None of you probably remember me, but I stopped posting here about six months ago. I still came back every once in a while to read, but haven't felt compelled to post until now.

After having done absolutely fuck all with my life for the past two years, I decided to enlist in the USMC. I'll be going to the MCRD at San Diego on December 12th. Hopefully in March I'll be able to be proud to have earned the title of Marine.

My chosen MOS is 0300, which is Infantry. I haven't gotten a lot of encouragement for my choice, but it is something that I feel I have to prove to myself.

Air Force for 5 yrs and counting.

USMC June 25th to pres!! Iraq Nov 02 to July 03, Iraq Sept 04 to April 05, Korea Oct to pres and beyone to April 06. UhhRahh to those of the past and the pres and Happy Freaken B-Day!!! A happy comm Marine!

MM2 (SS) 5y3m. (Senior watch qualified.)
Out of PH HI, on the Cheyenne, SSN 773, 688 (I). Last 688 hull to be laid. :(
Also a shellback, and order of the ditch.

bump again...

I was in the USAF from 90-96.

Marines, 95-03
Comm guru
3rd AAV Bn, Camp Pendleton
6th Comm Bn, Bklyn, NY

278th ACR from '99 onward...

retired army, 1987 - 2007

USAF 1999-2004

I was a 3C051 if anyone knows what that means...

I've never served, but have the utmost respect and admiration for those who do/did:

like my dad...Airforce during Vietnam
like my uncle...Army during Korea
like my grandpa...Army during WWII


If I had to do my life over, I'd do a stretch in the Airforce right out of high school...I needed the discipline.

Had I not been born with a sever heart problem, I have no doubt that I would be in the army. It's strange how things outside of your control can shape who you are.

Army National Guard 2003-2006, C/111 Area Support Medical Battalion. Combat Medics, HOOAH!!

Hubby is in the ANG. I've been waiting a year and a half for him to come home from overseas. Do I count?

ARNG, Combat Engineer 2002-now (Yay for Afghanistan... not really...)

Aww, I know how you feel :( My hubby (xepherys, above) is in the 'ghan. He's been gone since January 6th, and won't be home until next May or June. Boo.

I think you definitely count, heh.

bump for the 4th...

bump for the 11th...

United States Air Force
1981-1989
Security Police
Staff Sergeant
Reagit ut defendatis
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/10.../BlueBeret.jpg

90th Security Police Squadron
F.E. Warren AFB Cheyenne, WY
1981-1984

3906 Special Security Squadron
SAC Elite Guard
Offutt, AFB Omaha, NE
1984-1989

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/10...RibbonRack.bmp

Army Airborne. Two deployments. 'Nuff said.

Army.

bump for armistice day weekend...

http://www.g2mil.com/vetpos87.jpg
Happy Veteran's Day

http://www.execupundit.com/uploaded_...243-700141.jpg

Thank you to the TFPers who have bravely served his/her country, and to those who still are.

heh what does it matter, it's not like were going to start a club, unless this is about some sort of competition, in which case the only thing that the Marines will lose in, would be the poll percentage.

???

I was just saying it seems OK to have a military appreciation thread, but if its a poll, what do the numbers even tell us?

Navy 1983-1987

San Diego- Boot
Treasure Island- HT "A" school
USS Cape Cod (AD-43) Engineering R-division and the Flying Squad (ship board fire dept./ damage control)

Hey, I was in the Navy and a buddy of mine got drunk one night and beat the living crap out of a Marine's knuckles. He used his face to do it, but the Marine's hand did not look good at all, not at all.

4 years in the navy, 3 1/2 serving on a 30 year old carrier.

I understand we were part of Operation Southern Watch back in '97 not far from Baghdad and know they gave us of a decoration for it, but it was all the same to me seeing sunlight every 3 days. Very grateful for the opportunity and especially appreciative now with how the experiences then have shaped my attempts at writing/characters.
<probably repost>
hearing a 30 ton propeller cavitating in open air as it turns at full speed just 40 or so feet from you is an unforgettable sound. It was 60+ ft waves outside at the time.
</probably repost>

whatever you want them to; it's not a competition; more of a compilation...

Well, since someone dug it up...

USMC November '93 - present, with a vast majority of it stationed at Camp Lejeune.

A little broken time from '98 - 2001.

Tully - Obviously, your buddy wasn't green side... ;)

Army. Combat Engineer.

Bombs, Bridges and Booby-traps. Chimo!

Nope!

Little on the slow and drunk side.

I did watch a Navy SEAL break a pair of handcuffs behind his back at the NCO club at North Island Naval Air Station one night. For some reason the 3rd class SP was in no hurry to go out into the night looking for him. I think his exact words to the 1st class with him was "fuck-you, you go. I'll wait here for back-up." It was then decided they'd both wait for back-up. Can't say what happened after that I left without finishing my beer.

USN 1982-1992
Boot camp at Great Lakes
OS "A" School at Dam Neck
USS Leahy (CG-16)
VF-191
VF-51

bump for the weekend...

I'm trying my hardest to commission into the US Navy. I know it's not much, at least not compared to some of y'all.

How many TFP'ers are currently in active service..
 

Hey peeps,
I just stopping by to give a shout out when I found myself looking for our old military forum and realized we should have made one for our vets. Then I got
to wondering if there are any other members like myself currently serving in the Armed Forces.
So I decided to make a post to see if we can have them make themselves known because I could be downrange and standing right next to one and not know it.

Just also, and not to make a pissing contest about it, You old vets drop a line and say whats up so I can see my other brothers from other mothers...
Buddah

bump for buddah...

gotcher backside, buddy...

I just keep the home fires burning.

83-87 here, thanks for your service BuDDaH.

Been in the ARNG since '02. Went to the 'ghan last year... fun times!

..

bump for the 4th...

...and I can still fit into my Class As.

So can I... but mine were never that small anyhow... *shrug*

I'm not in the military, but many in my family are.

I want to tell each and every one of those who have served or are serving our country, how proud I am, and how much I respect the sacrifices, hard work, and duty you provide for our country and the world.

It's your loyalty to our home and the standing up for freedom that makes the USA what it is, and I'm the first to applaud what you do for us all.

Yeah...yeah...

What've you been out now? A year? Come see me in another 19. ;)

I'm still wearing the same size condoms.

My grandfather was the ATC at a USAF base in England (RAF Woodbridge), and also a navigator with the RAF in WWII

my grandfather lost his left leg at chateau thierry (sp?) in WWI, but the original post was, "What branch of the Armed Services were/are you in?"

*Bump*

Any new recruits? We live in interesting times.

After sitting on the fence for 8 years, I finally jumped in. I'm going for the Navy. Currently an officer candidate applicant. The competition is very tough and the process selective. Hope to get to Newport before my age limit expires.

good luck, and thanks...

bump for veterans day...

US Army, 15th Support Battalion, 1st Cav, 87-89 (thank you, Ronald Reagan)

Aaah, 1st Cav... the only unit patch big enough to deflect fragmentation weapons.

Don't forget the "is it a horse, or is it a dog?" logo...
http://www.crwflags.com/art/mil/misc/fld-1056.jpg
First Team

---------- Post added at 05:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:05 PM ----------

20 years and 30 lbs. later--not a chance in hell.

It's okay, Fugly... I think the fact that I can still fit in 'em is part of the reason going back is appealing. I'm too cheap to buy new ones.

DORKTACULAR PICTURE TO EMBARRASS MYSELF:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...sABlackout.jpg

Early 2005.

you got big feet, ground-pounder... :)

My brother went back in to the National Guard after being out of the service (RA) for 12 years. He's in Afghanistan now.

---------- Post added at 05:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:40 PM ----------

Better surface for landing, so he doesn't get stuck like a tent peg :thumbsup:

Afghanistan ('06) was more "roughin' it" than Iraq, and I was in Iraq in 2003.

If I hear another douche whinin' about not having AC in their crackerbox, I'll cry.

aw, man, our hootch in 'nam didn't have AC either... :)

That's just the Air Force guys...wondering where the valet parking is.

Used to piss us off when the A/C only worked about half time when I was in the Indian Ocean. Luckily they got it fixed when we got to Australia.

you were so lucky...

:)

Lucky? WTF! Two weeks without dependable A/C. The berthing had to be in the mid 80's day and night. Was like living hell I tell ya!:eek: Then there were nearly two weeks on the mess decks when they wouldn't even have orange soda. None, nada, zip! We survived on 7-Up and Coke. I lowered myself to Dr. Pepper one day, not proud of it. But that's what it came to, so I did what I had to to survive. We made it through. How? I have no idea. But we made into Darwin and were given two weeks liberty. When we returned to the ship the A/C and orange soda issues had been resolved.

You think that's bad, you should have seen what happened to morale when the power converter in my truck caught fire and we lost the sound system and coffee pot :)

Well...you know what they say...

The Marine Corps takes it.
The Army secures it.
The Navy cleans it up.
And the Air Force lives in it.

Ex Air Force here. :thumbsup:

My father was in the Navy for 25 years. He's retired now. He's been restationed alll over the world. Places I know he's been to (deployment or stationed) are:

Virginia
New York
Hawaii
North carolina
Alabama
Washington
Italy
Japan
Singapore
Philippines (where he met my mom and I was born)
Malaysia
Hong Kong
Australia


And all that was just in my lifetime.

I'm a total Navy brat and I'm still under his Tricare health insurance. I HATE Tricare. They make everything sooo difficult sometimes.

I LOVE the Navy Exchange! Thank goodness they've added more designer brands in the last few years. Including one of my faves: Lucky Brand. :D!!!<3

I grew up in military housing.. namely Murphy Canyon here in San Diego.

My dad would always send my family souvenirs from his deployments. My favorite being the awesomely priced gold jewelry from Singapore and coins!

I loved it when my dad would take me around his ship and I got to meet the captain and the captain showed me around and I got to go to the front of the ship (it was windy!). I got to go to the crow's nest and they gave me tons of ear plugs for some reason. Whenever I went there.. they'd give me more and more.

The airshows were cool, too. My dad was a Mastered Arms Chief and I got to stand next to a huge gun when they shot it. I forgot why they were shooting the guns.. I think it was a drill or something. **shrug**

What freaked me out though was when they'd raise and lower the flag. Everybody would STOP and turn towards the flag or the music and salute until the music stopped. It just creeped me out how they did it automatically like robots. XD My dad still does it if we're ever at the base or the hospital.

He tells me tons of stories of his Navy days.. a lot of them were pretty crazy, but cool. haha

It's funny. I make light of this partly because many of the guys and ladies (yes we had ladies on my ship) would complain about anything and everything. The ship I was on, The USS Cape Cod AD-43, went on a diplomatic tour right after I got on her. Hit a ton of countries in 6mos. All over Asia, Africa, Australia, a bunch of south Pacific islands. Never spent any more time at sea then necessary. Once we got to port we stayed there for a week or two. Spent about a month in Australia alone. When we were at sea every Friday was "surf and turf" i.e. steak and lobster. Guy's would complain that their steak was tough or the lobster was rubbery. I not making this up. We went from Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean to Darwin, Australia with, gasp!, one movie for the mess decks, "The Man from Snowy River." I think some guys wrote their congressman.

We had one guy on our ship, really one of my better friends. He was older then most of us and would get pissed when people complained about BS things. One morning at quarters we were told there would be a special presentation for him at 1500. I asked him "what the hell is this all about?" "It's just a silly thing that happen years ago." That silly thing turned out to be him dragging several wounded Marines out of fire and getting shot three times in the leg in the process. Even after he got shot he went back for the last two guys. Guess he was a Navy medic in Nam. He'd never talked about it. I knew he'd been in during Nam but I kind of figured he either served else where or spent the war off shore providing support. I can't remember what else he got but they gave him a Purple Heart.

People didn't complain as much after that day. Well not around him anyway.

A bitching sailor is a happy sailor.

---------- Post added at 05:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:37 AM ----------


Cool story. But I think your dad might have been a Chief Master at Arms not a Mastered Arms Chief.

My kids got a bunch of stuff from all over the world, she's now old enough to appreciate it a little.

Hahaha, "I like the way this sucks." "I wish it would suck more!"

Are we talkin' field time here... or phrases I've uttered after picking up a girl from the Ugly Stick?

Dunno...the phrase fits either way.

What is it they used to say? "Embrace the suck" I think I also recall hearing "Fuck the suck"

Strangly enough, those work too. :thumbsup:

I was in the ninja special forces, very hush hush. But seriously, what's with the "Other" option, what other branches are there? Is the National Guard considered armed services?

Also, curious. It seems like everyone knows that airforce is better in terms of like not dying and stuff. And the army is the worst in terms of lack of support for its size kind of thing. So why do so many people still join the army and so few the air force? Also, I figured marines would be a lot smaller, or do we just have an unusually high amount here in the TFP?

anyone purporting to be a veteran of the ninja special forces should know that other nations have armed forces, not just the united states...

i was in the Anarcho branch of U.S. homeland defense.

...we the people

That was me being silly. And I didn't think of that, I tend to think of the TFP as American.

TFP is global...

bump for the weekend...

/me is gettin' my fruit salad from 'nam embroidered on patches so that i can sew them on my golf bag...

lame, i know..., but what the fuck, right?

bump...

U.S. Marines 1986 - 1990
6114 UH1N Huey helicopter flightline mechanic and doorgunner.
Camp Pendleton
El Toro
Kaneohe Bay
Marine Barracks Pearl Harbor

OOH RAH GET SOME!

All for it, brother. My motorcycle jacket has the patches I had sewn on my armor for a year in A-stan.

Army

(minimum character requirment filling text)

Air Force since '96 still loving it.

Coast Guard '76 - '98, plus four years at the Academy.

Officer,Royal Navy,Rtd

I'm nothing but a numbnuts poolee, but I did swear into the Marines today, so I am techinically government property.

Hehe, good luck, keep your head down and your mouth shut when you go to basic.*

*No matter how right you are, it isn't worth it.

Best of luck. When you get basic done let us know how it went.

Lemme know how long it takes you to learn the USMC bark language.

I'm still clueless as to how they communicate.

not yet but i'm ready =]

bump...

USAF, '89 to '98

Was first stationed at Clark AB in the Philippines, working F-4 Avionics, then, just days before a big volcano went off, I went to Hurlburt Field, Florida where I was in Special Ops, working on Modified C-130 aircraft. After that, sill in Special Ops, I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

Places I was sent:

England
Pakistan
Jordan
Egypt
Australia
Guam
Kwajlein
Singapore
South Korea
Cambodia
Guyana
Panama
Etc

I really liked the AF but just got burned out. Towards the end I was gone for 200 to 250 days a year. For those still in that probably doesn't sound so bad. But I was in the service, for the most part, during peace time. War is much different. If I could go back in time, I would have stayed in. But then again, I would have definitely had to go to Afghanistan or Iraq. Might not be here right now...

bump...

i'm in the army currently on a naval base.
i gotta tell ya... navy food SUCKS.

I enlisted in something & did something but cant recall what.

I'm a Marine, and proud of it.

S-3, HQ Battery, 11th Marines. KINGS OF THE BATTLEFIELD! OORAH!



oops...my moto got the best of me...:paranoid:

All army would've retired but my body broke....