USN - 6 years enlisted, 5 years officer, virtually all in Naval aviation. I started out as an Avionics Technician and got out as an aviation maintenance/material duty officer. And I’ve worked for the Navy ever since as a side-steppin’ beach creature! Just over 31 years total service so far.
I enjoyed my active duty years, although I think going for a commission was a mistake. I opted for the route because of the pay scale. I wasn’t suited for the politics involved, and when I sullied myself by marrying an enlisted man, I knew my career was over, so I took my crayons and my DD214 and left. No real regrets, other than knowing I could have been retired 12 years already…
8 years active duty USAF officer, separated as a Captain. Pilot, O-2s & F-16s, plus air liaison officer to US Army/Navy. Spent 3 years in Panama @ Howard & Albrook, with TDY all over the Isthmus & Central America; a great place at the time.
Glad I was in when I was in, glad I was out after I got out. Sometimes I get nostalgic about the military, but more like it’d be fun to be a 28 y/o Captain again, rather than it’d be fun to be the overage O5/O6 desk jockey I’d be today had I stayed in.
Same here. I extended, and if I could stay, that would have been a great inducement to reenlist (I almost re-upped anyway). The only reason I didn’t, was my parents’ health was failing and they wanted me home. It would have been a good career and I really thought about it. Besides, the weather was good and the fishing was outrageous.
7 years, 1 month, 6 days (but who’s counting?) active duty Air Force (1980-1987) Family Practice training at Travis Air Force base, California; then 2 years at Barksdale, Louisiana and 2 years at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.
Alternated having an SOB Hospital Commander with a good commander at each base and decided I did not want to deal with another SOB. Also realized I could not be a doctor full time as well as a wife and a mother and still maintain my sanity. Excellent Family Practice training in the Air Force, no regrets there, but trouble dealing with the bureaucracy of the military. I am too straightforward and not very good at “spin” (politics)
Can non-US military chime in?
NAHAL Bd. (Infantry), March '93 932 battalion. Warrior*, squad leader, operations sgt. Did the usual 3 years. Since then I’ve been doing reserves in the 417 (Jordan Valley) Bd, 5035 battalion.
I have a 24-day stint starting tomorrow morning, matter of fact, so I guess I won’t be in touch until the end of the month, barring vacations.
*Actual term (Hebrew - “lochem”) referring to any combat-arm grunt.
1 year into a 4 year enlistment with the US Army. My wife is 1.5 years in. Both are 25F. I am currently stationed at Osan AB, S. Korea. My wife is at Yongsan AG, S. Korea.
Was planing to go Warrant and stay in for 20, but after what they have done to my wife, and myself I will be getting out after my 4 years(keeping us apart, and all our paperwork disapearing for trying to get stationed together).
I still think that everyone should serve, or atleast do basic training. It showed me alot, and I am a much better person for it.
3 ½ years US Army 1966-1969 including 2 years commissioned officer. Probably the worst time to serve in the army. Poor morale, racial tension following assignation of Martin Luther King, start of Paris peace talks oddly enough undercut any idea of purpose in the war. March 68 – 69 Viet Nam including 6 months as Graves Registration Officer for southern II Corp. (based at Cam Ranh Bay). No combat casualties, all accidents. Followed by 9 months at Ft. Hamilton Brooklyn providing support for military families in New York City, including death notification duty every 40 days.
The one thing I learned from all this was you have absolutely no control over the chaos of events around you, but you do have absolute control over your own actions and values within that situation. Lose that and you’ve lost everything.
Conscripted for 2 years in the then South African Defence Force at the height of the 80’s bushwar. Volunteered thereafter during the 1994 election/transition as part of the “peacekeeping” force.
Taught me a lot about life, and left me with a lingering distaste/allergy/distrust for government, arbitrary authority and armchair generals.
My favourite saying, “Lead from the front and I’m likely to follow, prod me with a bayonet and I’m likely to shove it down your throat.”
US Navy 4 years active 2.5 reserves '88-'94 as a DC2 (sw). I would have stayed in the reserves but base closings meant that I would have to drive 12 hours on my own dime and pay for lodging for my monthly drill. At 24 I said hell on that.
From the USS Kitty Hawk I volunteered for duty on the LaSalle (so Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy is a long lost shipmate.) I dislocated my knee, rehabbed at Bethesda and finished up on the Detroit. Not bad for 4 years.
Going in was the best thing I ever did for myself and occasionally regret not reenlisting.
Six years active fast attack boats (FTG, SS/DV), five years active reserve while completing college. Partial regret for leaving the reserve unit, but last CO was a pompous twit and leaving was sweet.
6 years Army, the first 3 in the 11th ACU in Fulda, Germany(with a stint in Kuwait)…the last 3 stationed at the Melvin Price Support center in Granite City, Illinois.
USAF at Mountain Home AFB. Computer Networking and Crypto Systems.* Dec. 3rd will be 3 years in. I usually refer to enlisting as “the best mistake I ever made”, but will definitely not be re-enlisting.
Just over 31 years total service so far.
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