what is the military for you? (soldier, civilian, benefits, showing)

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by blue62

Being in the military gave me a whole new perspective of patriotism, and taught me not to take my freedom for granted..It made me grow up fast, accept responsibility for my own actions, and to respect those in charge.

Blue62, I believe those of us that have served enjoy a bond that few others can understand...

[Tricky D]

I only joined the Dutch military when I was 19 because I got drafted at 18. I refused my original draft with the reason that I had been accepted in college.
Unfortunately that didn't worked out and a year later, not knowing what to do with my life, I decided to accept the draft as some sort of paid sabbatical.
Both my grandfathers had been in the military so I decided to check out if it was something for me too.
Well after a year I could say that it is nothing for me, but it gave me enough time to think about what I wanted to do with my life.

The military life is nothing for me because I'm not good at just blindly following orders. I always think a few steps ahead so following orders I don't agree with is difficult for me. I also don't like to order people around so I did not joined up to become an officer either.
Luckily my draft was only for 14 months so I could easily sit it out.
Another fortunate thing is that because of my education I ended up in military communications. It was an independent 3-man unit and although we were in the field we were never actually part of the main attack force.
My unit was nothing more than a glorified dispatch(?) centre. We were responsible for the incoming and outgoing communication in an age where we were still analogue (so no wireless laptops and telephones).

All in all I had it easy because there practically was no brass around except for the sergeant in my unit who turned out to be a pretty relaxed kinda guy.
As long as we did the work we were supposed to do we could goof around. ( 1 night during a military exercise at 3 o’ clock in the morning we connected everyone who was still up to one phone and called a phone sex number)
I can’t say that my draft period was a bad experience because I got training in how to fire an Uzi, throw a grenade and fire a Law. Besides all the military exercises I had enough time left over to reflect on what I was going to do with the rest of my life.
And I learned that the military life doesn’t really agree with me.
I don’t mind serving in the military when we are attacked by another nation, but becoming a professional soldier is just not my thing.

[LoveBoating]

I joined the Navy a few weeks before my HS graduation, mainly b/c I knew if I didn't join something I wanted to be in, the Draft would end up getting me anyway. I had no plans on going to College or had any "hardship" deferment that I could get. To this day, I remember all the bad "language" that I heard that literally scared the H*** out of me. I was an "only" child and farm boy, I wasn't around this type of language before!! It all started once the bus stopped at NTC in IL. and I thought "what the heck have I got myself into.....I want to go home, NOW!!" Well, that didn't work. Shoot, I thought my mom/dad disciplined me, "holy crap" the Navy/Military IS discipline and I found that out very, very fast.
Am I glad I joined? Yes!!
Did I learn a career/trade? Yes, but what I learned has changed quite a bit since those days. We now have computers!!
Did I have fun? Yes!! Went places that I hadn't even dreamed about going to.
Did I ever get into trouble? Oh yes, but we won't go there!!
Was I glad to get out? Yes and no.
Am I glad that I served? Oh yes. I love my Country was glad to serve/protect it!

[Terryj]

I served in the Army from 1967 to 1973, why, because I feel I do owe something to this country. My father served, his father did also, as did my great grandfather and so on. Allot of people died to make this country what it is, I was just repaying a debt that I feel I owed to them.

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

Wonderful posts, everyone! Military service is all of that and so much more! For me, launching an F-4E Phantom II fighter jet was an awesome experience. Most of us who maintained the F-4 had a love/hate relationship with it. I truly believe maintenance was an afterthought when it was being designed. But, man, was it an awesome jet! Now, today's fighters are FAR easier to service and repair. But I'm sure glad I was in the USAF when it flew the Phantom II!

This should bring memories:

[turkeytrot]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

Wonderful posts, everyone! Military service is all of that and so much more! For me, launching an F-4E Phantom II fighter jet was an awesome experience. Most of us who maintained the F-4 had a love/hate relationship with it. I truly believe maintenance was an afterthought when it was being designed. But, man, was it an awesome jet! Now, today's fighters are FAR easier to service and repair. But I'm sure glad I was in the USAF when it flew the Phantom II!

Crew Chief I know exactly what you mean almost. I was a Phantom Phixer on the Navy side launching and working the F-4N and the F-4S.

You're right when you said maintenance was an after thought, they were a pain to work on.
I can't say I loved every minute working on them but, I loved ALMOST every minute.

Phantoms Phorever!

[HazeGray]

Wow, these are wonderful posts and I am truly touched by them. Thanks for this thread!

The military has been in my blood for as long as I can remember. My father, uncles, cousins, etc. served in each branch and I always knew I would follow in one of their footsteps.

My husband is one of very few civilians I ever dated. I had just separated after a career-ending injury and we met in graduate school. He is a wonderful man, but the military is the part of me that he will never truly understand, even though he tries hard and his father was a reservist in the Army.

I miss finishing up my work day feeling like I somehow made a difference in the world. Even though I never saved a life or did something tangible to make the world a better place, I feel immense pride that I was lucky enough to serve the wonderful country that has protected me for 30 years. Colors was always my absolute favorite part of the day. Listening to the National Anthem and seeing the flag unfurl was just a fantastic feeling. I hated seeing people rush into buildings just to avoid Colors.

To me, the military means "family" and "camaraderie." I love how I feel an instant bond with someone when I discover they are a veteran. I love the stories and the common thread of patriotism.

Although my injury has yet to heal, my sea bag is still packed. I would go back to the Navy in an instant if I could. I still haven't given up hope.

[forest beekeeper]

"What is the military for me?"

That is a long story.

As a teenager in the 1970's I flipped burgers for a living during my last two years of high school. I enlisted while a high school senior. I delayed going active until the week following my graduation. I served for six years in the Submarine Service of the US Navy. I was a crew member of the USS George C. Marshall SSBN 654[b], and I got out.

I attended college and I flipped more burgers. I got a job digging tunnels by hand to support myself while I attended classes. I was often the only vet in a classroom. In the 1980's few civilians liked vets.

I bounced to a different college and flipped pizza dough. I spent a year milking in a dairy while attending college. I did not fit in well with the kids in the classrooms.

I bounced to a third college and shifted to only doing night classes, there I found 'adults'. The kids that I had been surrounded by were more focused on partying and fashion, which bikini to wear at the beach, then on the coursework. The night school adults were working folks who were focused on getting an education, I liked that. As I neared the end of my GI bill scholarship, fellow classmates convinced me of the benefits of a 20 year pension. So after four years of college, when my GI bill ran-out I re-enlisted.

Back in the US Navy, I lived overseas repairing subs and pastoring a church.

I then worked stateside as a US Navy Police Officer.

I then went back to sea on a sub, a crewmember again and a Protestant lay leader on board the USS Casimir Pulaski SSBN 633[g]. Eventually I took her into the shipyard and decommed her.

I then crewed the USS Alaska SSBN 732 [b] and really took on a wide variety of duties onboard.

I then went overseas and worked again as a US Navy Police Officer, that time in charge of 40 MPs. We served in Italy and Kosovo.

Then I retired.



I have been trained in many areas, to do many things. To list the schools that I have completed, and the certifications that I have takes over twenty pages.

I have spent many months living underwater, and under ice. Many times I have done this.

I have had the honour of working with very dedicated men; very highly trained men, of very high intelligence.

I have seen much more of the world than most Americans will ever see.

I have operated equipment worth more money than most people will be able to earn in their entire lives.

I have had great responsibilities placed upon me.

I have led men.



"What is the military for me?"

I find it difficult to answer without sounding sappy.

[B.H81]

The military was my way out of a situation. Inner city high schools didn't prepare us well for college, and the job market in Milwaukee was slim for people who didn't have advanced education. I heard a lot of good things about the navy from a few teachers who had served. I was working a grocery store where I had been for 3 years when I graduated high school. I knew the navy would take me and just jumped head 1st in.

For me it was a life saver. I was exposed to so much and saw so much I wouldn't know where my life would be without the navy. I have lived in too many states to mention, stationed on several ships, and even lived overseas and had my own place there at 21 and even speak a little of the local language.

Bottom line it changed my life and how I view the world.

[High_Plains_Retired]

I only spent four years in the AF out in the Southwest in the1960s/70 but it was the most important four years of my life. It was during this time that I met my beautiful conservative wife now of almost 37 years. Yep, I would do it all over again. The experience was the kick in the rear I needed to build a responsible and successful life.