Military and Veterans - Where were you? What were you?

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

I'm always mystified where we find one another. Aren't you all supposed to be playing Call of Duty?

11B
1/506 and 3/327 Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, US Army 2003-2008
C Troop 1/18 CAV, California Army National Guard 2008-2012

[Savrin]

Surprised you didn't do the full 20-25 with guard after putting that much time in.

95B
Can't remember the unit (Think it was the 204th) Fort Polk, Louisiana 97-99.
560th MP company, spread all over Germany. I was stationed in Weisbaden and did TDY missions to Bosnia, Kosovo, Croatia, Macedonia, Hungary, the first UN Joint base mission in Romania, and Theslaniki (Probably not spelled right) Greece, 99-02
5th MP detachment Fort Rucker, Alabaman 02-03.

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

Surprised you didn't do the full 20-25 with guard after putting that much time in.

95B
Can't remember the unit (Think it was the 204th) Fort Polk, Louisiana 97-99.
560th MP company, spread all over Germany. I was stationed in Weisbaden and did TDY missions to Bosnia, Kosovo, Croatia, Macedonia, Hungary, the first UN Joint base mission in Romania, and Theslaniki (Probably not spelled right) Greece, 99-01
5th MP detachment Fort Rucker, Alabaman 01-03.

I got tired of it. The Guard pay really screws up a person's taxes for one, and we weren't ever going to deploy, so I got out. I don't even miss it.

[Fallen]

91T, which is now 68T. Served my 4 at Fort Detrick, MD.

[Gelston]

0311
Various deployments with the below units. Was in 2002-2011.
2/3 - Kaneohe Bay
1/1 - Camp Pendleton, Ca
3rd LAAD Bn - Camp Pendleton Ca

[HeyJoe]

RM(SS)
Pearl Harbor
Bangor
Groton

[Lokrin]

COMUSNAVCENT/Bahrain 06-07
JTFGTMO/Cuba 07-09
NASL VFA137/CVN72 (OEF/OIF x2) 09-12

Good experience, but got the hell out last year. No regrets, except one port visit in Thailand....

[Androidpk]

3vox3

2002-2006

Ft. Meade, Defense Information School
Langley AFB, Air Combat Command, 1st Fighter Wing
Qatar, Al Udeid Air Base, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing

[Sheikh]

0311

3/7 -Twentynine Palms CA 04-09
TBS Instructor -Quantico VA 09-11
3/8 -Camp Lejeune NC 11-13

On Terminal Leave right now

[caelric]

Enlisted in the Corps back in '89; 24 years later, they have sent me to college to get my BS, commissioned me, sent me back to college to get two masters degrees and I will be pining on Major in a month. Not too shabby for someone who almost dropped out of high school due to boredom.

[Savrin]

0311

3/7 -Twentynine Palms CA 04-09
TBS Instructor -Quantico VA 09-11
3/8 -Camp Lejeune NC 11-13

On Terminal Leave right now

Congratulations.

[Androidpk]

Enlisted in the Corps back in '89; 24 years later, they have sent me to college to get my BS, commissioned me, sent me back to college to get two masters degrees and I will be pining on Major in a month. Not too shabby for someone who almost dropped out of high school due to boredom.

That is awesome. Congrats.

One of my younger brothers is getting his commission in two weeks then he's straight off to flight school.

[Jace Solo]

91B->91W->68W then got a flight qualifier for deployment but don't remember what it was.
I was guard but spent most of the 6 years on active between hurricanes and the Middle East. Even my two years of IRR was spent doing crap for them because I was the only 91W the unit had so they wanted me around and paid me just to show up, even in civi's, mainly because I was still getting my degrees and they needed me to train up people on how to stock/inventory the med room. I'm not sure why, no one taught me that shit but...

I wish I had enjoyed my deployment a little more when I went. I was constantly scared some Blue Falcon was gonna get me killed and then when I finally had the right people around me my mother fell ill. Wasn't a great mix.

[4a6c1]

MOS 99XXX Mars Rover Door Gunner. I deployed to mars about a dozen times. It totally sucked because aliens are assholes. They say to me "Mars Rover Door Gunner where have you been?" I say "Around the red planet and back again." Then I ETSed and was like Fuck Mars, sir. So they sent me to the moon instead. I don't mind the moon.

[Gelston]

MOS 99XXX Mars Rover Door Gunner. I deployed to mars about a dozen times. It totally sucked because aliens are assholes. They say to me "Mars Rover Door Gunner where have you been?" I say "Around the red planet and back again." Then I ETSed and was like Fuck Mars, sir. So they sent me to the moon instead. I don't mind the moon.

Mars Deployment? What a booze cruise. Some people get all the easy shit. Alpha Centauri though, that was the real shit.

[Jayvn]

US Army
63b Fayettenam NC Ft Bragg
3/321 FAR C BTRY

July 00 to Dec 04 *Fuck yeah stop loss and my term ending mid deployment causing me to get to extend my Afghani vacation another few months..

[Taernath]

Stoploss was kinda alright in the end, assuming you got the bonus that eventually came out.

My unit was held past 18 months in Iraq, so I was making normal pay + hazard pay + time in theater bonus + stoploss bonus.

[4a6c1]

Mars Deployment? What a booze cruise. Some people get all the easy shit. Alpha Centauri though, that was the real shit.

Don't be SILLY. You can't get deployed to Alpha Centauri because it doesn't exist.

[Gelston]

Don't be SILLY. You can't get deployed to Alpha Centauri because it doesn't exist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Centauri orly?

[Androidpk]

Alpha Centauri was disney land compared to Isstvan III and V.

[Gelston]

Whatever, you people had a full exchange, internet, and AC.

[Androidpk]

How can you go to war without AC!?

[Gelston]

How can you go to war without AC!?

Lots of water.

[Androidpk]

And generic Starbucks.

[Gelston]

And generic Starbucks.

you leave Greenbean Coffee the fuck alone.

[Androidpk]

Don't get me wrong, I loved that place. Spent $5 every morning on a large iced white mocha with 2 extra espresso shots and whipped cream.

[Gelston]

I spent god awful amounts there when I was on R&R in Camp Ah Saliyah or however that crap is spelled.

[Jace Solo]

I believe there's an M in there somewhere. Asalim I think. You were close though.

Wasn't that place nice! The Navy kids there had doors and frat parties!

[AnticorRifling]

'99-'03 USMC
4066 now 0651 I believe.
Majority of my time was with CSSD-21
Broke my shit in 29 stumps was allowed to finish my initial 4 on a waiver from HQMC but re-enlistment papers were torn up in front of me...brutal shit I wanted to be a lifer, I will openly admit I cried like a little girl when I was told I was done.

[Androidpk]

'99-'03 USMC
4066 now 0651 I believe.
Majority of my time was with CSSD-21
Broke my shit in 29 stumps was allowed to finish my initial 4 on a waiver from HQMC but re-enlistment papers were torn up in front of me...brutal shit I wanted to be a lifer, I will openly admit I cried like a little girl when I was told I was done.

That really does suck. I suppose it's little condolence if you wanted to be a lifer but it was nice of them to at least let you finish your initial term instead of going for the automatic medical discharge.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

'99-'03 USMC
4066 now 0651 I believe.
Majority of my time was with CSSD-21
Broke my shit in 29 stumps was allowed to finish my initial 4 on a waiver from HQMC but re-enlistment papers were torn up in front of me...brutal shit I wanted to be a lifer, I will openly admit I cried like a little girl when I was told I was done.

That's sad man, you know in the armed services they could have found a position for you and they should have. Especially for someone who wanted to be a lifer. I've always heard how the Marine Corp is for the die hards compared to the other armed forces, personally I think it's a shame you weren't allowed to continue your dream.

I'm guessing it's probably the minority, but whenever I see a clearly out of shape person in the armed forces it makes me wonder about decisions like this. Bureaucracy at it's worst I suppose.

[AnticorRifling]

That's sad man, you know in the armed services they could have found a position for you and they should have. Especially for someone who wanted to be a lifer. I've always heard how the Marine Corp is for the die hards compared to the other armed forces, personally I think it's a shame you weren't allowed to continue your dream.

I'm guessing it's probably the minority, but whenever I see a clearly out of shape person in the armed forces it makes me wonder about decisions like this. Bureaucracy at it's worst I suppose.

Well it was one of those perfect fit kind of things. I guess my upbringing just made the Marine Corps way of life seem the norm so I clicked with just about every aspect of it. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a non rifleman position in the Marines, because of the injury and the subsequent surgery (resulting in the removal of two bones in my foot) I couldn't, and still can't, complete a 3mile run without that foot swelling up like the diabetus in a sugar factory.

It's one of those such is life kind of moments, I miss the hell out of it but then again I have to question would that sequence of events happening different result in me not having my boys, butterfly effect brain explode...

Anyway yeah it was very cool of my command to request the exception from HQMC and for HQMC to approve it. I got to do a lot of fun stuff, meet a lot of great people, and besides the nerve damage I'm no worse for the experiences.

[Gelston]

I originally wanted to be a lifer, but I grew cynical pretty quick. Hell, I wouldn't have reenlisted if not for mad money. Then after that enlistment the Post 9/11 GI Bill was released, and I got out after that contract.

[AnticorRifling]

I originally wanted to be a lifer, but I grew cynical pretty quick. Hell, I wouldn't have reenlisted if not for mad money. Then after that enlistment the Post 9/11 GI Bill was released, and I got out after that contract.
Not uncommon, my brother was the exact same way. Unfortunate for him he was a pneumatic, hydraulic, etc specialist that worked on F-16s and as a result he was stationed with the wing. He was very much old Corps in his blood and that just didn't sit well with the way the wing works.

[Riltus]

US Army: 8/66 to 10/70
Starting salary: $87.90 per month (E-1 under 4 months)
Rank: O-3 10/69 (22 yrs. old)
MOS: 1542

Infantry School: Ft. Benning, GA (OCS)
Armor School: Ft. Knox, KY (Supervisory Maintenance)
School of the Americas: Ft. Sherman, Panama CZ (Jungle Training)

1/9 2nd ID: Korea (DMZ) Inf Plat Ldr/Bn Ass't S3/Bn S3 (operations officer)
1/8 4th ID: Vietnam (Central Highlands) Inf Co Cmdr/Bn S2 (intelligence officer)

Foreign Service: 2+ yrs

Other posts: Ft. Gordon GA , Ft. Lewis WA , Ft. Polk LA , Camp Drum NY

"Hey, you!"
"Who me?"

"Yeah, you! Wanna run an infantry company?"
"Sure. What's an infantry company?"

"Nevermind the details, you're in charge now."
"Err, okay but I have a couple of questions."
"When you say 'infantry' is this a military type thing? I don't really have a military background but I did play with a water pistol when I as a kid."

"Hello?"
"Anyone there?"
"Hello?"

Mark

[Androidpk]

Anticor, they should have amputated the foot and installed a wheel.

[AnticorRifling]

Fuck that give me a backwards paper clip like po' lil' tink tink.

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

The Army kept more than a few amputees around before I got off active duty. They all wound up working in battalion or in the training rooms. But they got to stay if they wanted to. I originally planned to stay in until I died or retired, but then I also wanted things to not get so dicked up and politcal. I found that when it was becoming damn near illegal to do my job and my harsh language, angry yelling, and attitude was becoming a wrongfit (new Army?) I decided my time had come to an end. The only thing I miss is deployment and my guys. I definitely wasn't a good garrison Soldier.

[Gelston]

I met a Colonel while I was in the Marines that had an amputated hand and leg. He was that Cobra pilot that got shot down while providing cover for the downed Huey during Operation Urgent Fury (the Invasion of Grenada.)

[TheEschaton]

See, now if I made jokes about Alpha Centuri postings, *I'd* be an insensitive dick. And yet y'all wonder why only black people are the only ones allowed to call themselves the n-word. ;)

DAMN LIBERAL UP IN HURR.

[Gelston]

See, now if I made jokes about Alpha Centuri postings, *I'd* be an insensitive dick. And yet y'all wonder why only black people are the only ones allowed to call themselves the n-word. ;)

DAMN LIBERAL UP IN HURR.

It is spelled Alpha Centauri you insensitive dick.

[AnticorRifling]

See, now if I made jokes about Alpha Centuri postings, *I'd* be an insensitive dick. And yet y'all wonder why only black people are the only ones allowed to call themselves the n-word. ;)

DAMN LIBERAL UP IN HURR.

If you'd start using your rockets to go to space instead of trying to blow up the infidel you'd be allowed to contribute to these discussions.

[TheEschaton]

Hey, I served in the Corps* for 2 years.


*the Peace Corps cause I'm a damn dirty hippie.

[Androidpk]

Peace sucks a hairy asshole, Freddy. War is the mother-fucking answer.

[4a6c1]

Well it was one of those perfect fit kind of things. I guess my upbringing just made the Marine Corps way of life seem the norm so I clicked with just about every aspect of it. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a non rifleman position in the Marines, because of the injury and the subsequent surgery (resulting in the removal of two bones in my foot) I couldn't, and still can't, complete a 3mile run without that foot swelling up like the diabetus in a sugar factory.

It's one of those such is life kind of moments, I miss the hell out of it but then again I have to question would that sequence of events happening different result in me not having my boys, butterfly effect brain explode...

Anyway yeah it was very cool of my command to request the exception from HQMC and for HQMC to approve it. I got to do a lot of fun stuff, meet a lot of great people, and besides the nerve damage I'm no worse for the experiences.

You could still go into the private sector doing contract work for Raytheon or one of those other tech innovators. Those guys love nerdy marines and you could still be working with Nato troops and feel like you're doing something, if only on short term deployments.

[AnticorRifling]

You could still go into the private sector doing contract work for Raytheon or one of those other tech innovators. Those guys love nerdy marines and you could still be working with Nato troops and feel like you're doing something, if only on short term deployments.

Negative. I've got boys to raise, my place is here now.

[SHAFT]

Negative. I've got boys to raise, my place is here now.

Plus it'd disrupt raiding. That cannot be allowed.

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

Negative. I've got boys to raise, my place is here now.

Those damn sneaky major life changes!

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

5018

I do miss these particular days.

[4a6c1]

Negative. I've got boys to raise, my place is here now.

Meh. Most contractors are around our age with kids or spouse. Quick cash is the only reason people go over there anymore. 1 year at K2 pays for a house or your kids future college funds. It's tempting to a lot of people, apparently.

[senorgordoburro]

Fuck security contracts, most of the cushy gigs like Aerostat and Wolfhound are paying better than security gigs like Academi and stuff like that. I have a few buddies doing the armed security stuff and they make about the same as office gigs now, and if you have IT ability and a Secret or TS/SCI you can start well above what holding a gun will pay for.

I am prior infantry, I used to be all about that shit, but 4 reconstructive surgeries later... I'm over it. Give me an office with A/C any day.

[4a6c1]

Fuck security contracts, most of the cushy gigs like Aerostat and Wolfhound are paying better than security gigs like Academi and stuff like that. I have a few buddies doing the armed security stuff and they make about the same as office gigs now, and if you have IT ability and a Secret or TS/SCI you can start well above what holding a gun will pay for.

I am prior infantry, I used to be all about that shit, but 4 reconstructive surgeries later... I'm over it. Give me an office with A/C any day.

Sounds about right. Post-surge, the massive exodus ETS led to an overabundance of out of work combat arms guys in the private sector. The going rate these days for a security squad is only about 40-50k per deployment. That's down about 20k from 4 years ago. Special skills and clearances bump that back up but personally I don't think it's worth it for long deployments. Trainers and the computer guys like Anticor still make six figures though, that hasn't changed. I think it will in a few years though. A lot of people are reassessing and computer degrees are always the best option.

Surgery for what?

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

Sounds about right. Post-surge, the massive exodus ETS led to an overabundance of out of work combat arms guys in the private sector. The going rate these days for a security squad is only about 40-50k per deployment. That's down about 20k from 4 years ago. Special skills and clearances bump that back up but personally I don't think it's worth it for long deployments. Trainers and the computer guys like Anticor still make six figures though, that hasn't changed. I think it will in a few years though. A lot of people are reassessing and computer degrees are always the best option.

Surgery for what?

I still have friends doing PSD on State Dept contracts in Douchebagistan making almost 15k a month.

[4a6c1]

What company?

[Taernath]

you could still be working with Nato troops

Working with NATO troops is like herding cats.

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

What company?

Aegis is where most of them are working right now. I forget the other one. But there are still some lucrative PSD contracts out there, they just aren't the giant clusterfucks that Blackwater or TC used to have.

[AnticorRifling]

Hmm might be worth looking into for a couple rounds of makin' bank. I held a TS/SCI and a NATO Secret when I EAS'd.

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

Hmm might be worth looking into for a couple rounds of makin' bank. I held a TS/SCI and a NATO Secret when I EAS'd.

You got out in '03 though, I think it's probably expired at this point, you'd have to do a whole new round of background checks and what not. No one likes form SF-86.

[Savrin]

US Army: 8/66 to 10/70
Starting salary: $87.90 per month (E-1 under 4 months)
Rank: O-3 10/69 (22 yrs. old)
MOS: 1542

Infantry School: Ft. Benning, GA (OCS)
Armor School: Ft. Knox, KY (Supervisory Maintenance)
School of the Americas: Ft. Sherman, Panama CZ (Jungle Training)

1/9 2nd ID: Korea (DMZ) Inf Plat Ldr/Bn Ass't S3/Bn S3 (operations officer)
1/8 4th ID: Vietnam (Central Highlands) Inf Co Cmdr/Bn S2 (intelligence officer)

Foreign Service: 2+ yrs

Other posts: Ft. Gordon GA , Ft. Lewis WA , Ft. Polk LA , Camp Drum NY

"Hey, you!"
"Who me?"

"Yeah, you! Wanna run an infantry company?"
"Sure. What's an infantry company?"

"Nevermind the details, you're in charge now."
"Err, okay but I have a couple of questions."
"When you say 'infantry' is this a military type thing? I don't really have a military background but I did play with a water pistol when I as a kid."

"Hello?"
"Anyone there?"
"Hello?"

Mark

Hat's off to you sir.