Military Guys and Gals, What did you do?

**DaveMatthewsBand** · 07-01-2018, 12:03 PM

I often regret leaving the Navy, wondering why I thought the civilian life was somehow going to be better than it was before I joined, and wishing I had retired from the military. That pension would be nice to have these days.

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**Phansen404** · 07-01-2018, 12:57 PM

Mommy signed to let me join USAF in Oct 1971 as I was only 17 when I graduated HS. After Law Enforcement Academy went to Kunsan AB, Korea (3rd SPS) until 1973. Altus AFB, Okla, 1973-1974. Back to Kunsan AB to 3rd RRS, 1974-1975. Back stateside to Wurtsmith AFB, 1975-1978. (discharged)

**Lingerlonger** · 07-01-2018, 03:17 PM

Navy Spook (NavSecGru/Signals Intell) 1970-73.

Following boot camp (February) in Orlando, FL, I never saw another Navy base or much less, a ship.
After 18 mos stateside training in DC and Texas, was deployed to the Middle East.
Spent 41 more years as a DoD civilian in the same field. Retired 2007. REALLY retired 2015.

No regrets. It gave me a career. Made lifelong friends.
A bunch of us old guys gather every year on 11/11 to knock back a few pitchers of beer and tell some lies.

K

**jim1521** · 07-01-2018, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by Lingerlonger

Navy Spook (NavSecGru/Signals Intell) 1970-73.

Following boot camp (February) in Orlando, FL, I never saw another Navy base or much less, a ship.
After 18 mos stateside training in DC and Texas, was deployed to the Middle East.
Spent 41 more years as a DoD civilian in the same field. Retired 2007. REALLY retired 2015.

No regrets. It gave me a career. Made lifelong friends.
A bunch of us old guys gather every year on 11/11 to knock back a few pitchers of beer and tell some lies.

K

Ken, were you a "T-brancher"? That's what I was the equivalent of in the Air Force.

**jim1521** · 07-01-2018, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by DaveMatthewsBand

I often regret leaving the Navy, wondering why I thought the civilian life was somehow going to be better than it was before I joined, and wishing I had retired from the military. That pension would be nice to have these days.

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I did the math, and went in with the expectation that I would get out as late as 15 years if the the right opportunity presented itself. It did.

I was at 12 years in and facing a 1-year remote to Korea, or tripling my salary with GE Aerospace Military & Data Systems Operations. I thought long and hard for about 8 seconds and chose GE.

Only time I regretted it was when 9/11 happened. I knew the AF was short handed in my career field, so I knew some people still at HQ. I made a call and told them I'd come back in so my kid wouldn't have to go off and fight this one. This was 12 years since I had left (I was 46 years old at this time). I got a call a couple of days later, and they said "Jim, thanks for the offer, but we're gonna let the younger kids fight this one".

I never felt so old in all my life.

**Likes to tow** · 07-01-2018, 06:14 PM

I think the military should be mandatory for all young men after high school unless they are successfully pursing college, technical training or some apprenticeship in a valid field. We have so many young guys today just pissing their life away with tattoos and their pants hanging 4 inches below their underwear!! They usually end up doing or selling drugs with no compass or direction in life!! It's a waste of humanity so shameful to our country. I know of far too many wasted lives and families torn apart. A good drill instructor could teach these young men respect for themselves and their country. Yes, I also have never heard anyone say they were sorry they served in the military!!

**jim1521** · 07-01-2018, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Likes to tow

I think the military should be mandatory for all young men after high school unless they are successfully pursing college, technical training or some apprenticeship in a valid field. We have so many young guys today just pissing their life away with tattoos and their pants hanging 4 inches below their underwear!! They usually end up doing or selling drugs with no compass or direction in life!! It's a waste of humanity so shameful to our country. I know of far too many wasted lives and families torn apart. A good drill instructor could teach these young men respect for themselves and their country. Yes, I also have never heard anyone say they were sorry they served in the military!!

You're talking about Millenials - they demand everything be given to them. They can't even mow a lawn, as they think that's beneath them.

Did you see the new anti-millennial car theft device? It's called a stick shift!

**WhittleBurner** · 07-01-2018, 08:47 PM

Should just have the millenials do what they are good at. Put them behind a computer, and we would never have to worry about being hacked again. Unless it's by them.

**Lingerlonger** · 07-01-2018, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by jim1521

Ken, were you a "T-brancher"? That's what I was the equivalent of in the Air Force.

Jim -- I was an "I-brancher." "I was almost an R-brancher, but my parents got married." If you've spent much time with old CT's,
you've probably heard that joke before.

I did get to do a bit of amateur T-branch work on deployments later as a civilian, and even taught myself to copy code. Got up to
6-8 gpm, but later gave it up. I've run across a couple of other USAFSS/ESC guys in this Grand Design community.

BTW: I did spend 6 mos in San Vito one week.

Other than Brindisi, you guys always had the best bases.

Take care,

K

**BigGuy82** · 07-01-2018, 09:32 PM

US Army enlisted - 1967 - 1970. Basic and Advanced Infantry at the now defunct Fort Dix. Jump School at Ft Benning. Stationed at Ft Bragg with the 82nd for a couple of months then deployed to Vietnam with the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne, A/1/505 during President Johnson's "troop infusion" during the Tet Offensive. Spent one year in country and went from PFC to Sgt. while there. Rifle squad leader. Returned to the 82nd at Bragg after Vietnam and spent a little over a year there in HHC/3/325. Got out, got a job with a major corporation, went to night school and the rest is the stuff that legends are made of ...