US Air Force, 1980 to 2000. Participated in first Gulf War, '90-‘91. Joined the service to see the world, did 2 years in the UK, and the other 18 at bases all within a few hours’ drive of home (even technical training schools). Yawn.
Well, except for my time in the sand.
I would have liked that. Wanted Russian but in 1972 they gave me French.
Yes.
From the time I first put on the uniform for ROTC Basic camp until retirement I was about 6 weeks shy of 27 years. I enlisted and started drilling in the Guard while still in ROTC about 25.5 years before my retirement. All of my time was Guard or Reserve with just shy of 6 years of mobilization post 9-11.
Well…
It’s been dropping as we’re losing WWII and Korea vets. ISTR down in the 8-9% of the populace range without going to dig.
I have not served except working for the US Navy in a civilian capacity.
Never served.
US Army 95-02, loved it
ID Army National Guard 02-03, hated it
Navy, 5 years.
United States Coast Guard 1978 - 1982
I did not serve (in any formal military)
U S Army
98G2LKP
1974-1977
USNavy, 1980-1991.
I actually tried to sign up in the 70s, but was deemed unfit for medical reasons.
Now it does, but not back then. In the spirit of full truthfulness: the Coast Guard started accepting women when I was in college, they were the first branch to do so.
Irregular forces have always had women, but not the regular armed forces. One of my great-aunts made Sergeant (Logistics) during the last Spanish Civil War; my grandmother was in Accounting; other close female relatives were in Auxiliaries, which means part-time nurses.
US Army, 1989 to 1996. From 1989 to 1991 was as Reservist.
None. When I was in school I did really well in my engineering program and a Navy recruiter on school said that I could probably get full scholarship ROTC if I went into nuclear engineering (I was still pre-engineering with a very nice GPA)
because at that stage of the cold war they needed all the nuke engineers they could get.
With my PTSD, I don’t think the military would have been a good fit for me, so it was probably just as well that I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of serving on a sub.
I didn’t add that to my active duty time, but I spent 26 years working for the Navy as a civilian. And technically, I still do now, working for a contractor who builds flight trainers for the Navy. So I’ve been pretty much supporting the Navy since I was 19. I’m 2 months shy of 65… Go Navy!!!
U S Navy 80-84
Mostly on CGN 38 USS Virginia…CGN stands for constantly going nowhere.
I think I’ll have to discount ROTC-type courses.