# Calling all military dopers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 5, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682 "2005-11-05T19:15:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/21 "2005-11-05T23:00:04Z")
US Army Reserve Engineer 1st Lt., 1986-1992. I learned a lot about duty, teamwork and leadership thanks to those folks around me. It’s the one experience that has served me best and most often. But as others have said, I’m glad I’m a civilian now. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/22 "2005-11-05T23:16:16Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > CPO, U.S. Navy, Seabees, 1956-79. What rating? Electrician, here. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/23 "2005-11-05T23:49:03Z")
Went in the Army at the tail end of WWII for two years, then back in during the Korean War (“police action,” they said), for a total of 5 years, 3 months and 23 days. Had some great times, saw most of the US, Alaska and Japan, but as a career it was not for me. Today’s service is an entirely different thing, and a good career if you like it. Twenty years and you’re out with a pension, then you can double-dip if you want. Can’t say I loved it, but am proud to have served. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/24 "2005-11-06T00:51:02Z")
I was a sergeant in the Army. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/25 "2005-11-06T00:55:01Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > What rating? Electrician, here. Utilities. When did you serve? ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/26 "2005-11-06T00:57:56Z")
10 years in the Air Force, 87-97. I was a Radio and Television Broadcaster, (yes, just like Robin Williams, but with less jokes about Nixon and less explosions) stationed in Korea 3 times, Tokyo once, TDY to the P.I. when Mt. Pinatubo blew up, and spent a year in Comiso Sicily. I didn’t plan to stay in that long, but they kept offering to send my places I had never been before, which was part of the reason I enlisted in the first place. After my third assignment to Seoul, South Korea in nine years, I decided I was on the wrong career path, and got out. Now I’m a civil Servant at the Air Force Academy, and besides the occasional Sexual Assault class and Religious Tolerance class, it’s a great place to work. ---
**Author:** ![DelphicOracle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@DelphicOracle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DelphicOracle)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/27 "2005-11-06T01:13:53Z")
5 years of Intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/28 "2005-11-06T01:57:19Z")
Active Duty US Navy, cryptologist, PO3 (and rising!), currently stationed on board USS Essex (LHD-2) amphibious assault carrier out of Sasebo, Japan. I have 2 years left on this floating garbage pail, and 6 years left of service. I’ll be hitting my 2-year in-service mark next March. I’ve learned a heck of a lot so far, and I’m not regretting a single moment (yet). Still, unless my next tour totally kicks ass, I’ll be looking forward to being a civilian again. Spent 8 straight months floating around the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, FWIW, and there’s a possibility we’re going back next year. Being forward deployed is challenging, to say the least! ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/29 "2005-11-06T02:18:05Z")
I’m a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps. This time around, I’ve been in for just over two years. I first enlisted back in 1986, and was an Arabic Linguist. I met my beloved **Bluesman** at the Defense Language Institute, when we were both Airmen First Class. He’s still in the intel field, and is getting ready to retire this coming March as a Master Sergeant with just over 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/30 "2005-11-06T02:29:11Z")
Lucretia, I was at DLI too! God, I loved Monterey. I was in the Army from 1974-1977, a 98G2LKP, a Korean linguist. Spent 13 months at Camp Humphries in South Korea. I liked the country well enough ,and learned to love the food, it’s one of the things I miss now. Next best place was Ft. Lewis, in Washington. If I had to move to a place other than my home, that’s where I’d go back to. ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/31 "2005-11-06T02:31:34Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Lucretia, I was at DLI too! God, I loved Monterey. Wasn’t it cool? That was such an incredible year. ---
**Author:** ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/32 "2005-11-06T03:04:55Z")
USAF pilot. Half-dozen or so deployments flying OEF, a little OIF, and lots of ONE sorties (if you count ONE). ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/33 "2005-11-06T03:19:14Z")
U.S. Army Sergeant, just shy of 6 years active, two-plus in the Reserves as an AJ Staff Sergeant. Service dates: '86 - '94 ---
**Author:** ![DelphicOracle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@DelphicOracle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DelphicOracle)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/34 "2005-11-06T04:09:51Z")
Quote: Originally Posted by Baker Lucretia, I was at DLI too! God, I loved Monterey. Wasn’t it cool? That was such an incredible year. I was there too but in 01 not 74. Some of my teachers were so old we probably know the same ones (if you were a Russian linguist). Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/35 "2005-11-06T04:39:51Z")
I consider myself (and my husband, of course) a veteran after he was deployed to Afghanistan for 15 months. He’s in the Army Reserve … 30+ years now. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/36 "2005-11-06T04:45:40Z")
> [@Fritz](#): > > Cool - I was at Ft. Amador (when it belonged to the US) for 5 years. They had to drag me out of Panama kicking and screaming I liked it so much. God I love Panama! A couple of years ago I went back to Clayton. So strange and so familiar. The UN has a bit of it, the houses have been sold (and modified all to heck). ELection posters everywhere. (sigh) ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/37 "2005-11-06T04:50:54Z")
My time in the Army showed me that I could do better than I had thought I could. As a result, after I got out I entered the Univerity of Iowa and got a BS in Electrical Engineering. I doubt that would have been possible for me without Army training and, of course, the GI Bill. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/38 "2005-11-06T05:37:49Z")
I did my four years in the Air Force, as a fighter mechanic. I enlisted a few days after my 17th birthday and it was a good place to grow up. Got a GED and the G.I. Bill out of it and without those two things and some maturity, I never would have been a college graduate. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/39 "2005-11-06T07:24:59Z")
US Army SGT, 11B2P. This January will be Four Years for me. . . ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682/40 "2005-11-06T08:19:37Z")
Never served in the military (yet…still kinda thinking about it), but was an Army brat from the time I was born till I was well into my 20s, spent the majority of my life growing up on Army bases, shopped at the PX, watched AFN, vacationed at AFRCs, and graduated from a DoDDS high school. We even had Thanksgiving once at the mess hall. Still doesn’t add up to service, I know, but I like to think I’m still loosely part of the military family. The day they took my ID card away was a sad one indeed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-military-dopers/329682.md?page=3)