fuji869 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 I was former Army National Guard and here is something that I thought of that kind of blew my mind. I joined the Guard in 1990 and the Gulf War broke out while I was in Basic, that was 15 years ago. The fall of Saigon was 1975, I am currently about as far away, time wise, from Gulf War as I was from the Fall of Saigon during the Summer of 1990. So I am about the same age (probably a few years younger) then the Vietnam War Vets when I first enlisted. Kind of blew my mind thinking about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Time does go by fast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTalon Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 And getting old sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCS Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Sigh. 22 years and 3 months ago I was in basic in San Antonio. 22 years ago I was HAFB going oh my God what have I done? for about the 100th time. 18 years 4 months ago I told them no thanks. I'll be leaving now. 15 years ago I watched TV and saw people I knew and help train to be in a war at war. And almost rejoined myself, ( had I stayed in I would have been in the Persion Gulf War, but would have been a short timer on my second tour. :paranoid: ). Wow. Time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 979guy Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Israel has a mandatory service in the military between the ages of 18-21 (girls go for only 2 years). Then, once you're out and off to do whatever it is you do with your life you may get called for reserves service, for up to 45 days a year (if things are REALY bad. It's usually less, sometimes not at all). Well, many of us recently went, with the withdrawal of settlements from Gaza and all... When you join your unit, it's like you're drwn back in time: you are amongst some other reserves-guys, however all around there are all the regular service soldiers, and you're back where you were all those years ago. You have the prism of each passing year and the relativity comparison is inevitable - it always seems as if you age, while the soldiers (especially those who only do service ages 18-20, if you know what I mean), always stay the same age... And no, it's (not all that bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raub Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 I can't believe I went to basic 16 years ago. I was an 18 y/o PFC when I got sent to the Gulf War. Scared outta my mind. I look back and it does seem like a long time ago, but it also seems like that time flew. I'm an instructor now, so I see a little of the 'young me' in the guys I train who are heading back over to the sand box. Kind of puts it in perspective. I thought about that too Fuji. The guys enlisting today are basically as far away from the Gulf War as I was from the Vietnam War when I joined. We're getting old :rubeyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsBry Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 At this time 14 years ago, I was in basic training down at Fort Jackson. Man was that hot. I didn't go to the Gulf (still in high school but I went into the delayed entry program during Desert Shield) however I came close to going to Somalia. I have alot of memories of my Army days that seem like they happened yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mexico Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 I can't believe the Iraq war started over two years ago, it feels like I was just there yesterday(i've been home from Iraq for almost 2 years) I also can't believe that I've been in six years already. It's funny how you hate the military while you are in and miss it when you get out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mexico Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 At this time 14 years ago, I was in basic training down at Fort Jackson. Man was that hot. I didn't go to the Gulf (still in high school but I went into the delayed entry program during Desert Shield) however I came close to going to Somalia. I have alot of memories of my Army days that seem like they happened yesterday.good 'ole fort Jackson haha, I'm a drill sergeant in the reserves and we go to jackson a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Yeah back in the day when we pulled into Haifa Israel 1988 I danced with a couple of Israeli GI Jane cuties who could handle a 9mm better than some airforce guys I met. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsBry Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 good 'ole fort Jackson haha, I'm a drill sergeant in the reserves and we go to jackson a lot. When I was there, the units on Tank Hill had reserve drill sergeants. I always thought it would be a little strange getting new drill sergeants during basic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mexico Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 When I was there, the units on Tank Hill had reserve drill sergeants. I always thought it would be a little strange getting new drill sergeants during basic.We are doing a lot of basic training now, some of us almost as much as the active drills because of all the deployments going on, our job used to be to come relieve the active drills for a couple of weeks so that they could get some down time but now some of the reservists are doing year long tours or more at basic training posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 979guy Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Yeah back in the day when we pulled into Haifa Israel 1988 I danced with a couple of Israeli GI Jane cuties who could handle a 9mm better than some airforce guys I met. ND, if there's an analogy in there, man you should refrain from sizes... Anyway, since then, the Israeli army and other special op units have opened their ranks to women combatants (even pilots... they had to reinforce the F-15E's tails because of that reverse parking problem). You should come down here for some more dancing today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Seriously the hot babes would tote their 9mm everywhere and I had a chance to see them use them, and some of the desk jockey airforce guys I was on staff duty with when it came time for gun quals sucked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airborneskins Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 I can't believe the Iraq war started over two years ago, it feels like I was just there yesterday(i've been home from Iraq for almost 2 years) I also can't believe that I've been in six years already. It's funny how you hate the military while you are in and miss it when you get out. I never hated the military when I was in. It sucked having to deploy so many times after 9/11, but I never hated it. As a matter of fact, the only day that I regret in the Army , was the day that I lost one of my joes in Fallujah. That was it. The rest of my almost 9 years was not regrettable at all. You're right about how time flies, It seems like yesterday that I got back from Iraq. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrangeSkin Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Just out of curiosity Ron, since I've never been in the military, you're one of the guys that yells and screams a lot, right? How does it feel knowing that you're probably reviled by all your underlings? I assume that your "drill sergeant" personality isn't your real personality (or maybe it is). I wonder if you really go up to troops screaming "I can't hear you maggot!" I'm just curious about the specifics of drill sergeant life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airborneskins Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Just out of curiosity Ron, since I've never been in the military, you're one of the guys that yells and screams a lot, right? How does it feel knowing that you're probably reviled by all your underlings? I assume that your "drill sergeant" personality isn't your real personality (or maybe it is). I wonder if you really go up to troops screaming "I can't hear you maggot!" I'm just curious about the specifics of drill sergeant life. Actually, it is just a game that they have to play. For the most part the soldiers understand that they are just doing thier job. I'll never forget when I was in Basic, we were going to the Range, and one of my drill sergeants that I thought was a real @sshole, put me and a few of my fellow soldiers on a detail. He had to drive us in a cattle truck, and when we were on the way, he pulled over to the side of the road and started joking with us. That was the first time that I realized that they were just normal guys. Anyway, Drill Sergeants come from normal backgrounds in the Army, Hell some of them are the nicest people you would ever meet, until they put on that hat and "go to work" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mexico Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 I never hated the military when I was in. It sucked having to deploy so many times after 9/11, but I never hated it. As a matter of fact, the only day that I regret in the Army , was the day that I lost one of my joes in Fallujah. That was it. The rest of my almost 9 years was not regrettable at all. You're right about how time flies, It seems like yesterday that I got back from Iraq.Well, you're right I guess I shouldn't say hate. I guess I just wanted to get out and finish school when I was on active duty, a lot of it had to do with being in a unit that was always in the field or at NTC all the time and going to Iraq right when I was in the process of getting out (stop loss). In the long run it was a good experience I go to college for free, I met great people, traveled and I learned a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airborneskins Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 a lot of it had to do with being in a unit that was always in the field or at NTC all the time and going to Iraq right when I was in the process of getting out (stop loss). In the field more than the 82d? :doh: Just out of curiosity what unit where you in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mexico Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Just out of curiosity Ron, since I've never been in the military, you're one of the guys that yells and screams a lot, right? How does it feel knowing that you're probably reviled by all your underlings? I assume that your "drill sergeant" personality isn't your real personality (or maybe it is). I wonder if you really go up to troops screaming "I can't hear you maggot!" I'm just curious about the specifics of drill sergeant life.HAHA, airborne is right, I'm probably one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet, you definitely would never guess that I am a drill sergeant. It's just a personality you have to portray when you put on the hat, the main priority is not screaming and yelling, it's getting these kids trained correctly to go to combat and come home alive. That being said im not much of a yeller and a screamer, im more of the sarcastic type, I just tick people off a lot or make 'em laugh if im making fun of someone else! This is my favorite line: There are three kinds of T's in this world......Ice Tea, Nestea, and you're freakin Nasty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mexico Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 In the field more than the 82d? :doh: Just out of curiosity what unit where you in? Im know 82nd deployed more but I guarantee you that we spend just as much time in the field as you, I was in the 4ID, we were the first division to ever get FBCB2 (are you familiar with that?) so we stayed in the field constantly because we had to keep testing it over and over again. In 4 years there i'd say i spent 3 in the field or a NTC (3 times). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airborneskins Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Im know 82nd deployed more but I guarantee you that we spend just as much time in the field as you, I was in the 4ID, we were the first division to ever get FBCB2 (are you familiar with that?) so we stayed in the field constantly because we had to keep testing it over and over again. In 4 years there i'd say i spent 3 in the field or a NTC (3 times). You got me.. So I am sure that you hated it in Texas (4 ID). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingtiger1013 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 It’s been a little over 14 years since I left Keesler AFB and joined my home squadron at Andrews AFB. I miss the fun we had and the trips we took but I don’t miss the pay! I was in a flying squadron (756th ALS, C-141’s) and we would get copies of the voice and data recordings from commercial crashes. Our commander was in the FAA so he would get the video that included the CGI of the aircraft. It was pretty sobering to hear the pilots right before their deaths. In case you ever wanted to hear something like that check out this site: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/lastwords.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mexico Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 You got me.. So I am sure that you hated it in Texas (4 ID).Uggh miserable Cowboys country, I remember the Jerry Jones show would be on sunday mornings :doh: I'd go to the sports bar on base and watch the redskins games when we weren't in the field. Myself and some other Redskins fans would watch together (like 3 of us) and of course since the redskins never had a good record they would put the game on a little tv in the corner with no sound and show the other games on the big tv's. when I couldn't get to the bar i'd have my dad tape the game at home and send it to me, so I actually never missed a game! Im sure you suffered through the same torment of trying to catch up with the games when you were deployed or in the field :dallasuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halter91 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Ahhh, Good old Fort Jackson.... I froze my ass off. I went from Oct-Dec and it was cold as hell. Damn, I remember sleeping and waking up and frost was on my boots. Those were the good old days when I weighed a mere 185lbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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