Author Topic: Anyone ever been in service (Read 1364 times)

nirvana · « **Reply #15 on:** November 08, 2007, 11:32:51 PM »

I concur with the previous posters, at 14 you've got A LOT more to worry about then joining the military. Think about for 4 years. When you turn 17 go talk to a recruiter, at 14 they probably won't give you much attention at all, and rightfully so. Cherish your childhood.

I'm set to join the Coast Guard at the end of January 2008 and it's the best decision I've made so far (I think so at least). It's made me concentrate more on school so I can graduate and join, a GED won't cut it in most cases and most likely not for the Marines and 99% of the time the Coast Guard won't accept them. It's made me concentrate more on my overall health, working out more, eating a lot more healthier.

Like I said, think about it for 3 or 4 years, 2 years ago I wouldn't have even thought about joining, last year I wouldn't have thought about going to Iraq, now I'm fully committed to the Coast Guard. If you can get into college before the military, absolutely do it. Don't think that the military is all about getting behind a trigger and shooting people, they put a lot of emphasis on intelligence.

Best wishes.

rpm · « **Reply #16 on:** November 08, 2007, 11:52:36 PM »

Enjoy Cape May, Nirvana.

nirvana · « **Reply #17 on:** November 08, 2007, 11:56:00 PM »

I've heard it's a nice place in the winter. I don't mind the cold so it's alright.

rpm · « **Reply #18 on:** November 09, 2007, 12:05:05 AM »

Quote

I don't mind the cold ...

You might want to keep that to yourself.

nirvana · « **Reply #19 on:** November 09, 2007, 12:21:30 AM »

I prefer cold to hot, there's only so much you can take off. Kodiak will probably be one of my choices. $1000 bonus to go to the Great Lakes but I really want to go to Oregon.

rpm · « **Reply #20 on:** November 09, 2007, 12:26:54 AM »

Columbia river is a tough place. You would see a lot of action there.

Don't go romanticising Kodiak. It's not all it's cracked up to be.

Hornet33 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 09, 2007, 01:46:56 AM »

Never been to Kodiak. Always wanted to go but it just never worked out. Been to Cordova AK though. Talk about the town that time forgot about.

Oh RPM as far as me being an ET cox'n and pissing the bosn's off, yeah it put a few noses out of joint, but hey, I can drive a boat with some skill. You have to figure when the BMC has to sign off on my letter that the rest of them would accept me, well you kow how it is. I got the job done though and that's what counts. I used to drive these around from time to time. 1999-2002 Deployable Pursuit Boat program. 38ft Fountain power boats. 60+ knots, two Yanmar 420HP turbo diesels, with ZF 2 speed tranmissions and counter rotating 5 bladed surface piercing props. Yeah those things would flat out get with the program in a hurry.

By the way in this pic, I'm the guy sitting in the back seat. It was a photo op for the local paper and we were jumping the wake from a 41ft'er that had the news crew onboard. Fun day that was:aok Nothing like running around on the Chesapeake bay with the fastest boat on the water.

JB88 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 09, 2007, 02:38:39 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by raider73
do you think Iraq war is fighting for my country? im still debating and im only 14 pretty sure war will be over

doubt it.

besides, there doesn't have to be a war going on for you to serve your country.

there is a vast difference between girlfriends and wives.

do what feels right to you.

rpm · « **Reply #23 on:** November 09, 2007, 03:55:55 AM »

No doubt about your ability Hornet. Just figured it made a few BM's re-examine their career choice. But you could relate. How would you like a BM3 walking in and rewiring a sonar array with a fish in the water?

Like I said, the Coast Guard requires more from everyone.

ded · « **Reply #24 on:** November 09, 2007, 04:09:43 AM »

I was in the Navy from 1994-1998. Can the service be a good thing? Yes. Would I tell anyone to go in now? No, not unless they were going Air Force. When I was 16 I had delusions of joining the Marines and going out and kicking butt, but the reality is unless you plan on staying in for 20-30 years it's not as good of a deal as it sounds.

As for what I did in the Navy, I was a Submarine Sonar Technician. You say the living quarters on a carrier are cramped? HA!

rpm · « **Reply #25 on:** November 09, 2007, 04:19:48 AM »

Again, I got to go with the Coasties. Normally, you are out no longer than 90 days. Granted, all my service was before OIF. Things have changed A LOT!

There are a lot of misconceptions about the Coast Guard, including the "shallow water sailor" myth. My old ship Boutwell(WHEC-719) led Task Force Tarawa into Iraq. It was also featured on an episode of "Mail Call".

Port Safety is a dangerous job.

Phaser11 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 09, 2007, 07:16:47 AM »

OK one for the Air Force.
Miths;
Air Force people always stay in hotels. No, tents were the norm at FOB’s.
Air Force treats officers better that enlisted. I’m going to say differently, not necessarily better. They lived in the same tents and they are family.
Air Force has the best chow…. Bull S…..
Not as military as the other services, That’s crap.

Truths.
The best bases, you bet. Lets not put 80 million dollar assets in a cornfield.
Pilots treat the ground crews better that most other officers treat there enlisted force in other services. You better believe it, where I have seen crews have bad days, most of the time these people are professionals.
Crew dogs own the aircraft, not own, they are responsible for it’s upkeep.

My life in the Air Force was long days and nights, bending wrenches, 12 hours in a gas mask, endless alerts and exercises, sweating bullets during FCF flights, school, repetitive training, testing, strange medical exams, bosses that were down right mean, not seeing my family for months even years at a time, such pain when a friend is lost, packing up and moving every four years or so leaving all your friends behind, watching everything you do so you don’t cause harm. Blood, sweat and tears by the bucketful. War.

But is was also, gut renching laughter, travel to places that are not even on a map yet, friendship that reaches beyond even your own blood family, watch young people go above and beyond the call of duty, then blow it off like it was no big thing. Heroes around every corner, getting you butt wiped in a football game by the 82nd Airborne (it still hurts) and so many other thing I cannot explain.

The worst day was my last day.

What ever service you chose, you must finish school first. Go to college if it is possible and get a commission. Do not feel any less if you decide to go enlisted, we are the backbone of the armed forces. For now, be a young person, look at everything we have in this country and remember that is was the GI that made it all possible and keeps it that way.

Oh forget, there are girls in every country! You'll have a steady job and income. They are looking for guys like that. BE CAREFULL!

SD67 · « **Reply #27 on:** November 09, 2007, 08:06:18 AM »

There are times that I wish I didnt blow my military service (I had an attitude problem that made me "no longer of interest to the service") but that experience and those that followed immediately made me a unique individual, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

AWMac · « **Reply #28 on:** November 09, 2007, 09:17:41 AM »

U.S. Army Retired. '75~'95.

I miss it.

I'd rather be back in than having to work with whining ass'd civilians any day.

Mac

JimBeam · « **Reply #29 on:** November 09, 2007, 09:22:56 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by RedTop
Your 14.

Worry about grades.....What your first car may be....copping that first feel...prom date.....trying out for football and baseball......things like that.

When your grown a bit more...like 5 more years or so...then give it some thought.

Don't concentrate on a war that A) your to young to fight in....and B) may not even be going on when you do become old enough.

Don't be in a hurry to be a hero.....EVER.

words of wisdom