic relations.

[RaceBannon]

Semper Fi, Marine!!!

[umbagi]

Shellback, 1968, USS McMorris (DE-1036). Missed "Golden" by only about a hundred miles, but we were on a mission from God and couldn't divert...

[RaceBannon]

Juneau sounds famliar

I did Europe fall 1978 and 2 wespacs 90 and 81, what side of the pond were you on?

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks Chieftain, best wishes to your boys!

[RaceBannon]

Bumping all vets!

[The Mayor]

Joined at 20 in 1976, I was leading a dead end life as a long haired hippie type conservative.
Watched friends come and go to Nam, watched the asses protest the war.

Joined the Army, best thing I ever did. I grew up, got in shape and learned how and why I Love this Country.

[kilowhskey]

I joined the Army at age 18 in 1966. I had been rejected by California Maritime Academy because of bad eyesight. The war was heating up and I could not get a permit to leave the country as a merchant seaman. I spent two years sailing on a 338-foot freighter up and down the coast of RVN. It was a tremendous experience and would do it again in a heartbeat if they would let this old guy back in. My 16 year old son is planning to go in after he graduates college. He has earned 9 units (chemistry and calculus) at UNR in his first semester as a high school junior. My Dad was a career AF Officer, my Mom was a WAVE in WWII, and my brother was a CG Officer, so it is a family business with us.

[Nakota]

In 1969 I was a Senior in college and the draft was waiting for me after I graduated. While walking across the student union parking lot I saw a Navy blue 1969 Chrysler 300 convertible, top down, with big Navy "Wings of Gold" painted on the door. I went into the union to investigate and the two Naval Aviators in their summer white uniforms did the rest. Best thing I ever did. Two years ago I swore in my son just before he started law school. He just sewed on his "crow" as an Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class in the Navy Reserves. He says it is the best thing he ever did.

[bad company]

What age did you join the Military and why?

I was 18. Some of it was that it is something of a family tradition. I wanted to go places. I still can't get over people that havn't had the military style traveling experience.

What motovate you?

Patriotism and adventure

Any regrets?

None

What would advise a young person to do these days?

Pick a job skill that translates easily to the civillian world.

[Wilum]

I joined the Air Force on the 5th of July 1966 wanting to work with fighters and on the flight line and that is what I did. I was a bomb loader on the F-100D/F Super Saber. I spent many hours on KC-97’s and C-130’s traveling to Incerlik, Turkey and Weelus AB, Libya from Torrejon, Spain with intermittent stops in England, Germany, Greece, and Italy, loading nukes between stops. I got out in 1970 and was told at Mcguire AFB not to wear my uniform home because it was pretty mean out there. The meanness and reception and what they were doing to the guys coming through Travis AFB made me bitter and I stayed away from anything military.
Then the gulf war. A continuation of the country’s celebration was being held at a near by AF base and there was a call for my era’s vets to come back and get reacquainted. My brother and wife talked me into it. I saw a bomb lift truck, jammer, and pointed it out to my wife. A Sgt came to me described the advances from my time on the jammer. Boy, I guess they were waiting for us. And then the Thunderbirds and those F-16s, wow, they were flying my bird at the time I was in. Free Republic really brought me around to being proud of my service.

Kids? GO and don’t look back!

P.S. I did wear my Blues home, by the way.