Curious - army/navy/air force?

[WillDee]

Just wondering, but how many ex or serving armed forces folk are on WF?

[John Taylor]

King's Own Royal Border Regiment.

John

[Dave Patterson]

US Navy.

And yes...it WAS an adventure.

[WillDee]

Originally Posted by John Taylor

King's Own Royal Border Regiment.

John

Love the 'Trainee Pensioner' tag you have. :-)

A follow up question...do you think serving has helped or hindered you in business/formal employment at all?

Once again, it's curiousity. More than idle, as I have theory that it helps, especially in terms of discipline required for managing time and setting goals (and achieving them) if you're self-employed.

[WillDee]

Originally Posted by Dave Patterson

US Navy.

And yes...it WAS an adventure.

Same as for John. A follow up question...do you think serving has helped or hindered you in business/formal employment at all?

[myob]

US Air Force. As a former C130 pilot, I made friends and contacts throughout the world that has given me a balanced global view and also has been very good for my businesses.

[WillDee]

Originally Posted by myob

US Air Force. As a former C130 pilot, I made friends and contacts throughout the world that has given me a balanced global view and also has been very good for my businesses.

Nice to hear. It reinforces my somewhat biased view that military service is good for one. :-)

It's rather odd, that 'brotherhood' of ex military personnel. I've met a number of people here, in a professional capacity, that have served somewhere or other in the forces, and invariably they've stood out from the crowd. There's something about them that makes one take notice. They've always struck me as being more focused and goal-oriented than the average individual, for some reason.

Good times! (takes nostalgic trip down memory lane)

[Ken Leatherman]

U.S. Marine Corps. Semper Fi, Mac.

No doubt Military Service has helped me in my off line and on line.

Ken

[John M Kane]

Army Signal Corps '71-'74

[Michael Motley]

U.S Army 89-95

[Akky]

Damn you all must have good holds throught the US Government My ambition is to become a pilot though, but damn business is also quite good but being a Pilot is awesomer than a biznez man.

G'day,
Akky

[garyv]

U.S. Navy - Former Electronics Tech.

[CDarklock]

USAF, 1990. Took an early out after participating in the raid on Noriega's stronghold (Panama was a joke, as combat goes, and it's still the single most horrible experience of my life), then joined the defense industry for the next several years. I felt rather guilty about not fulfilling my six-year contract with my country, but living in the D.C. area made it easy enough to keep my business activities firmly centred on serving my country - albeit in a slightly different way.

[garyv]

Originally Posted by CDarklock

USAF, 1990. Took an early out after participating in the raid on Noriega's stronghold (Panama was a joke, as combat goes, and it's still the single most horrible experience of my life), then joined the defense industry for the next several years. I felt rather guilty about not fulfilling my six-year contract with my country, but living in the D.C. area made it easy enough to keep my business activities firmly centred on serving my country - albeit in a slightly different way.

Was that when they blasted him w/ loud music? Was that torturous for those blasting the music as well?

[KenThompson]

US Air Force, 1975-1980. It was a 4 yr enlistment, and I extended for a
year to spend 2 yrs in Germany. It was well worth the extension.

I was an electronic tech and worked on electronic countermeasures.

Yes, absolutely, my military experience/training had a huge and positive
impact on my employment over the years.

[gareth]

Royal New Zealand Infantry reservist for a couple of years.

Coolest thing I got to do was counter terror training with NZSAS

Nice to know I'm not the only electronics freak here.

[mattlaclear]

US Army -- Field Medic. The discipline I learned from my time in the services is still with me today. Making money online is not an easy thing to do. It takes a lot of hard work and that means doing it even when you don't feel like doing it.

[CDarklock]

Originally Posted by garyv

Was that when they blasted him w/ loud music? Was that torturous for those blasting the music as well?

I wasn't involved in that piece of the operation, which came a bit later; we did a quick rampage through the stronghold, but Noriega... wasn't home. In retrospect, it was a warning: "We can come in whenever we want." At the time, at least to a 19-year-old, it seemed like we just didn't really know what we were doing.

When I look back on it today, I truly admire the brilliance of the operation, but back then the ground troops pretty much shared the perception of the American public - that it was a big frat-boy game with no purpose or benefit. That didn't do much for morale. There was a lot of head-shaking in the ranks.

[Phnx]

4 years in the Royal Airforce when I was a young lass. Loved it!

[john_kennedy]

USAF 1973-1979, worked on the Minuteman III ICBMs located in Montana. There were a total of 4 Air Force bases in the world I could be stationed at! Best thing I ever did, I learned electronics and computers back when there were barely handheld calculators.

John

[Shane Dolby]

US Navy 1981-1992
Like in my Regular Life I did several different things in the navy. From Driving Marines to the beach during several conflicts to working in computers/electronics. Was also a instructor before I got out.
Was a great adventure as i was able to go to more than 50 counties and several places people can only dream about as part of my Job.

Shane

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by Phnx

4 years in the Royal Airforce when I was a young lass. Loved it!

That actually surprises me. Dunno why.

[Phnx]

The Navy was my first choice as I love the sea, but I was too short. They had a height limit of 4'11" at the time (this was about 1977/8) and I was just a smidgin under so they wouldn't have me. Gits. The airforce was second choice and preferable to the army, neither of whom had height restrictions. My logic for choosing the airforce was the women seemed less butch looking and they had a nicer uniform. And planes were cool!

I was determined to join one of them though, as I decided I needed to learn self-discipline. LOL. After about 4 and half years I decided I'd had enough of being told what to do and decided to experience life at Uni instead. Having said that it really was a great part of my life.

For many years I used to recommend to youngsters (I wasn't quite 18 when I joined) that it was a good career choice to join one of the services, but not now. Times are different and they'll likely be sent to fight some rich mans wars. I'm noting a lot of unemployed youngsters are now joining up, which is sad.

But yeah, back in the day it was a good life. Still wish I could have got in the Navy though.

[Dave Patterson]

Originally Posted by Phnx

The Navy was my first choice as I love the sea, but I was too short. They had a height limit of 4'11" at the time (this was about 1977/8) and I was just a smidgin under so they wouldn't have me. Gits. The airforce was second choice and preferable to the army, neither of whom had height restrictions. My logic for choosing the airforce was the women seemed less butch looking and they had a nicer uniform. And planes were cool!

I was determined to join one of them though, as I decided I needed to learn self-discipline. LOL. After about 4 and half years I decided I'd had enough of being told what to do and decided to experience life at Uni instead. Having said that it really was a great part of my life.

For many years I used to recommend to youngsters (I wasn't quite 18 when I joined) that it was a good career choice to join one of the services, but not now. Times are different and they'll likely be sent to fight some rich mans wars. I'm noting a lot of unemployed youngsters are now joining up, which is sad.

But yeah, back in the day it was a good life. Still wish I could have got in the Navy though.

A good portion of this post makes me think maybe you're my evil English twin...
(Though I DID serve in the US Navy)

[Phnx]

Originally Posted by Dave Patterson

A good portion of this post makes me think maybe you're my evil English twin...

Heheh

(Though I DID serve in the US Navy)

*blows raspberry*

The Navy always have the best uniforms.

When I was about 30 I actually had the bizarre thought that maybe I should join up again and see if they'd dropped the height restrictions in the Navy. Think they let you rejoin up to about 42. For about 10 minutes I allowed myself to be dazzled by the idea of a life on the ocean waves but then reality hit and I realised the time had passed. Once you've got used to doing your own thing it's impossible to start taking orders again.

I do remember most Officers were idiots, with a few honourable exceptions. It was the NCOs who ran things, the Sergeants, Corporals etc. were the oil that kept things running smoothly. The "good officers" were those who had worked their way through the ranks rather than coming straight from Officer Training School and thinking they knew more than those who'd been serving for perhaps 20 years.

[KenThompson]

I joined the Air Force when I was 17 and just graduated from high school. I
have always thought it was a good decision and the best thing I could've
done. And it truly was the best time of my life.

When I enlisted I was actually open to making a career out of it. My father
was career military, and all the men in my family going back to WW2 have
served in various branches.

But! lol. It only took about 6 months to realize 'this ain't for me!' It was cool
for a young guy, but I just didn't like so many things about all of it. Oddly
enough, it was the career people that turned me off from it. I mean, they're
good people, but I just couldn't see myself living life in that environment.

I went to college at a good university after I got out. I was in an engineering
curriculum, and my grades were very good. The Navy tried to recruit me to
become a nuclear engineering officer. lol. I looked at one of them and said, "No
way in hell." True story!

I was back in the real world and just couldn't see myself doing it all over again.

[MikeAmbrosio]

U.S. Navy 1982 - 1986

Was an Aviation Electrician. Loved working on thos P-3 Orions, and the Rescue Helos.

I was 17 when I joined, but was on that Delayed Entry for 7 months, so by the time I went to boot camp I was 18.

Shock of my life, but one of the best experiences I ever had. Traveling the world at such a young age was great. I got to see how the world views the U.S. long before the internet.

Amazing all the paperwork we had in the Aviation branch. We didn't have computers to use then.

And, to this day I still remain in contact with several friends I made while I served.

[John Rogers]

Army. 22 years, 4 months.

I would've bailed at 20, but I made E-8 so stayed long enough to get my high three in that pay grade, plus a bit more to accommodate my exit strategy. And almost long enough to get my ass deployed again.

I dearly miss the camaraderie, but those last years were absolute torture. The longer I continued, the more cynical I became. It was beyond time for me to leave.

John

[John Rogers]

Originally Posted by myob

As a former C130 pilot

So that was you dropping us in the trees?!

[KenThompson]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

So that was you dropping us in the trees?!

Naw. You guys had crooked parachutes. LOL

The Air Force never gets lost. (DOH!)

Oh gawd, just remembered this. Ok, my dad flew in various capacities in the AF.
He told us a story. This must have happened in the late 50's or early 60's. I believe
he was on KC-135 tankers.

Ok, it was night, low vis, and they were gonna land soon. lol. They cleared the
clouds and low and behold - they were about to land on some interstate somewhere
around Las Vegas! I think it was LV, but I don't know if they get that kind of weather
out there. Whatever. Funny story.

The navigator never heard the end of that one.

[KimW]

Originally Posted by Dave Patterson

A good portion of this post makes me think maybe you're my evil English twin...
(Though I DID serve in the US Navy)

Since Phnx is a lass, is there something you're not telling us dave?

[Dave Patterson]

Originally Posted by KimW

Since Phnx is a lass, is there something you're not telling us dave?

Drats....busted!

I must admit I've always wondered what my life would have been like if I had been born a Brit....