Life in the Military

[Shadow_Twisted]

I'm probably one of a few who can actually know what it's like to be in the military, but I'm still rather new to the service. I'm enlisted in the Navy, completed boot camp, and am now at my follow-on training schools for my career in submarine electronics.

Overall, my life at the moment is easy, but it won't be when school's up and it's time for deployment. 6 month tours away from home with little to no contact with the loutside world, joy.

I thought it'd be a good idea to see what other forum-goers might have to add for their own military experience, if I'm not the only one. It would also give some other people a place to show support for those men and women serving.

Lil Edit: This post has been edited for removal of political content.

[Asthaloth]

I'd scrap the last bit, people tend to get antsy...

I have no personal military experience (I'm illegible for mental health reasons) but I learned alot from my Dad, who was in the forces for a few years (I'm not even going to try and contemplate how long, I think maybe seven years, but that is a complete guess)
He spoke often of how people hated him for his perceived threat (Germany during the cold war, and subsequently Ireland during our occupation...) and how the media tends to blow what they are doing right out of proportion (Everyone knows Bloody Sunday, no one knows Warren point.) So I have nothing but respect for you guys.

[Dragonfire]

I don't have any military experience either, but I've learned a bit from my brother-in-law. He's in the Marines, and right now he's in Iraq for his 4th tour. He doesn't mind though, he loves it. I've heard some of the stories he's told about his deployment over there, and I have a great deal of respect for him and all of the military (not to mention my grandpa was in it too).

[Jasujo]

I know there are other military members as well as quite a few military families on PPT, so you are definitely not alone. My dad and all his brothers were in the military at some point. My dad even stood guard at the White House. My uncle is currently still in the military, but I'm not sure which branch. (We unfortunately do not get to contact him much since he doesn't live close. He sends letter to my gram, though.) My husband's best friend just got out of the army a couple years ago. He was a cavalry scout, I believe. I think his job had something like a 33% death rate? My husband's cousin and his girlfriend are in the army. I think he's going to make a career out of it. Both the cousin and the best friend served in Baghdad when all the bombing and such was going on. It was a scary time, but they made it out alright.

[Paul]

I was gonna be in the Navy. They didn't want me, though.

[Paulisacretin]

Why didn't they want you?

[Paul]

You depress me, Skullsplitter. I was expecting an onslaught of sardonic banter, but is this polite curiousity? I bet the blitz will come later, uh oh..

Apparently I have loose ligaments in my right knee. They consider it a significant fault in my personal well-being, so in their eyes, I wouldn't be able to complete basic training.

[shapu]

Yeah, if you're likely to blow out your knee on a pack run, you might be a bit of a detriment to the squad in a combat situation.

[Paulisacretin]

I dunno Paul. I check in here from time to time, to see if there's anything worth exploring, but lately there hasn't been anything. I don't have Twinkle to direct me to some of the idiocy that happens on boards I don't look at.

I do like getting PMs though so if anyone happens to come across something they think I'd enjoy feel free to message me. I'll only thank you for it, unless you're the person who is demonstrating a remarkable level of stupidity.

[Paul]

I do like getting PMs though so if anyone happens to come across something they think I'd enjoy feel free to message me. I'll only thank you for it, unless you're the person who is demonstrating a remarkable level of stupidity.

I'll make a note of that.

[Tymaporer]

Well, I haven't had experience in the military, and I couldn't join even if I wanted to because of mental disorder stuff...all I know is that you have to salute people, and if you do it wrong, you get in trouble. *nodnod* Also, you get to crawl around in dirt and pee your pants cause if you try and go to the bathroom in the middle of a war, you'll get killed cause the enemy will see you. That's all I know, I think.

I gots a question. Do you wear a hat as part of your military uniform thingie? If so, are you allowed to take it off? (I figured this was a chance to find out the real answer to this question. Don't ask.)

[Rissa]

I'm only sixteen, so no possibility of being enlisted yet. I'm not sure I'd ever want to be. I think I'm just too much of a coward. And it's not likely that I'd be able to survive under that much pressure. I seriously admire those who do have the strength and courage to do something like that, though. You're my hero.

[Robin]

I gots a question. Do you wear a hat as part of your military uniform thingie? If so, are you allowed to take it off? (I figured this was a chance to find out the real answer to this question. Don't ask.)

Though not in the millitary, I was in JROTC all 4 years of high school. In the Air Force, at least, there are several hats and whether you wear them depends on the type. The most common type is a Flight Cap, which you must wear at all times when outdoors in uniform, but can't wear indoors.

[Caesara]

My aunt served in the navy for 20-something years, and I believe she is still in the navy reserves. One of my uncles was also in service for a while (I believe he was also in the navy). That was when I was really young, though, so I don't really remember anything about it other than they brought me shiny things from places I'd never heard of.

[Shadow]

My mom was in the Navy back in Vietnam times. Though she didn't go anywhere because women still weren't allowed on ships. She was responsible for watching the Black Hawks on base though. She got to wash them (like a car) and stand guard over them.