How many have been or are in Military

[monkeybird]

When I read some, actually a lot, of the post, I become curious about the number of you that have been or are in the Military and what you did.

It has taken me around 2 years to figure out some of the lingo, but I still have to work through some blank knowledge in the posts. Some of the things that have been the most beneficial to me as a novice, are some of the military stuff you have or use. Like those fuel cubes!

How has your military knowledge benefited your prepping?

[EX121]

Retired USAF. My experience has helped a great deal.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

20yrs, 11 1/2 active Army the rest in the National Guard. I started with the Guard for a couple while in college, there was a unit on capus, fell in love and went active after 2yrs. Left active duty after having children so they would know who that camo guy was, seems I couldnt get the luxury of staying at home like some so I went back guard and retired after 20. I was mainly logistics fields and went a few places, whatever you are goes out the window once you get there till it settles down. Everyone is a trained rifleman from word go back in basics. I benefited from combat units on PT and other skills. The logistics field helps me greatly on preps and organization and movement. My fighting skills were increased alot on all levels. Mentally it is the bomb, it allows you to go into stuff and remain calmer than most. I have been in full out hand to hand fights and been calmly giving instructions to those around me. In the wild it gave me exposure to wildlife and plants worldwide and i have hunted and fished and foraged "over there" as well. Mechanically i learned alot from the Military not having grown up learning it from the men in my life as a kid.

[Rmplstlskn]

None for me... I have just been around military people and survivalist for a long time...

Rmpl

[rice paddy daddy]

US Army, 1967-1970. I did time at Fort Carson, Colorado with a Field Artillery unit, and then spent a year in Vietnam, on an Infantry base camp in a bad part of a dangerous country. Thanks to GOD that I didn't have to beat the bush!
I learned how to do without basic things like running water, electricity. How to survive with what was in your pockets if something really bad happened. How to be alert at all times.
That food is OK eaten straight out of the can, if it's warmed up that's even better.
You mentioned fuel cubes. Don't know what those are, but a pinch of C-4 plastic explosive lit with a match heats C-Rats REAL fast!
I learned to live a primitive lifestyle, how to endure much longer than I thought was possible.
I consider it to be a real Blessing from GOD that HE allowed me to experience what I did and live to appreciate it.
We had a saying at the time:
"We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, in the name of the ungratefull,
Have done so much, for so long, with so little,
That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing."
Today, one of the greatest joys in my life is laying in a warm, clean bed on a stormy night listening to the patter of raindrops on the window. In contrast to spending the night on the ground with the rain pouring off my steel helmet waiting and watching for people who wanted to kill me.

[jmsneorrcom]

active duty 1984-1987 US Army - 11B infantryman
Ohio Army National Guard 1987-1992 - 91A Combat Medic

[rice paddy daddy]

.... 91A Combat Medic.....

Combat Medic - that's also known as an Infantryman with a job!:)
To all civilians, know this: us dog faces hold our "Docs" in high esteem. When the chips are down and you just want to crawl into a hole and hide, that's when Doc gets up and goes to work.
HooAhh!

[trapper]

I was in the army from 1984 to 1988. I was in the engineers ,I spent 2 years in Germany the rest of the time in Virginia also work in Somalia,and England. I loved the time I spent in ,and learned a ton of useful things.

[Tofu]

No military service (only regret in my life) but helluva alot of respect for the men and women who put on the uniform.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

One thing I can say about the Military is that no matter the MOS (job) it is not limiting. Cooks, mechanics, supply or whatever have additional training especially in good units. As an example I was logistics however I was qualified on the M9 Beretta and 1911 Pistols, M2, M60, M240B and Saw Machine guns, Mk19 Automatic Grenade Launcher, single shot Grenade Launcher, M14, M16 and M4 series of rifles. I had half of my Platoon Qualified as Combat Lifesavers (an advanced medical technician). I had 2 additional Soldiers qualified as NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical). The Army has started a "Designated Shooter" program which is not a sniper but an advanced shooter within the teams. They used to have schools for Pathfinders and Jungle Experts etc which are great. I carried several MOS's during my career and took cross courses in numerous subjects. I had soldiers who came from 10th Mountain, Explosive Experts and troops who had been advanced hand to hand combatives instructors and we used them within the unit to cross train and better ourselves. We occasionally brought in outside law enforcement and driving instructors to assist in training too. So while training may not have always come from a certificate it was constantly pushed in the better units. I attended everything they ever let me go to. I volunteered for every mission (much to the shagrin of my wife) and even went out with some as an augment with some folks so I could gain patrol experience both on the ground and in helos.
All of these skills make a better Survivalist or Prepper.

[barfife]

Air Force, radio relay, MOS 304X0, had the good fortune to never see military action but learned the team concept. All my fire fight action was 13 yrs as a LEO in Atlanta/Fulton county in the 70s and 80s.

[Hidden Agenda]

US Navy, 1989-1994. Two years with an amphibious assault unit (hauling leathernecks, EOD and the occasional BUDS/SEAL from ship to shore and back again)... two years on an aircraft carrier as a master at arms/crisis reaction force. Learned lots of valuable skills and info...firearms (M2, 1911, M16, M203, Remington 870, etc...) emergency preparedness/damage control (can't call the fire department in the middle of the ocean...you're it!), teamwork, duty, loyalty, work ethics, first-aid, water and land survival skills...the list goes on and on, and there's a lot I prefer not to discuss casually.

[Urban Survivalist]

US Army 1995 to 1998 as a 63S Heavy wheeled vehicle mechanic. Once I got out I began trying civilian life but I didn't like it. I decided that I was going back or becoming a LEO, I like the structure. Since I had a family now and would like to hang around the kids more I tried out for the force and became a LEO and have been ever since. It feels like all I have ever known is tactics, emergency preparedness, weapons, skills and every thing that comes along with military and LEO life. There is nothing wrong with that but it has made me the person I am today. One thing about the military is once you join the change starts and when you get out you are a changed man, Good, Bad or different, You are a changed man. God bless our troops.

[Grand58742]

USAF 1993 - present. Cop by trade, but learned quite a few other things alone the way.

How has it benefited my prepping? Supplies, weapons training, tactics, additional preppers (although they tend to keep a low profile) and a genuine appreciation for hard work.

[SCinPNW]

No military training for either myself or my husband. Hence the steep learning curve that I have. As you know, reading and doing are two very different things.

Many thanks to all of you who have served.

SC