I will. I can. I will not give up. Work is tuff, school is tuff. My daughter is tougher. I am going to become a soldier. Can you guys tell me your storys on why you inlisted or got drafted. I like reading what you have to say on all the other threads. You guys are real and have lived, and been there before me. I am not special, nor will I ever be compared to the people that have and are, serving our country past and present. But I do like hearing things about our countrys history, and you are a part of it. My Grandfather spent time in the Navy durring WWII and Korea. My father got out of the Air force right before Vietnam. My other Grandfather worked for Ford for thirty-five years and built tanks during world warII. I have only heard a fraction of what I should have because of distance and death. So your storys are apperciated and listend to with open eyes.

I could not get a job because of my draft status so I joined. It was a good choice, though, they would not have taken me otherwise because of a bad knee.

quote:

So your storys are apperciated and listend to with open eyes.

I won't bore you all with some linguistics and psychological personality classifications discussion....However, if you're ever questioned by an investigator, use this phrase and watch his face screw up all funny-like. I know you made mine do it.

And the phrase reminds me of one of my son's boot camp stories-- A common phrase for the DIs to yell to get recruits to visually pay attention is "EYEBALLS!" The proper recruit response is "CLICK SIR!" To "listen up" is "EARS!" and the proper response is "OPEN SIR!" My son walked into the squad bay and yelled "EARBALLS!" Apparently the proper recruit response is to throw a canteen at your head.

Anyway, I've told my "joining the Marines" story here before, you probably read it already, so I'll just offer the above as a thread jack.

Yeh I watched eyes open mouth shut before. It was a good documentry.My reasoning on this post is that I would be reading your reply's, so. My first choice in services was the Marines but I missed my window.
I would have considerd it now only that I am going to be thirty-one in november and they dont pay you till you get out of basic. I have bills that will not stop when I am away, there for Army all the way.

Harry P,
You mean you couldnt get a job in the civilan market? What did you do in aviation?

And patoloco I havnt found your post, and I wouldnt mind hearing it again. Your story I mean.

It was because of my draft status -- I had no skills. I did not do anything in aviation or armor -- the two branches to which I was assigned.

I remember in 1969 times were not that bad but I like some quit school because I knew better, I found the only jobs I did quailfy for were fork lift operator at $5.00 an hour or security guard at $5.50 an hour was all I could get with out an education. I joined the Army and ensured a future for me and my later family, I NEVER LOOKED BACK ONCE, NO REGREATS. By the way I finished my education along the way.

HarryP,
I know it can be a sore subject but what did you do in the Army, I have had a couple friends during my short thirty years that have served during vietnam. Even though they didnt talk about it much they where still willing to tell me some things. both where Marines and one was a grunt. He had the bad storys, the other was a helicopter mech. He had carrier duty and didnt see any action, besides naked girls in Spain Any ways I dont want to make you tell me any thing you dont want to. But im am interested.

Coachman,
What did you do in the Army? Five bucks an hour isnt bad. My third job that just happend to be in Idaho started at 4.75 an hour. That was a hard 40 hour pay check. 1997 I think.

Well, I signed up while still in high school two weeks after the Beirut bombing. I had been following the story of the Marines in Lebanon in the news, and wrote a series of articles about it in the local high school and community newspapers. And now, I was going to go kill some Arabs. Only I wasn't really sure I wanted to kill Arabs, so I joined the Reserves, infantry. After a couple of years of full time college, full time job, and a pregnant wife....I decided I wanted to sleep before the baby was born and make some money that I didn't pour into college. So I went active duty, infantry. After a tour of that, I went into intelligence. I did that for the next 17 years.

Like everyone else here, never looked back, never regretted it. Almost got out a few times, and never expected to do 22 years and retire. Somehow that happened. I always told myself "I'll get out when it ain't fun anymore", and while I was still having fun when I retired, I felt old and tired. And felt it was time to leave.

Had good training and a job (tool&die maker)but wanted military. Joined USAF, they trained me as jet engine mechanic (USAF only needs a few tool&die makers). Saw Paine Field WA, Vietnam Thailand, Phillippines and x other places. Loved the job but wanted more. Left after 4 years as a Staff Sergeant(they asked me to stay). Worked at Boeing as Aircraft Inspector. Was admitted to UofW/Seattle, joined ROTC (Army) paid for by GI bill and ROTC, Boeing savings (no rich parents). Graduated & spent 16 years in the Army (tanks), retired as a Major. No regrets, all was great. It's all in you, not the service.

MAster Tanker did you have a specific Airplane you worked on? My Dad was a mech on 104 and F-105s. They where just bringing in the F-4J's when he got out. They where coming around asking if they wanted to re-up right before vietnam. My Dad didnt, he went to work for the flying tigers and some other outfits after that.I guess I am glad he didnt I probably wouldnt be here? I was thinking about armor for an MOS but I dont know about being stuck inside one of those non a/c suckers in the middle of the desert. My recruiter is a tanker, he dosnt have one bad thing to say about it. Although he is a recruiter

Patoloco, When was beirut, 80s? I think about killing some times, but I know thats not why I want to go infantry, I will do what I have to but mainly just want to see some country. O yea and on Uncle Sams tab.

Yes, 23 Oct 1983 was the Beirut bombing of the Marine barracks. There were 241 Marines, Sailors and Soldiers killed that day. Almost every Marine of my generation can name the exact date and the number of casualties off the top of his head.

http://www.beirut-memorial.org/monument/index.html

dbharr, I worked on F102s (Delta Dagger)and T38/F5s flightline only (means out on the ramp responsible for quick fixes, engine pulls etc.). Like I said, I liked the job. Working on an airfield has a special atmosphere.Joined Army because I wanted something to say. In the USAF I would have made shop chief eventually, I guess, which isn't bad. In ROTC I was DMG (Dist. Mil. Grad) which allows you first choice for branch. I choose Armor (the combat arms of decision). Requires a lot of technical knowhow to keep a tank running, clean and functional, most of that is done by the crew. My motto always was: The best tactical crew is worthless when their tank doesn't function. Also in demand are quick reaction and tactical skills when in action or exercises. Tanks are very safe for the crew except in close combat (snipers, guys with RPG close in)but tanks usually have Infantry in support. Deadly for tanks is also when US looses air superiority (so far has never happened). My highlight in Armor was when I commanded B Co. 1/40th Armor with 17 tanks, 2 APC, 1 M88 recovery tank and xx trucks and jeeps. It was a long column on the road...

Kinda sad when America's introduction into next or current level of warfare (suicide bombers) gets relegated to a footnote in history huh?

When I went in the army in 1969 I was sent to fort Dix, Nj for basic and then I went through the last 11B school Dix had. Shipped out to VN as infantry., Did time in the states as 11E armor crewman till it was changed to 19E.

Located from the Post your military resume thread. (Posted 03.February.2005 )

Hmmm, don't know how I missed out on this thread....

Jul74 MCRD San Diego 'boot'
Oct74 29 Palms Comm School
Feb75-78 Camp Pendleton Field Radio Operator for Artillery 11th Marines
78 Memphis Tn for Aviation Jet Mech School
78-84 MCAS Cherry Point H&HS-32, VMA-542, VMA-231 Harrier Squadrons. Was a Jet mech with hi-pwr quals both ashore and afloat for the AV8 Harrier, AV8A and C model. The AV8B was still in development.
during this timeframe when on several shipboard deployments to include Beruit in 83. (favorite place in the world was old Magasysay Street in Olongopo)
84-91 MCAS YUMA H&HS-13, MALS-13, Saddass hit Kuwait on 12th August, I found myself on the ground in Saudi on Aug 20th. Stayed til it was over.
91-94 MCRD San Diego, SPAWARS installing NALCOMIS aircraft maintenance computer systems,at all Navy and Marine base, along with all of the carriers.
Retired after my twenty from MCRD San Diego.
Navy Commendation, Navy Achievement w/4 stars, Marine Expeditionary Medal, Metitorous Unit Citation w/3 stars, Presidential Unit Citation, GCM w4 stars, Humanitarian Service medal w/2 stars, NDSM w/2 stars, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 2stars, 7th award rifle expert badge, 5th award pistol expert badge and probably a few others I can't think of right now.

Currently working for EDS on the NMCI contract, have been a govt contractor with 8 different companies on various contracts including member of Admirals Staff in New Orleans for Naval Air Reserves since retirement.

Whose is this? I must have missed this one

That's TheGunny's. I forgot about that thread. Here's the link:

http://forums.militaryspot.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/14610...=416106912#416106912

It's nine pages, so here's mine (from page 9)--

Entered MCRD San Diego as 0311, Reservist, 23rd Marines (84-86)
86-89 0311 with 7th Marines
89-94 0251 with I MEF
94-97 0251 with III MEF
97-2000 0251 with II MEF
2000-2005 0251 Instructor in VA
Retired 2005

MSM, NAVMCCOM, JSAM w/ a couple boogers, and all the others...

Highlights include a 4 month vacation in Somalia, another in Haiti, and a few trips around Central and South America. And aboard the recently deceased USS Belleau Wood, broke down and had to wait in Singapore for 3 weeks for parts...I was broke, but happy.