Post: #51

(02-08-2015 12:04 AM)speakeasy Wrote:  

(02-07-2015 10:43 PM)MidWest Wrote:  No but I come from a military family.

I have brothers, cousins and uncles who have served in the Marines, Army, Air force, reserves you name it.

I was going to join myself but my brothers talked me out of it.

What did they say to talk you out of it?

I now kind of wish I went in at 18. I could still join the air force. They're now taking enlistees up to 39.

They just recommended me to continue on to college given that I received a scholarship. So they told me to follow that path. I was going to join the Marines. But damn 39? Is the military in need of bodies that bad?

Post: #52

(02-08-2015 05:00 PM)MdWanderer Wrote:  

(02-08-2015 04:10 PM)Grange Wrote:  

(02-07-2015 10:03 PM)AntiTrace Wrote:  I never wouldve guessed that given a sample size of almost 50 RVF members, that over half would have served in some form or another. I'm impressed. I thought the majority of you were beta bitches.

Some of the No's might think signing up to kill and die for the military-industrial complex is not the alpha option, if you're going to frame it that way.

It depends. A lot of military guys see themselves as beta on the inside (with the constant taking of orders and "yes ma'am, yes sir") but alpha on the outside (the respect people have in the civilian world for those who serve).

I am saying it's a separate dimension from alpha vs. beta. There are plenty of alpha guys in the military, of course, but those guys would be alpha in another job. Nothing inherently alpha about the military.

Post: #53

(02-08-2015 05:46 PM)MidWest Wrote:  

(02-08-2015 12:04 AM)speakeasy Wrote:  

(02-07-2015 10:43 PM)MidWest Wrote:  No but I come from a military family.

I have brothers, cousins and uncles who have served in the Marines, Army, Air force, reserves you name it.

I was going to join myself but my brothers talked me out of it.

What did they say to talk you out of it?

I now kind of wish I went in at 18. I could still join the air force. They're now taking enlistees up to 39.

They just recommended me to continue on to college given that I received a scholarship. So they told me to follow that path. I was going to join the Marines. But damn 39? Is the military in need of bodies that bad?

It's only the Air Force, but I don't think it's likely they'd accept anyone that age since they are the most selective branch and I read they've been lowering recruitment targets. They are just allowed to enlist someone at that age, but doesn't mean you stand a good chance necessarily. For most branches, late-20s to mid-30s is the latest you can enlist.

I have really bad retina damage in one of my eyes(non-correctable) due to a childhood accident. So I'm not sure I'd have ever passed the vision requirements of any branch, even though I can function normally with one good eye and partial sight in the other.

Post: #54

While I am happy to take personal advantage of it, the idealization and exaltation of the military in the USA nowadays is a little creepy.

The military has its share of weirdos, goofballs, assholes, and psychos.

Post: #55

Quote:The military has its share of weirdos, goofballs, assholes, and psychos.

This. Basic Training was one of the most eye-opening experiences in my life. I went through Ft. Benning with a complete cross section of the U.S. population, it was incredible how many different people we had (good and bad). Some examples:

- A backwoods 18 year old from Kentucky who rarely wore shoes in civilian life, and had never been to a movie theater. He got smoked one time and told the drill sergeant "But I dun did 25 drill sergeant!" in the most ridiculous hillbilly accent.
- An eskimo from Alaska who nearly died in the cattle car to the range. He had never been in the mainland US and was unacclimated to the heat and humidity in Georgia.
- A soft-spoken guy from Wisconsin who took a shit in the shower one time. He left it lying there and just walked out as if nothing happened. We analyzed the situation for months after, and could never figure out why he did it (really, just squatted in the middle and let it loose)
- A former Mexican gangster from Chicago who paid me $50 every week for cleaning his wall locker.
- A semi-pro boxer from Boston who gave me the first ass beating of my life. From that moment on I learned some of the smallest guys can pack the biggest punch - so choose your fights wisely. After the fight I remember he handed me a Bible and had a long discussion on religion.
- A pussy surfer from California, lazy and never helped out. He ended up becoming a Ranger with several A-Stan rotations. Some guys are lazy because they already know what they're capable of.

I still keep in touch with many of these guys. Going through, you learn everything about them and it's fascinating to see so many walks of life in the U.S.

Post: #56

There are lots of solid people in the military with unusual backgrounds.

I knew a couple of Peace Corps veterans in the military. Not that unusual to find enlisted guys with degrees, even advanced ones.

I knew a Ph.D in physics, a nuclear weapons designer, who was a Special Forces veteran of Vietnam and continued to serve as a master sergeant in the reserves.

You do get to understand the country better because you meet people from all parts. I met hillbillies, full blood Sioux and Navajo from the reservations, and an heir to a large pharmaceutical fortune.

More on the dysfunctional side:

We had a "mad shitter" in my unit. Turds would be found on the floor, in the mop sink, and shit smeared on the commode walls.

Mystery was finally solved when an alcoholic staff sergeant was found passed out on a commode with shit on his hands and smeared on the walls.

I also saw a guy (Hawaiian of Japanese descent) get taken down by the IRS and Army CID for the deposit of tens of thousands of dollars in drug sale proceeds to a Hawaiian bank account. It was like the book/movie Buffalo Soldiers.

A guy got caught trying to set off a missile by sticking the wires of a field telephone into the ignition socket and cranking. Another guy shut down an airport terminal for hours because he stole an inert artillery training round which tore open his duffel bag and rolled out onto the terminal floor.

Some guys met a guy off post. He was inviting them over to fuck whores that he paid for while he watched.

Post: #57

(02-08-2015 11:46 AM)Monty_Brogan Wrote:  Affirm. USMC ('03-'07, 2x to sandbox) 0331 served in a west coast Infantry Battalion in the high desert of CA. As much as it sucked there -boy was it a rough duty station, I actually really miss it. Twentynine Palms was truly the Wild West -some of the locals would ride horses to the bars, just drive off the side of the road and shoot your guns, bar fights, dirt bikes, off roading, it was just a place for rough men.

Some of the funniest shit I've seen in my life happened here, the down side was the shitty combat tours in Iraq.

Good old 29 Palms!

I never served.

Know lots of gents and friends who are devil dogs. Being in So-Cal there are a lot of them out here.

Some of the most coolest, masculine, honest dudes I've met. If you ever befriend one, they're some of the best friends to have.

Post: #58

Many people feel the need to turn the military into something sacred. I think it's because there's no draft and people feel like they would rather pay more in taxes to keep their kids out but feel guilty about it. They've turned every member into Jesus, in the past hollywood cam out with TV shows like Sgt. Bilko, McHales Navy, F-Troop, Gomer Pyle USMC but now similar shows can't be made since people feel too guilty for not being subject to a draft or not serving at all. Every member is a selfless service hero no matter what.
http://www.caseyresearch.com/cdd/eisenho...d-american

"Let me be blunt in defining this change: The US military joined with the church in promoting a joint righteousness, and the church became a cheerleader for the military.

I understand that this is a very stark statement, but it’s something that I think all of us have noticed. We may use different words to describe it, but we all see it.

And what we have seen is church and state joining together in a type of partnership. This partnership filled churches and gave the US military a plentiful supply of recruits. Most importantly, it created a populace that reflexively supported the American war machine.

I view this as turning military service into a new type of sacrament, or at least a new standard of righteousness. Here are the specific things I see:

American sporting events now begin with what are, essentially, worship services. God blessing America and the honor of the US military are mixed together, with swelling music, the singing of anthems, hands held over hearts, roaring airplanes, and more.
The wounded soldier has become a new type of martyr.
Soldiers in general have become the new missionaries, going to far-away, dangerous lands to spread “freedom,” which has become a compliment or replacement for the gospel.
Church services are now filled with state imagery. Flags are proudly displayed and politicians are prayed for.
Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July and have become holy days, complete with military guest speakers and ceremonies to praise soldiers.
Local boys and girls who enlist in the military are praised from the pulpit.
“Christ died for our sins and soldiers die for our freedoms” is now a widely accepted belief… the kind of thing people say “amen” to and feel righteous about.
Again, none of these are “Jesus things.” Changes like this have occurred in the past, but not in any periods we’d want to emulate."

Post: #59

(02-09-2015 06:21 AM)Blick Mang Wrote:  This. Basic Training was one of the most eye-opening experiences in my life. I went through Ft. Benning with a complete cross section of the U.S. population, it was incredible how many different people we had (good and bad). Some examples:

- A backwoods 18 year old from Kentucky who rarely wore shoes in civilian life, and had never been to a movie theater. He got smoked one time and told the drill sergeant "But I dun did 25 drill sergeant!" in the most ridiculous hillbilly accent.
- An eskimo from Alaska who nearly died in the cattle car to the range. He had never been in the mainland US and was unacclimated to the heat and humidity in Georgia.
- A soft-spoken guy from Wisconsin who took a shit in the shower one time. He left it lying there and just walked out as if nothing happened. We analyzed the situation for months after, and could never figure out why he did it (really, just squatted in the middle and let it loose)
- A former Mexican gangster from Chicago who paid me $50 every week for cleaning his wall locker.
- A semi-pro boxer from Boston who gave me the first ass beating of my life. From that moment on I learned some of the smallest guys can pack the biggest punch - so choose your fights wisely. After the fight I remember he handed me a Bible and had a long discussion on religion.
- A pussy surfer from California, lazy and never helped out. He ended up becoming a Ranger with several A-Stan rotations. Some guys are lazy because they already know what they're capable of.

I still keep in touch with many of these guys. Going through, you learn everything about them and it's fascinating to see so many walks of life in the U.S.

Another backwoods, CROSS-EYED, fat, redneck from Alabama-ate the end of basic we find out this guy has the hottest girlfriend out of all the men in the battalion. Appearances tell so little.

I went to Sand Hill at Fort Benning then Fort Sill for artillery training in 2007. OIF '09 and I'm still in the national guard.

Post: #60

One of the best descriptions of the military comes from this guy John T Reed.
http://www.johntreed.com/military.html

He writes about a lot of what I saw as the military has become another cabinet post, wasteful just to use resources It's a pretty good description.

Post: #61

When would you say is the best age to join the military ? Would saying 25 years old be pushing it too much ?

Post: #62

I grew up in a trailer in Alabama. The military was the first time I ever got on a plane or visited another state. Sometimes I have random people come up to me to shake my hand because they see my tattoo. They're usually soldiers also or older men in their 70's or 80's. There is always something about meeting another soldier. You can shake their hands, take a drink of a beer, and you don't really have to speak, yet you're still talking. I can't explain it.

Post: #63

(02-09-2015 02:41 PM)LINUX Wrote:  I grew up in a trailer in Alabama. The military was the first time I ever got on a plane or visited another state. Sometimes I have random people come up to me to shake my hand because they see my tattoo. They're usually soldiers also or older men in their 70's or 80's. There is always something about meeting another soldier. You can shake their hands, take a drink of a beer, and you don't really have to speak, yet you're still talking. I can't explain it.

It's because we've all taken a bite of the same shit sandwich, and speak the same language. And it's the same of grunts the world over.

Post: #64

I went to war with a bang. TOP THAT MOTHERFUCKERS!







   

Post: #65

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[attachment=24805]

Post: #66

Nice. My pic was real though.

Post: #67

I was in the Irish reserve army(FCA) for about 12 years.
Truth be told it wasn't very serious, it was viewed as a joke organisation for many years, up until about ten years ago, when they streamlined and modernised it.
It helped build character and self discipline but overall it can't be compared to most other countries' reserve armies cos of how shambolic an operation it was until recently.
Twas an education though , us reserve guys were soft ass betas compared to the admittedly ignorant but hard as nails regular army guys.

Post: #68

(02-20-2015 03:05 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  I went to war with a bang. TOP THAT MOTHERFUCKERS!

Those are some posh arrangements. Looks like a hotel room in Dubai. My CHU looked nothing like that, and I was in Baghdad. Does Dept of Navy like their Marines that much?

Post: #69

Yes. Army then Army Guard. Started as 11B1P (airborne infantryman). Got old and decided to reclass as 92Y (lazy ass supply sergeant).

Did a year in Afghanistan (2007-2008). Don't recommend it as a vacation spot. Got out a few years ago.

Post: #70

Interesting stories in here. I've always wanted to join the army as a younger chap but the oil industry turned out to be a better deal. Dealing with the same assholes, weirdos, racists etc. as well but nobody trying to pump me full of lead. And much much more money of course.

Post: #71

U.S. NAVY reserve.(Seabee) 8 years total, 1 stint in Iraq 2006. Al Anbar

I viewed the whole experience as positive, would recommend a family member to join. It reminded me of being employed by a giant corporation with all the crap that goes with it, but the experience is unlike anything anyone could experience in any other realm of their lives. I gained a couple of extremely close friends out of it and I don't believe I could bond with any person that way without having been to war together.

Post: #72

(02-09-2015 02:33 PM)Constitution45 Wrote:  When would you say is the best age to join the military ? Would saying 25 years old be pushing it too much ?

Honestly, right out of high school is the best age to join. When you're older, I assume it'd be annoying to be a 25 year old E2 getting told what to do by a 22 year old E4.

Post: #73

(02-21-2015 01:54 AM)dads Wrote:  

(02-09-2015 02:33 PM)Constitution45 Wrote:  When would you say is the best age to join the military ? Would saying 25 years old be pushing it too much ?

Honestly, right out of high school is the best age to join. When you're older, I assume it'd be annoying to be a 25 year old E2 getting told what to do by a 22 year old E4.

Yeah I have been looking at officer roles rather than joining regular combat. But I hear what you are saying, the military is such a big organisation, there seems to be a part to be played by anyone and everyone.

Post: #74

I'm not sure how representative I would be in this thread, since conscription is compulsory in Finland. I did like the training though.

Post: #75

(02-21-2015 01:54 AM)dads Wrote:  

(02-09-2015 02:33 PM)Constitution45 Wrote:  When would you say is the best age to join the military ? Would saying 25 years old be pushing it too much ?

Honestly, right out of high school is the best age to join. When you're older, I assume it'd be annoying to be a 25 year old E2 getting told what to do by a 22 year old E4.

Yes it IS annoying. I joined at 26 and was berated once by an 18 year old E4 (I was an E3). Thanks to needing the money, wanting to advance, and finally finding a steady job and paycheck out of college, I got smart and refrained from cursing her the fuck out.