Formative years in the United Staes Army

[Oldfishguy]

Ok, I'll start it.

We are a little slow here because an old Army philosophy is "Never volunteer for anything!"

Regular Army 1980-83, two of those years in West Germany.   Cobra helicopter crew chief.  Sgt., E-5.

 I was recruited under the banner of "Be all that you can be".  And for me, it worked out.  Finished two years of college in a three year enlistment, traveled Europe on a shoe string budget, met a lot of great Americans from a cross culture of a volunteer Army, flew with a bunch of Vietnam era helicopter pilots that showed me what it was like to be in total command of a complex machine . . . and learned what really good beer was waaaay before it became the craze here.

Yup, Be All That You Can Be.

[da prez]

  I was drafted in June of 1966 with most of Round Lake Il. I was in a short time and did a re-up for a school. Ft.Knox Ky. for reception and then Ft.Campbell Ky. for basic in the 101st Airborne . (just basic, not a jumper)  Off to Aberdeen Proving Grounds Maryland.

 Had to wait for a school so I  V O L I N T E E R E D and started in the human evaluation lab. I then went to the motorpool and worked on the (what became ) Abrams tank. It had a turbine engine. There were other firsts at that time but it's a long story.  Went to Ft.Hood Tx. for the next 2 1/2 years and finished up on the I/G combat rediness  inspection team. My MOS was mechanic , tho I spent a lot of time in specialized training and was on 7 levee's for Nam. I stayed stateside and finished as a SP/5.

                                                  da prez

[3fan4life]

Graduated High School in June 1982 and reported  to Ft Jackson SC for basic training in July 1982.

After basic spent the best 10 weeks of my enlistment at Ft Sam Houston TX training to be a Medical Specialist (MOS 91B)

Spent 3 yrs on active duty.

My first duty station was at Ft Lewis WA in an Air Cav unit (lots of fun as well).

I really enjoyed the beauty of the Pacific NW and want to go back for a visit on my Valk someday.

While at Ft Lewis I earned my EFMB (which is a big deal for a medic).

One day A friend that worked in personnel asked me if I wanted to go to Korea. I had seen enough episodes of MASH to know that the winters sucked  there.  

So I said no.

He told me that I needed to put my self on levy for Germany or else I'd be spending my next winter in Korea.

After a yr at Ft Lewis I was headed to Germany for 18 months.

Once in Germany I found myself assigned to an Armor Battalion in the lovely little town of Baumholder.

Like others have said, I enjoyed my time in the Army (for the most part) but at the end of my enlistment I couldn't wait to get out and start a civillian career.  

They wouldn't let me out without talking to a reserve recruiter.

He offered me a $4,000 enlistment bonus and found an Ambulance company near my hometown.

Playing soldier one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer didn't bother me so I took the cash.

The reserves weren't as stringent as the "regular" Army had been and my unit had a lot of good people so I hung around for a second enlistment as well.

It was during that second enlistment that I got an all expenses paid tour of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 1990-91.

My 1st wife didn't want me staying in after that so, I didn't.

With hindsight being 20/20 I probably should have stayed in and let her go a little sooner.


I do recall that my time in the Army wasn't all fun and games. But it really is only the good that I remember.  

It was during these years that I went from being a boy to a man (relatively speking   ) And the experience has contributed greatly and positively to who I would become.

I have often said that every young man should spend a few years in the military and I firmly believe it.

The military teaches you a sense of discipline and duty that most who have never served don't aquire.

But, what it does most is to teach you that you are capable of doing much more than you ever thought that you could.  

[czuch]

You guys are kids.
I went to Boot Camp in San Diego August 9 1976.
Guarenteed Photographer's Mate for 6 year sign on with E-3 coming out of the gate.
Got up to Second class petty officer, but got out as I went in, E-3.
"A" school in Pensacola Fla.
First stop, Albuquerque. Kirtland Air Force base. Had my own room.
Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility.
Back to Pensacola for more schooling in Cine. (That's movies)
Back to ABQ. Flew in the backseat of Phantoms taking movies.
There were some real good times there. Superior people.
Then U.S.S Okinawa. Proud lady of the pacific. LPH-3
More superior people. AND a chow line.
3 Westpacs and out. Couldn't wait. I wish I had stayed in, but I was too smart.

[Valk-Obsessed]

I guess I'm a "kid" on here...
I enlisted in July 1992 and went to Basic at Ft. Knox, to learn how to be an Armor Crewman (M1A1 Abrams) From Ft. Knox I went to Germany and spent two years at Vilseck.  I extended for another year to get a stateside assignment and found myself real close to home at Ft. Carson, Co.

I left Active duty in 96, and then joined the Guard...had no idea at the time that I would spend the next 20 years there!  I just retired a couple of weeks ago.  Between active duty and the National Guard I deployed to the Middle East (Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia) 4 times.  I also went to Bosnia, Haiti, Panama, and most recently GTMO.  On Active duty I was on tanks, and in the Guard I became an MP (No armor units in my state  )  I guess that worked out, because I work in Civilian Law Enforcement now.  It was a good ride, but it'll be nice to have that extra free weekend every month!

[threevalks]

Army 1972-1974.

[Bassfisher]

I grew up as an Air Force Brat.    Always proud that my father was a pilot and it made an impression upon me to this day -  I had already made childhood dreams of being a military pilot.  My father retired as a Major and Command Pilot with 20 yrs of service.

Marine Corps JR ROTC in HS for three years.   Drill Team, Color Guard, etc..

in 1980, I went to a local university and was approached by a Army MSGT.  Said he knew me from my JR ROTC activities and wanted to talk to me.  He took me into his small office and said that the university was starting a new Army ROTC program.  We talked about my dad and what I wanted to do in the future.   I had grown my hair long (all thru High school had to keep it short) and was not sure what I wanted to do  (Hell I was 18  lol)
About then a Army Captain came in -  he looked me in the eye and said that he thought that I would be a good officer.  He then explained that there was a new program called the Early Commissioning Program.    Id be in an Army Reserve Unit and ROTC at the same time.  And I would be a butter bar in two years.   And getting paid by both the ROTC and the Reserves.  Well that sounded good to a freshman trying to pay for school.  I signed my enlistment papers 30 minutes later - E1 and in the Army.  Needless to say my mother was not too pleased when I came home and told her I had enlisted in the Army.  I heard nothing from her but that I should have joined the Air Force, not the Army.

Fast forward 2 yrs, pinned on my gold bar.   29 years later retired as an O-5.    Numerous company, battalion and Division staff and command positions.  One deployment to Bosnia.   Qualified Combat Engineer, Chemical Officer, AG Officer, Logistician, Civil Affairs.  Sorta of a jack of all trades and a varied career.

I worked with and commanded some of the finest men and woman in the Army.  We worked, trained, cried and laughed together.  I worked with great Officers and NCOs and was fortunate enough to be able to train and mentor great Soldiers throughout my career.  It makes me sorta teary eyed when a senior NCO or officer tells me that I made a difference in their career when they were in their junior ranks.   I was able to travel to almost every state and every Army post in the US and got to see my share of the world.  I was proud to work with the Army Reserve, NG and Active duty units and Soldiers.  Tell me another job where someone is paid to work with such patriotic people.

Do I miss it after being retired almost 7 years -  HELL YES    If I was called up today, I be standing proud and ready to go.    Do I miss the sucky times out in the woods, cold and wet, getting my ass chewed out for something - I think  HELL YES

I loved being a Soldier for this great country and will always be a Soldier.  

[6shutr]

USAF 1965-1969. After basic and school shipped out to Elmendorf AFB for some additional training, then sent to the end of the Aleutian Islands, on an approximately 12 sq. mi, almost flat Remote/Isolated Island tour.  Bering Sea to the North, North Pacific to the South and Siberia's Kamchatka Peninsula a few miles to the West. Runway wind sock was an Anchor and Chain off a U.S. Navy Ship. One Tree (dead) with at least a dozen guy wires holding it up. Although part of Alaska, the International Date Line deviates around the Island, and  the Island is on the same East Longitude, give or take a few minutes, as Auckland, NZ. Hokaido Japan is closer than Anchorage, AK. After that lush tropical tour I  Rotated back to Kelly AFB, TX HQ USAFSS as a short timer till discharge. I felt blessed because at least I wasn't in Vietnam rooting around in the mud trying to keep from getting shot or blown up, or captured like so many were. God Bless all Vets, but a special blessing for our Combat Vets, especially those wounded, killed, and those who endured capture and torture.

[Rams]

Do I miss it after being retired almost 7 years -  HELL YES    If I was called up today, I be standing proud and ready to go.    Do I miss the sucky times out in the woods, cold and wet, getting my ass chewed out for something - I think  Hell yes

I loved being a Soldier for this great country and will always be a Soldier.  

I totally understand and can honestly say, I'm proud of my service and proud to be associated with people like you.   I would also serve again if they'd take me.    While I admittedly was a Marine first and will always be proud of that, I served in the Army as a butter bar in the Artillery and then went to flight school and flew up to the time I left, ended up as a R/W test pilot, I loved serving this country and got a lot back from that service.  In reference to being a test pilot, had some of the scariest times and best times of my life while at the controls of a 58, UH-1 and AH-1.   Don't let anyone tell you it doesn't take a set to get in and fly an A/C someone else says is broke.   It usually is.      Thanks to all that served, those that haven't served have no clue as to how much they missed out on.