Any vets out there?

[casey73]

Just curious if there are any military veteran's that hang around Ampage.

[Andy]

I joined the United States Marine Corps back in '98, but I was injured during basic training so I was not allowed to finish and earn the title. I would still be in the Corps if that hadn't happened.

[Mark Ingram]

I was in the Army from 1985 to 1988.

Why are you asking?

[casey73]

I was in the Army from 1985 to 1988.

Why are you asking?
I'm asking mostly because I'm curious. I was in the Army, 1972 - 1978. I was recently digging through old photos and it brought back lots of olive drab memories. Since this is one of the only sites I frequent regularly, I just thought I'd see if there were any other vets out there. I had pretty good duty actually. Nobody was shooting at us back then.

[casey73]

I joined the United States Marine Corps back in '98, but I was injured during basic training so I was not allowed to finish and earn the title. I would still be in the Corps if that hadn't happened.
My son's best friend is in Marine recruit training right now. He'll graduate on August 11. Took us all by surprise. He was an honor student who walked away from an academic scholarship at a major university after his first semester. He just hated school. I admire the kid. He didn't go into it blindly. His parents are still shaking their heads. Very liberal and not pro-military, Not surprisingly, he's been a platoon guide since arrival and is doing well. The spit and polish that the Army required, even in the laid back post-Vietnam days, was always a challenge to me. I'm certain I would not have done well in the Marines.

[Mark Ingram]

"I had pretty good duty actually. Nobody was shooting at us back then."
I'm glad to hear that you didn't have to dodge any stray lead. Me neither. Though I was in AIT when Ronny RayGun decided to swat that loon in Libya. We thought we were all going as soon as our training was over. Fortunately we all ended up in Germany. Dodging the Polizei, mostly.

After Germany I was in the Army Reserve. During the first Gulf War. I never got *the* call, but I did find out (after the fact) that my unit was alerted several time, just never activated. I kinda feel like I dodged the bullet in a way too.

[sbluestubes]

U.S. Marines 1972-1978,Army National Guard 1981-1989 100% Grade A certified Grunt.

[Mark Ingram]

U.S. Marines 1972-1978,Army National Guard 1981-1989 100% Grade A certified Grunt.

You mean "Bullet-Catcher", right?:)

I was a s**t-hook mechanic. I mean *Chinook* mechanic. I'm just not made for sleeping in the dirt... ;)

[Zoe_N_Iain]

Iain and I both did a stint in the RAF, 7 years for me and just short of 8 for Iain.

Iain got shot at when trying to repair a faulty Rapier missile launcher in Kosovo. He was only there 1 day and got shot at 5 times. In fairness he WAS shooting back, so they probably had an excuse. :)

Other than that, loads of time freezing and going deaf in the back of various Hercules, Chinooks and Land Rovers. Or worse yet, sitting at an SMT rework station squinting at things with loads of little legs and no soul.

We both worked on radar and comms stuff mostly, which is cool cos they still had valves in a lot of them.

[dsouder]

Yep, US Army medic 1975-1979.

[Alexander]

from '79 to '83, ended up a Cobra & Huey tech but was always squadron high-shooter so additional duties were keeping all the enlisted & officers current on their annual rifle qualifications. Love the smell of gunpowder in the morning! :) next best thing to the smell of solder...
First paycheck I got out of tech 'A' school in Memphis (Millington TN) I zipped down to the local pawn shop & bought a '63 SG jr.(single P90) and a Pignose amp and started buggin' everybody who played to show me that Muddy Waters stuff! On my first Med cruise on a carrier I met a grunt who turned me on to Robin Trower (who unlike Clapton still rips to this day!) He played here near Buffalo NY for free a few weeks back, awesome tones & playing!
Anyway, I still get to the range now & then- nothing more dangerous than being 'rusty' around firearms! Plus of course we got that nest of Jihadis in nearby Lackawanna that will need some attention eventually, but that's another thread:D
Semper Fi,
Alexander

[drlowlow]

2003 to present. fire finder repairman and senior radar operator. in Iraq and afghanistan presently, looking at seeing Iraq again later this year. don't see much small arms engagment in my field but get enough exposure to rockets.

[TD_Madden]

USAF, retired in '94.

[Old Tele man]

USN 5/63-1/71, aircrewman in EC-121 "Warning Star" airborne early warning aircraft...

[t_k]

Eight years, U.S. Army.

Got out due to bad knees and a bad back, which really broke my heart at the time. In retrospect, however, those injuries may have been one of the best things to happen to me.