Next week I'll be swearing in to join the Army. I was just wondering if anyone else here has any prior military service.

Currently an AF wife.

Navy. (And my Dad was Navy.)

Son-in-law is currently in the Army (and recently back from Iraq).

Dad was in army (vietnam) and my grandfather was in the army as well (WW2).


What MOS are you going to choose?

I was a SGT. (E5) 13B20 in the ILARNG.

SGT. = Sergeant

E5 = Pay Grade

13B20 = MOS

13B20 = Cannon Crew Member for 155 Howitzer (Ammo Team Chief)

ILARNG = Illinois Army National Guard

MOS = Military Occupational Specialty

Every member of my family has been in the service, I however could not enlist due to physical restrictions. I salute you sir.

Me, Coast Guard
Brother, Navy
Dad, Air Force
Mother, GS Air Force
Uncle, Army Airborne
Uncle, Marine
Niece, Marine
I could go on for awhile, but the family thing begins feeling further removed with nieces, nephews, cousins, grandfathers, etc.

Best of luck to your amazing future shalom, you will be experiencing things you could never experience outside of the Military...and a sincere thank you for your future service.

Two years National Service in the South African Defence Force, Army. Back in 1980-81, followed by a couple of one-month "camps".
Eventual rank: First Lieutenant.

I'm glad I had the chance to learn a few things about myself and how strong I can be, learnt to knuckle down when it was needed, etc. It's a pity many youngsters today do not have that opportunity now that conscription is gone from South Africa.

But I did spend an awfully long time doing almost nothing, could have had the same experience within one year, and could have started a more productive life a year earlier.

We have a saying that your National Service days are the best days of your life that you would never want to enjoy again...

6 years in the US Marine Corps.

Good luck in your future....

31B Military Police. Well I still got some time I won't ship out til July since I'm still in high school

Me- Corspman (Medic) in the Navy
My ex- Pharmacy tech on the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier.
My father- Gunners mate on the USS Haynesworth...he was in the little dome swinging the guns around on a destoyer. His hearing is awful now...he was a ship that was in the bay of pigs.

My son- a Seabee in the Navy. Mobile Contruction. He has been to Dijabouti Africa and will be deploying in a few months for Kuwait....He travels with my favorite branch, the Marines...as he is a ground unit.

I know this is Navy/Marine Biased....but this may inspire you a bit. Be proud!!

<a href='http://www.plime.com/redir.p?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAIUT9lT29o' class='plime' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><b>flash video</b></a>

Through TogetherWeServed.com, I found a guy who was in the same platoon as me in bootcamp. He had a picture of our platoon....




That was 20 freakin' years ago!!!! Holy s**t, I'm getting old!!

There is no freaking way that skinny, young-ass kid in the top row, ninth from the left, was you.

Yeah, I'm calling you a liar.
;)

Too cool, IP.

Ya found me!!! What gave it away? My name and the little arrow I drew on his picture 20 years ago?


By the way...this is my new wallpaper on my PC at work....

US Air Force here.

Thank you Sholom for stepping up to the plate.

And thanks to the rest of you who have done the same. I appreciate the sacrifices you made for the rest of us.

Tonight I will drink in your honor.

Work with missiles?

I'm sorry this is so long, but this is where it belongs, considering the thread and the season. Thank you to all who serve, from the bottom of my heart.

This has been around a while but it will always be relevent.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the
room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me,
angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a
winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that
was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by
love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I
started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes
when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, then the sure sound of
footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door
just to see who was here.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure
stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled
here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me,
and my wife and my child.

'What are you doing?' I asked without fear, 'Come in this moment, it's
freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at
home on a cold Christmas Eve!'

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the
snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light, Then he sighed and
he said 'Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every
night.'

'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you
from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like
my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,'
He sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.'
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ', And now it is my
turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me
pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and
blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family,
my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in
a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my
sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time
that this flag will not fall.'
'So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright, Your family is
waiting and I'll be all right.'

'But isn't there something I can do, at the least, 'Give you money,' I
asked, 'or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from
your wife and your son.'

In his eyes welled a tear that held no regret, 'Just tell us you love
us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your
own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember
we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to
you as you mattered to us.'

That is beautiful. Thank you all for protecting us.

My BF spent 4 years in the Coast Guard as a sonar man. He is proud that Staten Island was never attacked while he was on duty.

My late partner, Peter, enlisted in the Coast Guard and lasted 3 weeks before he returned to high school.

My dad and his brother served in the Navy in WWII.

And my great uncle John, served in the Russian army, pissed off someone, and was beheaded. Body never found.

Air Force, 4 years active 1951 to 1955.
Plus 4 years reserve.

Thanks for your service DeAlt. I read those Biplanes were pretty difficult to handle.

Just kidding, I know, Korean War. That was a brutal place from what my dad (Also Air Force during your time) tells me.