Calling All Veterans and current Military!

[500hp_440]

I'm 16, always been intrested in Marines, Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Army.
If your a Veteran or currently serving, please, post about your life. (This goes out to all branches Military)
I want to know if this is something I should plan to do, or if I should avoid it, I want to know all about life in the Military.
Thanks.
P.S. You all are my heroes and deserve more respect then you get!

[Ponch ®]

I dont know man...some things happened when I was in the 'nam that I would rather forget.

[hemi68charger]

I'm on my 20th year of Air Force service, both active and guard/reserve.... I was active from '87-'91 (post Desert Storm) and then joined the Guard pretty much after a year gone from active.. I've enjoyed my guard/reserve status and it has called me to active duty 3 times; nearly a year after 9/11 (Operation Noble Eagle) and then two hitches in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom)... I've been on some killer TDY's to "compensate" for the bad ones.. I've been to Hawaii and Denmark via the Air Force and have experienced things that most civilians would never ( like my incentive flight in a F-16 for an hour and I flew the thing for over 30 minutes and experienced G's up to 8.5 ).

If you find a job that you like, you could easily do 20 years......... believe me, 20 years will fly by and there you have retirement the day after you get out. On the other hand, you could join the reserves and go to school and get your degree.. If you're passionate about the military, you could join the ROTC and then get a commission after graduation and become an officer. Another thing, if you still have more years of high school, kick butt in your studies, join the ROTC if they have it and get to know a Congressman or Senator. That way, you could get the cream-dela-cream, either of the Military Academies.

It's a good life, but it's got to be one of structure and discipline.. Otherwise, you're wasting your time...............

Cheers,
Technical Sgt. Troy Hawkes
Aircraft Munitions Systems Specialist (fancy name for bomb loader !!!!)
United States Air Force

[mopar0166]

LT inthe Coast guard , 4 years active duty 2 Reserve as a Senior marine inspector 

[500hp_440]

LT inthe Coast guard , 4 years active duty 2 Reserve as a Senior marine inspector 

how hards the training? I hear its a pretty sweet gig

[hemi68charger]

LT inthe Coast guard , 4 years active duty 2 Reserve as a Senior marine inspector 

how hards the training? I hear its a pretty sweet gig

If I was ever going to do it over again, (of course I can't), the Coast Guard would be a serious choice.........   

[500hp_440]

thanks

[lisiecki1]

My friends in the coasties tell me their basic training is second only to the marines......

[teamroth]

My friends in the coasties tell me their basic training is second only to the marines......

I agree, as an 8 year former Marine, I can only attest to Marine training, but my understanding is the amount of time spent in the water is almost as physically demanding as Marine boot camp.

[Back N Black]

Go Air Force, lots of good technical trades to choose from, that you can use when you get out. Join the Army and become a Mall Cop when you get out.

[Ponch ®]

Go Air Force, lots of good technical trades to choose from, that you can use when you get out. Join the Army and become a Mall Cop when you get out.

BURN!

[hemi68charger]

Go Air Force, lots of good technical trades to choose from, that you can use when you get out. Join the Army and become a Mall Cop when you get out.

Or, get your degree and work as a special agent for the FBI or Treasury Department... I was 2/3 of the way in becoming a FBI special agent and it was all because of my military background.. Not much use for Geophysicists in the FBI, so it had to be my Air Force training........  But, Thank You Mr. Clinton for putting a hiring freeze back in '99............ I'm still sort of ticked about it to this day...... 

[bull]

I'm not trying to start anything, because I've never been in the military and have no vested interest in any branch, but isn't the Coast Guard not technically considered a branch of the military? I mean other than the fact they are DOT instead of Defense Dept. and have a lack of really big guns like the rest. I dunno. Just askin'

[Bob]

Smartest thing I have ever done. I was 17.
1976-1997
Ft Knox Kentucky
1/72 Armor Battalion
437th Military Police Company
HHC 2X, 2nd Infantry Division
142nd Military Police Company
Aberdeen Proving Grounds
Ft carson Co.
4-40 Armor Battalion
4-68 Armor Battalion
10th Mountain Division
And the list goes on. Some are still classified.

Go Army!

[hemi68charger]

I'm not trying to start anything, because I've never been in the military and have no vested interest in any branch, but isn't the Coast Guard not technically considered a branch of the military? I mean other than the fact they are DOT instead of Defense Dept. and have a lack of really big guns like the rest. I dunno. Just askin'

No, the Coast Guard IS a branch of the military, an often overlooked branch...........  Most of the public hasn't a clue.......

Glad to be of service..............  Like one of the Air Force Core Values state, "Service before Self"......................  But, noone's getting my Hemi..      ........  Unless they have a Daytona..........

Definition of the branches of the military

Troy

[mopar0166]

I'm not trying to start anything, because I've never been in the military and have no vested interest in any branch, but isn't the Coast Guard not technically considered a branch of the military? I mean other than the fact they are DOT instead of Defense Dept. and have a lack of really big guns like the rest. I dunno. Just askin'

OK , this is the third attemp to post this !


The Coast Guard is an integral part of the Dept of Homeland Security, It has been under the Dept of Transportation since 9/11. 


To: 500hp_440

It is a sweet job, but takes a lot of time and dedication to become an experienced senior marine inspector.   

I love working on and inspecting boats but lately ever since i bought my CHARGER last spring, its takes the cake for my hobby right now.   hopefully in the future id like to design my own boat and do public marine surveys. 

[SFRT]

My Air Force time was the best thing that ever happened to me. I went in as a 18 year old useless dipshit and emerged able to analyze and solve any problem. I use the skills they taught me every single day, as logic and discipline is a universal application. I am 100% sure if I hadnt joined I would have ended up in prison or homeless as i was a total fuckup.

If you have   no clue and are ready to get your shit together I recommend it. HOWEVER, you will get back what you put in, go in with a bad attitude and it will slap you back, hard. Go in ready to rock and you will benefit enormously.

[d72hemi]

I'm 16, always been intrested in Marines, Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Army.
If your a Veteran or currently serving, please, post about your life. (This goes out to all branches Military)
I want to know if this is something I should plan to do, or if I should avoid it, I want to know all about life in the Military.
Thanks.
P.S. You all are my heroes and deserve more respect then you get!

Lets see. I am 25.5 years old and have been in the USAF since I turned 18. I am a Ground Radio tech (2E173), a SSgt (Staff Sergent, E-5), on my second enlistment. My family has a big military background so I knew what I was getting into. Like SFRT said, your attitude is key. For example, I have two young Airmen, that have been here for 6 months from tech school. Their attitudes suck, so none of the other good Airmen go out of their way to work with them (they also commited a couple of crimes and are about to be out of the military). Then I have a guy that has been here for less that two weeks with a great attitude, we even took him out with us this week on an exercise that sucked (it is winter in UT, and 16-18 hour days), but he liked it when the other two hated it.

I personaly love the Air Force. I have to opportunity to do what I want. I can deploy all the time or stay in home station. I have deployed to the Middle East 4 times (3 Iraq), and have a 5th tour this year. Every one I volunteered for.

it is late and since I was at work for 16 hours today I am going to pass out now. If you have any questions for me let me know. 

[ACUDANUT]

   THE FEW, THE PROUD...THE MARINES.  www.marines.com
P.S. The Coast Guard falls under the Dept. of Transportion (or it did)

[Beer]

At 16 you still control your fate. 

If your interested in the Military, I would recommend hitting to books and being active in Sports. This can lead to ROTC scholarship and when you graduate College you are commissioned as an officer.  Image rolling out of college and then going for flight Training, Nuc training or whatever path your eligible for.  Cost is nothing more than staying focused and meeting your goals.  If your not interested in College then enlisting is the route to go.  You can go as far in the military as your attitude and ability to be professional allows you.   

I did NROTC, picked up a three year scholarship, got commissioned, went to Pensacola and got my Naval Flight Officer Wings and flew P-3C UII Orions.  I got out of the Navy seven years later and now I am Capt (US Merchant Marine) of a Oil Exploration Semi Submersible (I went to a Maritime School) in the Gulf of Mexico, this of course was after working my way up to Capt from Third Mate (which is the license you get when you graduate from a maritime School with a Marine Science major).  I work three weeks on, three weeks off.  Every day at work is a Monday, and every day home is a Saturday. 

Maritime schools include the State academies:
Maine Maritime
Mass Maritime
California Maritime
Texas A and M
and the "Federal" Academy Kings Point (free, similar to the service academies, must be nominated and selected to go).


Jim


 

[mikepmcs]

What Jim said.   I was on the Enlisted side of the P-3 Navy as an Aircrewman(in-flight avionics technician), did time as a Maintenance Chief, Quality Assurance Chief, Division Chief, and Command Chief and all I can do is echo Jim's advice for now.  As you get closer and still want to join, I'll post more on the subject.  Education my man, education!!! Get it now, or get paid to do it in the Military, but get it, and don't even think about not getting a degree.  My 20+ in the Navy doesn't mean squat to a lot of civilian companies nowadays, kind of sad really.  But a degree is a whole different ball game.
One thing is for sure, the Military is a great gig no matter what career path you select, officer or enlisted, etc.....
The Navy has given me everything I have and more life experience than I could ever ask for.
One thing I have to suggest is that you really work on your spelling, and I'm not saying that to bust your stones. Spelling/Communication is a very important part of life IMO and should not be taken lightly.  Every one of us makes mistakes but you should take pride and put forth the effort.
 
Off topic: Jim,  I should have taken you up on that job offer a while back.
Hopefully working for the VA here pretty quick though.

Mike

[chargerboy69]

I am in the Army National Guard. Not a bad gig. Went for training as a 68 Whiskey Combat Medic. It took a little getting used to, however I do enjoy it. Depends on where you get sent for bootcamp on how difficult your training will be. I have been told that for example Fort Benning for the Army is quite rough. The MRE's are getting better. Don't forget to take the laxative. 

[500hp_440]

Thank yall!
I've never really liked air travel.
To someone that knows: In the army or wherever, how much time are you acually working as aposed to being able to go screw around a bit?

[mikepmcs]

That kind of question makes me think that you are not headed in the right direction already.

I'll come back to this thread when you are seriously thinking about serving and protecting our/your country.  It is a great experience but isn't to be taken lightly.

Good luck.

Mike

[Tilar]

I didn't go in. I was ready to join the Navy with a friend of mine, But that little furry triangle got the best of me and I stayed home and got married.

3 marriages and 33 years later, I think back and cant imagine why I didn't go in. If I had it to do all over again, I would have joined the Air Force and retired after 30 years, which would have been 3 years ago.