Military?

BF is Army, its tough being an army gf. Grandpa was in the Navy, i don't think i have a future in the military though

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Originally Posted by Chuck

I am just curious about some thing. I know since I served I have changed my view on a great many things. I am just wondering to the people who have served did your views change after service one way or the other. I first and foremost want to say I don't want this to turn into a political debate :colbert: or a clash of views in any way. I have found most people believe how they believe and its a waist of breath to split hairs over it. My dad is a Doctor, I could have stayed in collage and pulled up my grades. I decided I didn't want to do collage right then. I enlisted in the Navy, I wanted to work on jet and more so than anything serve my country. Well I ended up with Helicopter but I sure got to serve my country, oh by the way Forget about jets for me Helicopters are one of the most amazing piece of equipment ever invented. Anyway in the Military I did well for myself and could have stayed if I wanted. I needed to go I was getting married and I was going to see my kids grow up. I have a deep sense of patriotism to my country and its people not my government anymore. I was just wondering if I was alone there. I am not just talking about how bad Iraq is going either it way deeper than that.

Chuck

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I think I can co-sign that. For me, the military has been a learning experience cuz I get to congregate with folks from all over. I've been kickin it with folks from all parts of the US and Guam, Hawaii, Saipan, and I met a couple Mexican cats that joined to obtain citizenship. I've met some real cool folks who go through the exact same struggles I go through and the folks from my city go through.
However, I've also met a LOT more folks that I don't want anything to do with. These would be the racist folks who are usually from the South, or Northeast. A few of these folks are high up there in rank as well, and that stuff really gets to me cuz there's nothing you can do about it. Yea, we got an IG and we got an EO Sergeant, but there's not much you can do when a lot of ppl up the chain are like that. That covert racism where a lil comment here, and a lil reprimand on you later there goes a long way. I definitely can say the military has shown me that race is still a BIG problem in this country that a lot of people want to just sweep under the rug.
Anyway, I think you might have been going in another direction with your post, I just felt I'd go ahead and throw that out there tho. For anybody who's in now, or was in at some time, I'm sure y'all have seen what Im speakin on. Sometimes it's straight up in your face, but most of the times they're good at covering themselves.
Either way, I joined to better myself and provide for my family. Off top, I've known a few people that couldn't adjust because of the way the system is in the military and they're back home now. For me, that's not an option. I take everything for what it is, and keep on pushing. America may have its problems, but it's still a better country to live in than most other countries. We came to this country in 1989, and we've come a long way from living on a rice farm with no indoor plumbing or electricity.

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Originally Posted by Chuck

I am just curious about some thing. I know since I served I have changed my view on a great many things. I am just wondering to the people who have served did your views change after service one way or the other. I first and foremost want to say I don't want this to turn into a political debate :colbert: or a clash of views in any way. I have found most people believe how they believe and its a waist of breath to split hairs over it. My dad is a Doctor, I could have stayed in collage and pulled up my grades. I decided I didn't want to do collage right then. I enlisted in the Navy, I wanted to work on jet and more so than anything serve my country. Well I ended up with Helicopter but I sure got to serve my country, oh by the way Forget about jets for me Helicopters are one of the most amazing piece of equipment ever invented. Anyway in the Military I did well for myself and could have stayed if I wanted. I needed to go I was getting married and I was going to see my kids grow up. I have a deep sense of patriotism to my country and its people not my government anymore. I was just wondering if I was alone there. I am not just talking about how bad Iraq is going either it way deeper than that.

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I have noticed that i have changed, and my veiws on the world have changed.

Did four years in the Army (78-82). I have a son in the Marines and one in the Airforce.

as a canadian, this is such a 'foreign' experience. so few of our country join the military.

i honestly can't even imagine what it must be like, to know someone their entire lives and then they leave and perhaps never return - often because of upset in countries on the other side of the planet.

i wish each and every one of you and your countrymen/women a safe passage home each and every time they leave your soil. :hug:

and for those who stay... waiting for their return... i wish for their days to be filled with letters from their loved ones... telling them news of their health and speedy return.

but to be perfectly honest... i wish for a world where peace if the norm... where discussions are carried out instead of battles.

Aleesha,
I worked with some Canadian Military while I was in Afghanistan. They were some pretty cool cats. I didn't realize they were such a rare breed.

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Originally Posted by Chuck

oh by the way Forget about jets for me Helicopters are one of the most amazing piece of equipment ever invented. Chuck

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I've got to side with you on that one. I was a H-1 mech for my entire enlistment. UH-1N and Ah-1W. I wish I could have stayed long enough to see the Yankees and Zulus come out.

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Originally Posted by muddoc

I've got to side with you on that one. I was a H-1 mech for my entire enlistment. UH-1N and Ah-1W. I wish I could have stayed long enough to see the Yankees and Zulus come out.

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The Marine Corps turned me anti-helicopter ... the CH-43's are just terrifying ... was never on one that wasn't leaking something and in a good wind those things blow around like a feather ... I was always at the end of my stick so that I could be the first one off!!!

I actually asked a crew chief one time about the leaking hydrolic fluid and he's response was "let me know if it stops ... that means we're all out and about to crash .... if we ain't leakin, we ain't flyin" ... nice right? :rofl:

-adam

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

as a canadian, this is such a 'foreign' experience. so few of our country join the military.

i honestly can't even imagine what it must be like, to know someone their entire lives and then they leave and perhaps never return - often because of upset in countries on the other side of the planet.

i wish each and every one of you and your countrymen/women a safe passage home each and every time they leave your soil. :hug:

and for those who stay... waiting for their return... i wish for their days to be filled with letters from their loved ones... telling them news of their health and speedy return.

but to be perfectly honest... i wish for a world where peace if the norm... where discussions are carried out instead of battles.

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in Korea, you're not a man until you do your service. It's still conscripted since we're at war with North Korea. Every able bodied male after 20 years or so does 2.5 years in whichever branch. Usually you start school, take a break for service, return to school and go on with life. It's a rite of passage into Korean adulthood. There are some who get out of it, mostly the children of the rich and entertainers. Those people are looked down on tho, no love for someone who won't join the military.

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Originally Posted by Jae iLL

in Korea, you're not a man until you do your service. It's still conscripted since we're at war with North Korea. Every able bodied male after 20 years or so does 2.5 years in whichever branch. Usually you start school, take a break for service, return to school and go on with life. It's a rite of passage into Korean adulthood. There are some who get out of it, mostly the children of the rich and entertainers. Those people are looked down on tho, no love for someone who won't join the military.

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I'll be in Korea beginning of next year. I'm one of the lead engineers for the KDX- III "Sejong the Great" class destroyer program. Looking forward to seeing Korea, It is one of the few places over there that I didn't get to see while I was in the NAVY.