# 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:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/81 "2008-12-12T19:49:11Z")
Not a military person myself (although I read history all the time, and am pretty familiar with contemporary military issues), but very glad to see this thread. Many thanks to you all for your service to the nation! ---
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/82 "2008-12-12T20:49:44Z")
USN 1997-2004 MM2(E-5) M-div Nuke aboard USS Enterprise, mostly assigned to 1MMR. Spent a very short stint in the Navy Reserve, but decided that it was a complete waste of time and money. I also think that people generally underestimate exactly how many people have served in the various branches of the US military. Theres a LOT of people with a 2-4 year enlistment under their belt. ---
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/83 "2008-12-12T21:01:10Z")
> [@CutterJohn](#): > > I also think that people generally underestimate exactly how many people have served in the various branches of the US military. Theres a LOT of people with a 2-4 year enlistment under their belt. Missed the edit window. Anyway, [this](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3761/is_200412/ai_n9468428) article gives a figure of 26 million as of 2004(24m men, and ~2m women), and the population of the US is 305 million, so basically 1 in 7 men, and 1 in 80 women have served in the military. Thats quite a lot, a least for the men. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/84 "2008-12-12T21:05:55Z")
US Army 98G Arabic(Syrian) Lingust & Electronic Warfare God In: 1992 Spec4, Out: 1996 Sgt E5 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/85 "2008-12-13T01:16:37Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Looks like the OP is incorrect. Seems like the military is under represented here. Or most are not talking. There are way more responses than I anticipated, but then my impressions are coming from a Canadian perspective. ---
**Author:** ![shellofmyformerself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@shellofmyformerself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shellofmyformerself)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/86 "2008-12-13T02:03:01Z")
USAF 1995-2005 Started out as Comm (33S3), brief stint in Protocol (88P), crossed over to Personnel (36P) my last 4 years. Left as a Major. Best assignment was RED HORSE. Worst assignment was MEO. Now a proud Personnel civil servant writing courses for new Force Support Officers! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/87 "2008-12-13T02:46:58Z")
Thanks all for your service. So far, if I’m not mistaken, the highest ranks any Doper has attained are either O4 or E7. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/88 "2008-12-13T04:59:19Z")
> [@shellofmyformerself](#): > > Best assignment was RED HORSE. Worst assignment was MEO. Hells yes it was! US Air Force, Active Duty, currently Captain (O-3). Civil Engineer - 32E, prior RED HORSE alongside **shell** , but currently at NAVSCOLEOD. > [@flyboy](#): > > _Fly Navy_. I disagree. _Fly Air Force_: we have bigger, more spacious and comfy airplanes. Tripler Before you ask, yes, _that_ NAVSCOLEOD. ---
**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 13, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/89 "2008-12-13T17:22:41Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > There are way more responses than I anticipated, but then my impressions are coming from a Canadian perspective. Out of 81,000 members less than 100 responses is not a lot. I know 81,000 is not the real number but since that number is a secret there is nothing else to go on. Even if the actual membership is a few thousand than there still hasn’t been many responses. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162/90 "2008-12-13T18:08:15Z")
US Navy, 1975-1979, left as an ETN3. Stationed as NAS Whidbey Island (command support) and USS Sperry (AS-12), a sub tender. Out of my 4 years, I spent a total of 21 days at sea when the Sperry made a goodwill cruise to Mazatlan and Acupulco. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-people-please-step-forward-poll/476162.md?page=4)