Posted on 12/30/2005 8:15:40 AM PST by FlatLandBeer
At 17 years old , joining the Marines was the thing to do.
Went in in 1966, went to VietNam in 1968, got out in 1969.
Was a trip for sure.
God bless America.
Enlisted on my 18th birthday (March 8,1965), the day the Marines landed in Viet Nam because my country was at war.
Swore to defend my country and its constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
Came home from the Nam and turned 21. Since I could no longer shoot at my countries foreign enemies, I began fighting it's domestic enemies with the ballot. Have never voted for a democrat (communist) since I got the right to vote.
18: voluntarily enrolled in a military junior college and left for Army ROTC boot camp the day after high school graduation, commissioned 2 years later. Had a great time, after the first couple weeks of adjusting. One of the best things I ever did for myself.
Joined at age 19, in 1976, because I'd always wanted to be a soldier. Also, I was bored with college and wanted to see some of the world. The Army was my ticket out of a small town.
I didn't always enjoy it, but I was always proud to be a soldier. I grew up real fast and found out I'm made of tougher stuff than I thought.
Regrets? Yes. I wish I'd been smart enough to go to West Point when my CO told me I'd qualified. I was afraid I'd fail- so I didn't try.
I also wish I'd re-enlisted for another hitch. I started out in Jimmy Carter's Army- I should've stuck around to be a part of Ronald Reagan's Army.
Moral of the story? Military service can be a very good thing for a young person. And if you have the chance to get into a service academy, for God's sake, GO! EVEN IF YOU SHOULD FAIL, AT LEAST YOU TRIED!
Btw- my oldest son's in the Army National Guard, just returned from a year in Iraq. The change in him is amazing.
He's ready to take on the world- and win!
18(10 Days after I finished High School)(28 May 1980/Retired US Navy in 2002). What caused me to join, Patiotism(kind of) and the fact that Carter, Ford and Nixon had F*cked up the Mid-West Farm economy buy their Sh*tty policies!
Enlisted at 18, week after Korean thing started, in the civilian branch of the military (AF).
Went in the month after turning 19. My motivation was a letter from Lyndon Johnson.
Joined the U.S. Army in 1983 at 18.
Why?
Valley Forge, Dec 1777.
Understanding the sacrifices made for us back then fostered a type of "obligation" in my mind. I felt it was the least I could do.
And I have absolutely no regrets.
I was in San Antonio late 1949 with no job, no education, no future and in poor physical shape. I went to the Air Force recruiting center expecting rejection. After processing I was suprised at being accepted. I reported for basic training 16 Jan 1950. I retired as an E7 in 1971. The USAF provided me an education, health care, travel and most important, a positive value system.
Today's military is the most professional I have ever seen. Motivation is high and equipment is awesome. Opportunities during and after service are great. Young people of today would do well to consider at least one hitch in military service after completing high school. They will be better prepared for college then.
I was also pretty aimless and had pretty much had laid out a course for my life. I was also in love with a little redhead girl.
Of all the things I laid out in my life, nothing went as planned. However, that is not to say that all went bad. However, the gal I loved and I got married in 1976. After 25 years of marriage she decided to get a little red convertable and I was expendable. I wanted to work in radio and mid-days at WABC was my goal (true story). Some guy who was once chunky, has had a prescriptive medicine addiction and married three times has held the spot since '88 and plays little music to boot. Wish he'd move on... :>
I have however had a wonderful career I never planned on, have re-married to a far better wife......but also looking back regret I didn't serve. Probably would have learned many things and would have served my country.
I left home for Coast Guard basic on my 19th birthday. I was not ready for college, and really wanted to do something cool and different, and have a ob that meant something. I found it. I would do it again, but a little differently. I always wanted to fly helicopters, and if I had my life to do over, i would pursue that route in the military.
I volunteered for the US Navy at the age of 19.
My motivations?
Three previous generations of Wombats served in the United Sates Marine Corps (My grandfather went ashore at Guadalcanal and Peleliu, my father fought at Khe Sahn, two uncles -- one by marriage-- also served), so it was sort of a tradition in our family, going back to my great-grandfather who arrived in New York City in 1904 with nothing but famring skills and the ability to speak English on his resume,
Funny story, but absolutely true; when I was considering joining the Corps, the old Jarheads in my family locked themselves in the dining room and seriously discussed the matter, leaving me to sit on the living room couch until the deliberations were complete. When they had discussed it to their satisfaction, they marched out of dining room, and stood at parade rest in front of me. My father, in a deadpan tone and with a DI's piercing eyes then told me;
"We have discussed the matter and have decided -- We cannot do YOU to our Beloved Corps. Find something else to do."
They were, of course, right. I was a stubborn, headstrong young man and would have had serious problems with the rigid chickenshit expected of you in the Corps. I know that chicken shit has a purpose, but I'm one of those wiseguys who always has to ask "Why?". I would not have made it through basic, I'm sure.
I spent three years (of the five I signed up for) on my first hitch before being granted an early hardship discarge. However, once my family issues had been resolved, I did join the Naval Reserve, spending 8 years in the Reserves.
I topped out as an AO1 in 1997, having served on three carriers (Midway, Enterprise and Eisenhower).
The best parts? Well, where else can you experience a full-force Atlantic gale? Or a Pacific typhoon? Where else can you see blue whales, humpbacks, killer whales, dolphins and sharks in huge numbers, in their natural setting? How many other jobs can you get that are nice enough to deposit you on leave in Europe, Japan, Korea, the Philipines, Singapore or Australia free of charge?
Where else can you risk your life hauling explosives around a deck constantly crowded with aircraft taking off, landing and taxiing?
Where else will you ever get the change to experience real slices of Americana represented by the most unlikeliest of crews: city boys from Brooklyn (like me), working side-by-side with farm boys from Iowa? Wranglers from Montana? Wheat farmers from Kansas? Street-wise toughs from the south side of Chicago? Coal miner's sons from West Virginia? Rich kids from Connecticut? Many of whom have never even seen an ocean, let alone sailed on one?
Where else can you join the Navy and see the desert (I spent months training at China Lake, California and went to Iraq once)? Where else can you spend night full of sheer terror in heavy weather, up to your ankles in your own (and others) vomit after they served beef stew in the mess?
Not to mention all the women you meet!
They're right: it's not just a job, it's an adventure! It was downright exciting. In many ways, it's the best thing I ever did in my life (don't let Mrs. Wombat read that, btw).
It was certainly an interesting way to spend 11 years, I can assure you. The lessons I learned about responsibility, teamwork, discipline, have served me well in my later life.
Joined the Navy in 1970 after quitting my secondary ed. major at Penn State because my draft number was 90. I actually got my draft notice the week after I enlisted and sent it back with the note, "Sorry, guys, the Navy got me first!" The Navy also had a good electronics training program if you enlisted for six years. Was on active duty from Feb 1971 to Jan 1977, served at Pearl Harbor (great duty because my ship was in drydock for my first 9 months on board!) and Norfolk (the Navy giveth and the Navy taketh away). My advice to any youngsters joining now is to STAY SINGLE till you get out. There's a lot of family separation; you simply miss out on far too much quality time with your wife and children that you cannot replace. Sometimes the power struggles when you try to take up the mantle of head of household after being gone almost a year can be brutal. So serve your time, save your reenlistment bonuses if you stay for more than one hitch and THEN marry after you're discharged.
Going down the Autoban at 100 meter interval at 60 mph is cool. Till your wingman side swipes a beer truck. You would figure a 60+ ton vehicle would be easily seen (especially with that little flashing light on top!)......What a mess and a total waste of a lot of good beer!
I bubbled the paint on the hood of a green Beemer one fine day when he pulled up close behind and we got stuck in traffic.
Those were the days!
Joined US Navy in 1968 at age of 19. Got tired of college, went back and got my BBA with my veterans benefits. I am glad I served, I think it makes you understand and appreciate what our guys and gals are going thru now. God Bless each and everyone of them!
Joined the Navy at 18 after flunking out of college. Hated it at the time but, today, can't imagine doing it any other way. Got the opportunity to grow up, learn a skill that turned into a civilian career, see places I could NEVER go on my own dime, do things most teenagers/early 20s kids NEVER get to do and got to work with a great group of people. No regrets, whatsoever!!
I recommend a tour of duty to ANY youngster today who doesn't know what he/she wants to do after they graduate from high school.
Enlisted in the Air Force in 1972. Knew I wasn't going to college and was going to do something in uniform from my early teens.
Active AF Engine Mechanic until early 1976. C-130s. Went to a lot of places, more good than bad. Lateraled in to Reserves right away. More C-130s. More travel. Panama, Honduras. Most of Central and South America.
My Reserve Unit went to C-141s in 1981. Lots more trips and training. Very Maintenance Intensive airframe.
Got KC-135Rs in 2002. Great airplane!
Less than four years until Retirement.
No regrets.
Jack.
OK, we have a lot of Navy guys in here, I see. How many of you are shellbacks or bluenoses? I'm neither, got transferred off my ship before I'd have been able to get shellback status. Also, what was your favorite cruise? I liked WestPac, but my favorite was cruising from Pearl Harbor up the west coast to Vancouver, BC, with stops at San Diego, Long Beach and San Francisco, testing the SATCOM system, if I recall correctly.
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