How many have been or are in Military

[RVN11B]

Completed twenty years both active and National Guard time. As my screen name indicates I am a combat veteran from Viet Nam with the First Cavalry Division. Stateside was assigned to the mechanized infantry with the Second Armored Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. Attended a number of mos producing schools and programs that spanned the Infantry spectrum and some Armor courses. In a ill conceived attempt to save a failing marriage I switched over to the National Guard and tried a totally new career direction. Army aviation. Helicopters to be exact. Qualified as mechanic on the UH-1 series, AH-1 series, and the OH-58 series helicopters. Long story short the marriage failed and I remained with the guard in both active duty and full time status.

The killer part is that a great deal of my time was spent training crews, both officer and enlisted, basic combat skills and weapons. Another big grin was I was asked to 'coach' a certain Air Force Security team in the same field for competition for the Blanchard Trophy competition for the Air Force. The team won.

At one point I started the process to switch over to the Marine Corps to become a Warrant Officer Platoon Leader.

A week prior to me completing the process I suffered a dislocated shoulder and a shattered elbow from a riding accident. So much for the Corps.

After three years of surgery and recovery, I decided to tough it out where I was until retirement.

There is more but I don't want to bore you all any more than I have already.

[rice paddy daddy]

Welcome to the board, RVN11B.
And Welcome Home.

[Grantmeliberty]

Viet Nam era, trained 11B and 11C, assigned to the Old Guard Ft Myer Va. Because of my knowledge of electronics got a 31B20 radio mechanic mos and repaired radios at battalion level. 2 year enlistment and early out at 1 year 8 months and 14 days. I learned a lot, but I am saddened by the treason of the politicos, especially Kissinger. A peace prize for selling out a nation.
I would like to see us secure our borders and clean out the trash. Anyone who wants to bring in sharia garbage can go away. I don't do drugs, but the war on drugs is finishing the job of social destruction which the alcohol prohibition started in this country. It was to be a free country, let them destroy themselves, it is clear we can't stop self-destructive behavior.

[Yeti]

USMC 93-99, 4067.
Went into the Recruiting office to sign up to be a grunt and they stuck me in computers. And I'm pretty much doing the same job nowadays.

[overbore]

Former SAC pilot here. Enlisted in 1958 as a cadet,graduated in B-25's, assigned KC-97's 818th Air Division/307th BW. TDY to the world then in 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Deployed to Harmon. Earned my own crew then on to 135's at Travis. Escorted B-52's, F-4's to Nam. Out in 1966, reserves for three more, Joined Pan Am, 707's, flew Pacific and as a junior, got "voluntered" to once more to to Nam; Flew 44 combat support missions, attacked only three times, hit only once. 39 years of flying and by the Grace of God , not a scratch.

Laus Deo
overbore

[madamkitty33]

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."

I've heard this saying all my life. Does being an Army brat of a 20 year vet who did 2 tours in Viet Nam and 1 in Korea count for much?

[Elza]

Army Security Agency '72 - '75 MOS: 32F Fixed Crypto Repair. Spent a year-and-a-half in school and a year-and-a-half in Thailand.

[Pop_45]

12 years in the Air Force as a crew chief (aircraft mechanic) I don't remember the number designator, it's been a few years.
My first duty station was Craig AFB, in Selma Alabama. It's now a civilian industrial complex. I met Momma_32 there.
My second duty station was RAF Upper Heyford, in jolly old England. That's where I picked up an affinity for dark beer.
My third and final duty station was Eglin AFB in the panhandle of Florida.
I can't say I learned a lot that crossed over to prepping. I only handled a weapon one time in the AF. That was M-16 orientation in basic training. They wouldn't even let us fire on automatic.
I guess I should retract about not crossing into prepping, I did pick up a good deal of discipline in the military.

[claymore]

5 years Air Force.....radio relay.....first duty station was at Tinker, 3rd MOB......Matt I know, Oklahoma do get hot!

[splat23]

I spent a little over 10 years in the Army. 1 yr on the staff of an Armor unit as the S-2 (Intell) guy. Learned alot in that assignment (even though I went screaming and crying over to it). 7 years as an Infantry officer and around 2 years in a National Guard SF unit (please note, I was not SF qualified). I learned SO much from it, I can't even list all of the items. Mostly, that most little details can mean the difference between a good day and a bad day.

Splat

[Matt In Oklahoma]

(please note, I was not SF qualified). Splat

Consider this a computer handshake for telling the truth, you now have more respect from me than any snakeater i ever met! I wish everyone was as proud of what they did and didnt fib

[brokedownbiker]

U.S. Army 80-84. My primary MOS was O5C, radio-teletype operator and I earned a secondary MOS of 63B, wheeled vehicle mechanic. West Germany, Ft. Campbell, Ft. Carson. I guess the main thing that I picked up in the service that aids in my prepping is the self discipline to make the hard calls and live with the consequences and learning to accept orders from those above me (I had some authority issues when I first joined- my Drill Sgt. fixed that for me- lol) and learning to be a team player.

[Briar Wabbit]

Well, Matt ... To MY mind? ... It is ALL ABOUT "Logistics" ... Even if you were a "simple" storeman ... fer-sher !

Me?

US Sub Service FTB3 ... and other sundry stuff.

Brief stint with Texas Lite Infantry and ...

Also got some additional medical and Prevention and Management of Agressive Behavior with Texas MHMR (violent clients ! ! ).

Also did a brief stnt on a Spruence class destroyer. Everyone, in the USN gets serious Fire training and Multimedia Trauma Response, CPR, etc.

If you really want to get prepped ? ... USN (as a culture) is not a bad place to hang out (but they are not hiring, ATM ... Anyone).

The sea is a very unforgiving environment ... ALL THE TIME. Old man Murphy has ruled since before the British Navy.

Special Forces, though, if you are a serious Athlete ... Yeah ... Do that, if you have the Juevos.

=Elmer=

[Currahee]

2 years in the national guard and 3.5 years active as an infantryman, over half of it in light units. Took trips to Honduras and Panama, served for a year in Korea and 2 years at Ft Lewis.

Aside from the obvious combat training, my understanding of hardship and appreciation for it carries me through many situations even today. I scoff at the things most people whine about.

[sewbeit221]

Do Brats count?! Then count me as a Navy brat-
Your learn a lot growing up military-ya gotta switch gears about every two- three years when they relocate you. You learn that you "wear" your family name, and a pride in keeping it shining. You learn respect . You learn pride in being an American!