Current or Former Military Service Poll
 

There seems to be an above average number of serving or ex military personnel on here. It really doesn't surprise me much as the type of vehicle does fit into the sort of alpha personality type that tends to serve.


So anybody that wants to share branch, trade and rank.


I will kick it off:
1976 to 1981 - Canadian Armed Forces Land Element (YA Army was too short for us back then) Mobile Support Equipment Operator (Truck Driver was too short as well) mainly specializing in aircraft refuelling. Corporal (lowest level sergeant US equivalent due to different rank structure)
1993 to 2003 - Naval Reserve - Training, damage control and firefighting - Lieutenant Commander


I apologise for the use of the word "ex" in the title!
It has been pointed out to me by a respected user here that the use of the word "ex" implies an OTH discharge to the American crowd. This is not the case in Canada and I was not aware of the association!
Can't change the title so please read it as FORMER military!!!!!!!!!

1998-2001. Army ... and thats all i have to say about that.

Currently retired.

1998-current Air Force. In four years I'll be at 20 and I can pull chocks!

:burnrubber: :party0030:

Damn hard for the planes to take off if you don't though isn't it!

With enough throttle, anything is possible. ;)

Yep that's why the "hard" statement!
Actually saw one try once (not on purpose and he was totally baffled) and it almost didn't turn out well!

US Coast Guard March 1973-September 1976 Electronics Technician.
Served in Thailand, Okinawa and Bermuda.

United States Army, 2011-2014 11B fort drum NY, 2-14INF! Transitioned to the 1-158th INF Arizona National Guard in Florance AZ, Awaiting an answer for transition back to active duty again. Specialist

ROC Navy, Frogman

I guess this didn't work out too well since everyone would be taking orders, including the general.

Air Force, 2011-present. Late joiner.... got screwed by the Air Force and Coast Guard trying to join for 3 years... eventually settled with Air Force at 24.

MC-130j Crew Chief by trade, but I eventually transitioned myself to back shop (Aero Repair). We repair/rig/remove/install the landing gear and flight controls. As a secondary we serve as crash damaged/disabled aircraft recovery, and also as a third we serve as wheel and tire shop. Lots of cool tools to play with.

E-4, looking to make E-5 first time next year so rank can catch up with my age. Also plan to go Guard or Reserve once my active time is up. Concentrate on school and earn three times as much doing what I do now as a contractor.

HA HA You are correct!
What I meant was A type personality! Don't know where my head was at to go to Alpha (maybe it was the military theme?)


BIG difference between A type an Alpha type!

USN, 2003 - Present, Air Traffic Controller.

US Army 2010-2013, satellite communications operator

Not if you're a helicopter. ;)

1996-2010, Major, USMC, CH-53E pilot

Long range, heavy lift.

2005-current, coast guard. im surprised coast guard was on here :P
im an FS, basically a cook. first patrol was 6 months and ive sailed around the world. literally! navy snatched up my boat and made us sail with them. been on 378's for 7 1/2 years, and only got 1 1/2 years of land duty. cooks are 90% on boats

Pumped way to much fuel into Coast Guard helicopters back in the day to forget to add them to the poll!
As far as cooks go (especially those on ships) I have always felt they are some of the unsung heroes of the military! The hours and working conditions are some of the worst (other than combat of course), nobody ever appreciates what they can do with limited resources and they just seem to take crap from all sides!

Anyone who gives the person who's making your food a hard time is an IDIOT.

Found it was usually a bigger issue in the Army than the Navy as they could give the cooks a hard time then run away!

There have been many times I would have taken an MRE over field chow :P

You would not say that if you had to eat the IRPs we had back in the 70s!
Mind you the cans of bacon packed in grease were spectacular!

Sounds like heaven compared to green powdered eggs and, potato like slices, and a slice of I think they called it "ham".

I've had some of the c rats. They were defintely not the best thing :P Current MREs are awesome compared.

I will give you that one as I did a couple of months cross training with the US in Germany and the "fresh" rations they got were not even remotely close to what we would have!
Mind you our cooks had to feed a fraction of the number of people so could do a better job of it.

If you don't mind me asking, why did you separate at 14 years?

I worked with a Gunny who was a CH-53 mechanic on my last deployment. I knew I could always count on the Marines to have my back when we were on the road.
The best food I ever had on a deployment was from an Army DFAC on an Air Force base. The AF contracts out their cooks, so the food all tastes faintly Indian. They make good curry though. The Army brings their own cooks, so soul food Thursday was freaking awesome.

Because of my now ex-wife. No big deal, it all worked out in the end. Also, you can't draw a paycheck if you're dead. Lot of people I knew are no longer here.

And out of nowhere the Army pulls ahead!

2012 to present. Army looking to make my sgt pretty soon and dropping my officer packet as soon as I knock out these last 40 hours for my degree

2010-present Active Duty Air Force E-5
I work in vehicle maintenance, so i get to wrench on cars and trucks all day and get payed for it which is great. Also I was stationed in Japan when the 86's came out and saw/sat in a BRZ before they were even released in the states. :thumbsup:

Army intel 8 years, good times.

USCG 1982 - 1986. Telephone tech (TT3) on the Cutter Gallatin (378') out of Governors Island, NY for 2 years and 1 year in Manasquan, NJ. I would go underway again in a heartbeat if they called me. Loved being out at sea bustin' bad guys! :thumbsup:

1999-2000, Army 11H (heavy anti-armor infantryman) Airborne, 3rd jump my leg below my knee went one way, everything above the knee went another..


-Thomas

AD-AF DEC2008 - SEP14

Early sep for Ed. I loved my job (2A6X1F). Made E-5 twice! and walked away with it ;]

Army, 2005 - 2011

11B(P)
Spent just under 2 years at 3rd Batt (Regiment) in Benning, PCS to 82nd in Bragg, subsequently lost all motivation to stay in due to how horrible that unit is (at least 4th brigade). Left in 2011, haven't looked back.

2011- current US Navy. Hoping I pick up E-5 this time around. Gunners Mate, VLS type. Stationed on a destroyer out here in Norfolk

Coast Guard 2002 - April this year. Flew H-60 helicopters and loved every minute of it (the flying that is)

Well now Major, do all the other Marines drive 'Stangs or what?
Even the Coast Guard has better representation so far!

Is there? I thought that's what it meant. :iono:

Ok, my turn. 84-92 Navair - VQ-1 EA-3B EWOP. Finished out my last 3 driving the 610 shop at NAS North Island.

Save The Whales
http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell...C-87-10631.jpg

Nope! Alpha refers to the actual TOP. "A" type WANTS to be top!
Sky Warriors eh!? Makes sense, as from what you said before you wouldn't fit in many other aircraft!

I can see that.


edit: Respectfully, the correct term is "former." "Ex" is for the OTH crowd.





There. Got that off of my chest.