# Military People. Please step forward. Poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 7, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162 "2008-12-07T20:50:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/61 "2008-12-09T22:07:15Z")
[hijack cont.] > [@Raguleader](#): > > How are the rest of them organized then? Are they considered part of the police force, or just their own thing, or what? Some are organized as civil police. Some are strictly SAR/Port Captaincy outfits. Some of the military ones are a “corps” attached to the respective Navy to a greater or lesser degree. The [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coast_guard) gives some examples. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/62 "2008-12-10T01:05:14Z")
USAF 1980-1987 active, Major, Medical Corps. Travis AFB, CA then Barksdale AFB, LA then Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Inactive Reserves 1987-1991 Navy Mom now- Son, Lt. J.G., 2 years on the tip of the sword, Yokosuka, Japan, and now at Legal Officer Training and will be Navigator on frigate based at Pearl Harbor starting later this month. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/63 "2008-12-10T03:31:05Z")
Marine Corps. 1966-1970. Vietnam, 2 Purple Hearts. Check out my website at [www.golfco7thmar.com](http://www.golfco7thmar.com) ---
**Author:** ![drgnrdr07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@drgnrdr07](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drgnrdr07)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/64 "2008-12-10T04:06:25Z")
USAF 2001-2005. I was a services troop (cook/fitness/mortuary/lodging/recreation). I was stationed at Langley AFB, but I spent time in Qatar and Iraq. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/65 "2008-12-10T16:19:36Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > U.S. Coast Guard, Active Duty (18 years this Feb). Chief Boatswain’s Mate (E7), Station Wilmette Harbor, IL > > We’ve got seasoned Coasties who are _still_ trying to figure out just who we are and what we do. And we don’t all agree on the answer, to give you an idea of how spread out we are in terms of mission areas. but officially, we do: > > ``` > * Maritime safety > * Maritime mobility > * Maritime security > * National defense > * Protection of natural resources > > ``` > > The most visible work we do is Search and Rescue and Law Enforcement, so most people equate us with the emergency response/police types, as you said. That’s fair enough, IMO; that’s really our bread and butter as far as I’m concerned. Those are also our original missions going back to 1790. We were the original revenue/customs officers for the young nation. > > We work with DOD military at all times, not just in time of war. Right now we have cutters in Iraq and a few people in Afghanistan. You’ll find us in the strangest places. In fact, we’re now eligible to become SEALS, and we just selected our first five candidates (make us proud, guys!!). In times of major war, or as POTUS directs, we can transfer to the Dept. of Navy and work directly for them. We last did this in WWII. > > We’ve become much more ‘military’ in the years since 9/11, and this will likely continue for the foreseeable future given the world climate. But in the end, we do whatever the hell people need us to do, with or without the money, equipment, or manpower. Whatever you do, don’t EVER leave Alaska waters. You guys have saved more asses than a donkey rancher. ---
**Author:** ![Dryfreeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@Dryfreeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryfreeze)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/66 "2008-12-10T18:07:09Z")
Currently in the Army Reserves, 310th ESC, SGT Served 5 years at Fort Campbell, KY ending as a SPC with the 187th Inf Reg, RAKKASANS. Well, 5 years at FCKY is unrealistic, 2 years in Iraq and various trainings along with that. Wow . . going back through this, I see a former Rakkasan wife and fellow JAG Corps rep! Right on! ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/67 "2008-12-10T19:06:22Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > U.S. Coast Guard, Active Duty (18 years this Feb). Chief Boatswain’s Mate (E7), Station Wilmette Harbor, IL > > \ > > We’ve become much more ‘military’ in the years since 9/11, and this will likely continue for the foreseeable future given the world climate. But in the end, we do whatever the hell people need us to do, with or without the money, equipment, or manpower. Bravo Zulu, Chief! ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/68 "2008-12-10T19:07:22Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Whatever you do, don’t EVER leave Alaska waters. You guys have saved more asses than a donkey rancher. _Still chuckling at this 4 minutes later_ ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/69 "2008-12-10T21:37:42Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Whatever you do, don’t EVER leave Alaska waters. You guys have saved more asses than a donkey rancher. You know, if the CG decided one day to serve only one state, it would probably be Alaska. Alaska and the CG have a long, intertwined history that dates back to the 19th century and continues to this day. Them boys and girls who work on or over Alaska’s waters or the Bering Sea don’t get paid enough, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/70 "2008-12-11T00:07:32Z")
US Navy 1985 to 1989. Electrician Mate 3rd class. I served on board USS Ranger CV-61. We set two odd but significant records on my one West Pac. Longest time at sea (at least then) at 110 days. Most powerful peacetime fleet ever assembled as the USS Ranger’s battle group and the USS New Jersey’s battle group along with an extra Destroyer group (IRC) were combined into a single fleet for a few days. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/71 "2008-12-11T00:18:34Z")
U.S. Army, 1974-1977. I was originally a combat radio operator (05B) but we had an overage of 05B’s in my engineer battalion (9th Engr Bn, Combat) in Aschaffenberg, so I was shuffled off to the communications security vault. Then I did 18 months in community HQ as writer, photographer and editor of the post newspaper. Married and accompanied almost the whole time. Good times. Technically, I’m a “Vietnam era veteran”, but I never check that box when vet’s benefits come up. I step aside for the real Vietnam vets. I figure either you were there or you weren’t, and I wasn’t; I know a lot of men and women who were there, and I’m not in their league. Same for the men and women who served in the Gulf wars. Not even close to their league. ---
**Author:** ![HomeBrewer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8797f3/32.png) [@HomeBrewer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomeBrewer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/72 "2008-12-11T01:33:22Z")
US Army National Guard in two states, 1997 - 2003. Engineering and intelligence units. ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/73 "2008-12-11T05:25:13Z")
U.S. Army Reserve 1991-1999. Basic at Fort Jackson, S.C., AIT at Fort Gordon, GA. Originally I was 74C (Record Telecommunications Operator) but that MOS was phased out of my unit 2 months after I reported. I was reclassified 31C and spent the rest of the time in the back of a RAT Rig. I left as an E-5. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/74 "2008-12-11T06:43:25Z")
> [@Contrary](#): > > Hey I was stationed at BK also, 8th Infantry Division (Pathfinder). These are my credentials. Another 8th ID soldier checking in. I miss the old 8up. Mainz-Finthen, Finthen Army Airfield 89-91. I was active duty Army from 89-93. New Jersey Army National Guard from 93 to present. I have been Aviation and Armor. Currently in Baghdad. 20 years as of next February. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/75 "2008-12-11T07:08:34Z")
IDF (Israeli Defense Force), IAF (Israeli Air Force). Active Duty 1985-1993. Reached rank of Major. Reserves 1993-present. I always feel I need to add the caveat that I am not and have never been a flyer. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/76 "2008-12-11T10:42:51Z")
USNR Active Duty 1982-1986 1.5 WestPACs aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) Drilling Reserves 1986-1994 In as an Ensign (O-1)(Officer Candidate School), out as a Lieutenant (O-3) ---
**Author:** ![Jimson\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@Jimson\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimson_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/77 "2008-12-11T14:09:13Z")
US Army Reserve /Ohio and Wisconsin NG 1989-1999 - 13B-field artillery Enlisted as an E-1 and left as an E-5. I started as a powder monkey on M110 8" Self Propelled Howitzer and worked up to section chief. I also chiefed three variants of the M109 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer. Coolest thing ever, 155 mm howitzer direct fire range. Holy Crap. I was also in the CAP and worked disaster relief in Illinois and was part of a search and rescue mission on Regan’s Ranch in CA looking for a downed light plane. And from personal experience I can say flying a Piper Cub over the mountains in Southern California is adventure enough. That guy with the balloons and a lawn chair had a more air worthy craft. Flying a Cub with some WW1 surplus hand drop bombs is insane. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/78 "2008-12-11T14:48:16Z")
US Army Reserves, 1986-1992. Engineer officer, training officer for Basic trainees. Worked with Drill Sgts mostly; purely stateside work. Nothing glamorous, got out as a 1LT. 98th Div(Tng), which has since been disbanded. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/79 "2008-12-12T08:22:16Z")
Looks like the OP is incorrect. Seems like the military is under represented here. Or most are not talking. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/80 "2008-12-12T09:04:47Z")
USAF 1979-1983 avionics technician on F-4 Phantoms, mostly just a black box puller. Invited to leave about 10 months early because of my off-duty research into alcohol as a cure for pain. It amuses me that now, in my roll as an ER charge nurse (with almost 17 years sober), I show the same kind of dedication and espre d’corps that I was taught in the service, but never produced. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162.md?page=5)