[astroturf]

Ok Guys & Gals, Pretty simple.

I'll start. At age 18 I joined the Army. Served as an Infantryman for 3 years active duty.
13 years later, I went to Camp Lejeune to see my Step Son graduate.
Bug bit me, and I joined the Air National Guard for 6 years. I served as an Electrical & Environmental Tech on F16s.
So from M16s to F16s, I've fixed a couple things in my time.
My name is Jim, and if I can help, I will.
Thanks to all you other Vets out there.
Jim

 

[SIGHTS AND SOUNDS]

ok my story...
age 22 joined the US Marine Corps. from 96-00 was an 03-51 dragon gunner. been around the world and back. did a tour in Bosnia and Afghanistan. I joined the NC Army National Guard for a year. that was from 02 - 03. Now the time has come where the economy has failed in the industry i worked in. So i have decided to do the best for myself and my family and join the US Army for 3 years 14 weeks. They took me in as a 88m which is truck driver.
To all former and future Service men and women thank you!!!!!!! :clap: :flags-usa:

 

[rj_whitten]

I started at 17 graduated from a National Guard school in Illinois and then Joined the Navy on 9/13/2001 which was supposed to be 9/11/2001 but the bases where closed for 2 days due to the attacks so entry got delayed. After joining I went to school to study engineering and got stationed in Norfolk VA on the USS Bataan where I served as an engineer. I flew out to meet the ship in Afghanistan where I stayed for several months and then returned to our home port. After being in home port for a while ( To take liberty, and relax from being out in Afghanistan) we went to Portsmouth Va to repair our ship we where there for about three months. We started hearing rumors about going to Iraq and did not know it was true until our captain gave us the Oscar flag. He told us the rumors where true and that we will be leaving asap to Iraq. Our ship then became "ConFibron 2" instead of the "USS Bataan" as the command had moved their base onto our ship. We where to be the first deployed w/ the Marines. We finished our repairs then proceeded to do our sea trials. After passing we went to Earl NJ to get weapons then to NC to get the Marines and their equipment. Finally we returned to our home port where we collected the last of the marines and their equipment. Finally February We proceeded through the Mediterranean and took a short cut through the straights of Gibraltar instead of going around Africa to hide we where coming (Bush wanted us there quick). Alot happen on the journey there but I will spare the details. We went let the marines off, launched a few missiles, collected a few bodies to bring back to the US. I served in 2 wars and then returned home. Kinda a grand adventure. I talk with some of my buddies now who served with me and they lucked out and had shore duty for their term. At least I got alot of medals and ribbons though :cheers: Now I am a unemployed family man. Worked for Staples for several years since getting out and was fired from a manager retaliating. But things are starting to look up this year. Staples has a offer for me 3 states away, and Florida as well.

Thank you to all the veterans who served, will serve, and those who did not make it back.

 

[astro355]

I unfortunately I don't have a great story to tell. I joined the 863rd Engineer Battalion as a reservist back in 1994. MOS was an 81B, that's a drafting specialist for those that don't know. They were adding a new platoon to the company so they would be more self-sufficient instead of having orders/plans sent in. They didn't fill the rest of the platoon and eventually I was rolled into the communications platoon. In 1995, I burned for three weeks in Egypt (sending an irishman to a hot, sunny place) and was eventually honorably discharged since I didn't want to be a diesel mechanic at that time.

I consider myself lucky since if that would have happened these days, I wouldn't have been given a choice in the matter.

 

[AstroSafarifam]

I join at 17 in the delayed entry program in november of 82 graduated early from High school and went to basic at Fort benning, went through infantry school, airborne school and ranger school. Ended up in Ft lewis and then to a conflict in Genada. stayed in till 85 and then went back in as a Military Police in 87, became a personal body guard for a division commander in 88 in Germany and then was recalled to the states in late 89 to goto panama, after panama returned to the states and for a few months and then back to germany late 90 I was sent to the sand box. Returned to Germany and exited the Army stayed in Germany till 93 and returned to Ft lewis went to Somalia for a few months and transfered to Ft Hood to return to MP duty. Ended up in Bosnia pulling security for the UN and 8 months later returned to Ft Hood did a few months down in Panama and did my final exit from the Army in 96. I became a bail enforcement officer in Texas until I was excepted as a peace officer in a small town, then moved back to Michigan in 99. As of this time I am unemployed and looking for work anyplace I can find it.

 

[ASTROJOE LT1]

Well my story is an old one: I graduated from High School in June of 1969. Drafted into the Army in March of 1970. I did Basic 11B20 and AIT training in Fort Jackson , South Carolina. From there to Fort Benning ,Georgia for Jump School and what they called back them as Shake and Bake school, it was just advanced NCO school so I made Sargent. I left Fort Benning,Georgia for Home with orders for Southeast Asia (VIetnam) and a 30 day leave. 30 days later I reported to Ft Lewis ,Washington for my flight. During the 3 days time I was there they cut me new orders to go to Korea instead of Southeast Asia (VIetnam). I have always considered myself lucky that I never had to go into the Jungles to fight.

 

[d3athm3talh3ad]

enlisted in the usaf delayed enlistment program in '92 seeking a steady paycheck for a change...wanted something mechanical like transportation, but scored almost as high in the electrical field on the asvab, and chose electronic warfare for the 6 year enlistment that at the time would give you e-3 status out of basic...went to basic training (san antonio, tx) in '93...went to tech school at biloxi, ms and near the end of the year, went to korea for a year...the only place accepting a 3-skill level at the time was shaw afb...so, it was off to sumter, sc and aside from a couple months in saudi arabia, was there until '99...when the budget started running short every year starting in '97, paydays started getting late, and the air force i'd joined had changed drastically, i decided enough was enough...

 

[zaida101]

Lets see my Senor year of High School I joined DEP for the Marine Corps after I graduated I spent a few months to party and get everything out of my system. I went in in may of 98 to boot and chose 0311 which is infantry. I made it through boot and proceeded to School of Infantry and Advanced infantry in early 2000 while doing a mountain warfare school I was asked to volunteer and try induction for Marine Recon 0321. I tried and made it and was deployed to 2ND Marine Div, 2ND Recon Bat. I spent my time in NC then after 911 was sent to Afghanistan landed on 10-08-01. We recon-ed terrorist schools and set up a pecking order on the 23rd when President Bush made his speech we started to bomb the hell out of them. I spent 14 months in Ghany came home then in 03 was sent to Iraq for the initial assault of a place called Al Anbar where I proceeded to get shot but not major. I Did my tour there came home and went back in late 04 only to take a round in the thigh and was sent home and offered a full medical retirement and took it. Now I'm in San Antonio my home and having a good time.

 

[astroturf]

Thanks All for your service and sharing your stories. Jim

 

[tedanderson]

Does my contribution in the Salvation Army count as being a vet?

 

[Samio187]

i don't get one because VA doesn't consider my honorable discharge adequate enough to be a veteran. sure i was only in 10 month but in those 10 months i repaired 40 C130 T-56 engined including redoing all the heater boots for them. Me+Safety wire+fuel nozzles=magical

 

[astroturf]

i don't get one because VA doesn't consider my honorable discharge adequate enough to be a veteran. sure i was only in 10 month but in those 10 months i repaired 40 C130 T-56 engined including redoing all the heater boots for them. Me+Safety wire+fuel nozzles=magical

Samio, This ain't the VA. If you've served, you've served. Apply for it in the groups section of your profile. Just tell em Jim sent ya. And thanks for your service. Jim

 

[Samio187]

it was just fixing planes i hate the VA oh you can't get out life insurance because you were discharged with a mental disorder . bleg. i don't think i'll apply til i get pictures up i have to pretty up the van though right now its full of tires tools and random clothes lol

 

[AstroAustin]

Samio187, I added you. We don't care if you peeled potatoes in the armed forces, if you served we'll honor you.

 

[astro355]

Samio187, I added you. We don't care if you peeled potatoes in the armed forces, if you served we'll honor you.

Oh, the potatoes! Thanks for bringing back those wonderful kp duties.

And maybe its just me, I find it odd that a person who lives in Idaho would bring up potatoes. :think:

 

[tedanderson]

Samio, This ain't the VA. If you've served, you've served.

Ditto. Everyone's job serves a useful purpose. I've never enlisted but I have been able to benefit from some of the amenities as a result of my association with some of the people who serve. We can't forget that they serve this country in many ways other than on the battlefield.

 

[Samio187]

Samio187, I added you. We don't care if you peeled potatoes in the armed forces, if you served we'll honor you.

thank you although you didn't have to
I never had KP duty >.< i had to do the laundry at basic. but laundry got me out of alot of things lol like not having to have my drawer full of clothes with rolled shirts and folded towels. but hospital corners were the death of me. i learned them after i had to retrieve my bed from outside twice. (thank you Master Sergeant English)

 

[astroturf]

Howdy Vets, This Forum has well over 4400 members. And yet, We only have 20 Vets.

Show your true COLORS, and let us recognize you for your Valuable Service.

Their will be an open recruiting session that begins tonight at 1700 hours.

And yes, We will have cookies and beer. Smoke em if ya got em.

Thanking all you guys & gals out there for your service. You know who you are. Jim

 

[Samio187]

Veterans Day is on 4/20 now? oh what a wonderful day

 

[astroturf]

Everyday is Veterans Day for me... OOH RAH... Jim