Military Topic

[moparsuebear]

The difference between an Officer and Non-Commissioned officer is easy: The Officer knows how to sign his name..... the non guy just grunts and makes an X.  (used to be that way back in the early war times!!)
My hubby is a Non-Commisioned Officer and with all his years of military training and rank, he equals a Major!!! Too bad he didn't get major pay, but I'm very proud of my Chief!!!
Personally, I think the military needs to do away with the whole thing! A Non-Commissioned guy can have as much, if not more, education as an Officer. and that's the way it was a long time ago. Enlisted dudes just signed with an X and had no education. But it's not the same anymore. Oh well, just my 2 cents.
Funny story though if you got time to read: Years ago, when we were stationed in Okinawa, the officers had blue stickers on their cars to distinuguish them from us commoners, the enlisted. Well, if a blue officer car came through the gate, the gate guard had to salute the car. Of course, being a young, immature military wife I felt bad they never saluted us. We bought a car from friends who happened to be an officer and for about 3-4 months, before we got a chance to change the base sticker, every time I came through the gate, I would get saluted. Let me tell you, that made me feel so proud and snobbish! i'd look at the cars behind me, making sure they saw that salute, like I was an officer or something. Man, it went straight to my head!!!
I know better now!!

[Rolling_Thunder]

looking into the USAF myself...      was going marines but decided on the air force instead...    looking to go pararescue

[Magnumcharger]

Kyle,
I wish you the best of luck.
Here's a couple of points to pass along:
If you do enlist, it is definitely to your advantage to try and obtain a military occupation that gives you training in some trade that you can eventually use when you leave the military, and rejoin the civilian workforce.
There's nothing sadder than seeing somebody have to take a job as a Walmart greeter, or settling for a "McJob" after years of proud service to their country.
(I know...I got out in 1990.....and worked as a farm labourer).
Unfortunately, there's not a lot of civilian occupations that directly corrolate to infantry training. This is exactly why I reenlisted in the Airforce.
I rejoined as an aircraft mechanic which definately gave me some post-military options. However, after a few years of doing that (and being in my 40's) I realized it was going to be too hard on my old body (yes, even aircraft mechanics have to work outside in -40C weather). Which is why I went to my current occupation in Non-destructive testing. It is also one of the only CF military occupations where I certify with civilian tickets, on the job.

(BTW: this is my post #1968....cool)