Posted on 06/29/2004 1:44:09 PM PDT by BagCamAddict
If there were no restrictions on age, weight, fitness, etc., would you sign up to join the War on Terror??
This is a vanity poll, due to the news today that the Army may be dipping into the Individual Ready Reserve pool. Several Freepers have indicated they would go if called upon, but they don't think they will be called due to their age.
Please post ONLY ONCE, and ONLY IF YOU WOULD GO, so that we can easily see the tally by looking at the number of replies.
Look into your State Guard. Most states have one. Duties vary, but for the most part you support Federal military forces and handle jobs they are too over taxed to do. The Texas State Guard, for instance, operates Red Cross shelters for hurricane evacuations. The Texas National Guard used to do that, but they have too many folks deployed overseas.
http://www.agd.state.tx.us/stateguard/default.asp?ldpage=main
Yes, if I was allowed. I can physically outwork almost all men 25 years younger than myself and do so pretty much every day. Yet, I'm overweight and have a bit of grey hair. My vision is still 20/15 and can be corrected to 20/10 and I still have good motor skills, work well in a team and have very high level networking, radio and communications technical skills (Except no one will hire me anymore because of my age.).
Age 47 - I would go. It would make more sense to have someone as old as I am guarding an airport or shopping mall while the real soldiers go to war.
Do I ever know the feeling! Spent years behind a crypto vault "green door" feeling like a mushroom while my buddies from home were (I thought) fat-catting on their ME and EE degrees.
It turned out, I found out years later and to my embarassment, that my buddy with the ME degree was flying F-4 Phantoms for the Navy in VN, and my best bud, the guy with the EE was an O-3 in Special Forces and completed 2 full tours in VN.
Sitting on a missile site or sitting behind the green door or in a base comm center in the '60s - '70s was not much glory and no ribbons. But hey, it had to be done. You, Eote48, me, and millions of others stood the watch! Most of us would give more if asked. And all of us have much to be proud of!
Me cache en los Moros!
well, okay, but only if I can be 19 years old again...er, without losing any of the experience I've gained since then...or is that being too picky?
I'd go- can we at least count on the liberals to join us as our human shields if there's not enough body armor to go around?
I'm 62, ex-Special Forces, veteran, but I would go back in a second. I would no doubt be a liability in combat, but I sure as hell could train some of the youngsters.
I'd get in big trouble if I tried to enlist.
22 y/o USAF AD O-1
Age 54; Its been 35 yrs. since I left VietNam after two tours, 33 yrs. since Honorably Discharged. I have never forgotten my trainning/combat experiences. My mind is still sharp as a tac and physically fit.
Maybe its time Uncle Sam started to tap the Retiree Pool!
I left VietNam completing the mission of the United States, but, I always felt I never completed MY MISSION to my dead comrades, my dear brothers.
Yes, I'd go in a heartbeat.
Thanks for the thread!
Semper Fi,
1st Recon/
56th Nightfighters
This Navy 1630, retired 0-6 would go in a New York minute!
Where do I sign up? Fit as ever, sharp as ever, analysis tools at the ready.
Go Navy!
Age 42 - fit and ready for duty, Sir! Report when?
Absolutely NOT.
Given the at most, 1 in 100,000 chance of Dying in a Terrorist Act (at worst, assuming another WTC attack) -- I am far more valuable contributing to my Church, fellowshipping with my Betrothed, and ministering to her Step-Son, than any conceivable value which could be ascribed to gallivanting around the globe in pursuit of Islamic Enemies who are perfectly happy to kill eachother when there are no Foreign Infidels around.
Home is where the Heart is.
Best, OP
Join the War on Terror if I was asked to?
Nothing for me personally but what y'all can do is support everyone serving. It doesn't need to be grandiose a simple prayer, a thank you or any simple letter to any service member. No matter what the press or politicians say just support the troops, that will be the best thing y'all can do. Thank you and bless y'all
Yes.
Yes, I wish I could go...I have a 40 something army reserve female friend-she flies helicopters. She is very pretty-kind of looks like Barbie (blonde and blue eyed). She has three kids ages 7-13. She (and a number of other 'oldsters') have been ordered to get their flight credentials in order:most have been riding a desk for a while. They are expecting to go to Iraq. She worries about her kids but told me she is excited about putting 20 years of training to use (pregnant during desert storm couldn't go). Of course being a woman, she fears capture more than death. We both agreed, we would kill ourselves (and as many bad guys as possible) rather than allow ourselves to become prisoners of fiendish Islamic terrorists. I wish I could fight for this country and wish I had joined the military when I was younger.
I was at RAF Mildenhall when the Berlin Wall came down. You have much to be proud of.
62 in October; played basketball (full court, run 'n gun) last evening with a mix of teens, 20-somethings, kids in their 40's and two other geezers. Can still run with the kids, but the reflexes are shot.
Though there are plenty of jobs in supply or logistics I could take on to release a youger man to combat duty, I wouldn't mind my old battle station (loader on a 5 inch 38). But, the few 5" guns left in the Navy are probably autoloaded now.
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