[M_Six]

I enlisted in the US Army. Dear God, I'm getting old.

[SakhirM4]

That's not old!! This past January 6th, it was 46 years since I was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the USAF

[smoosh]

that's awesome, thank you both for your service!!

I'll be commissioning this summer as a LTJG JAG in USN...super pumped

[j_marinelli]

Thank you for your service!!!

[HRE_Wheels]

Incredible! Of course a big thank you to all of our active Military and our Veterans for keeping us safe

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by smoosh

that's awesome, thank you both for your service!!

I'll be commissioning this summer as a LTJG JAG in USN...super pumped

Congrats!! And thank you

[M_Six]

Thanks, guys. Wasn't really looking for pats on the back. Just lamenting my age.

But now I feel better since Sakhir has me beat by a few years.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by smoosh

I'll be commissioning this summer as a LTJG JAG in USN...super pumped

Great way to see the world. I saw a lot of it. One of my colleagues just left for basic training for the AF Reserve (or ANG, can't remember which). Then he has AIT and then officer's school. Good backup career for him.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Thanks, guys. Wasn't really looking for pats on the back. Just lamenting my age.

OK Mark, I'll give you what you want. DAMN YOU'RE GETTING OLD!!




And for all you vets and active duty folks, thank you for your service!

[M_Six]

Back in the day. That's me with the cheesy 'stache and shades. The others guys were 3 of my scouts. Good times then. I miss those guys. We had a lot of fun.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

OK Mark, I'll give you what you want. DAMN YOU'RE GETTING OLD!!

Yeah, you and me both, Ken. Think I'll toast all us old farts tonight with some Gentleman Jack.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Yeah, you and me both, Ken. Think I'll toast all us old farts tonight with some Gentleman Jack.

Cheers Mark! Taking it easy on a school night with a cold white wine. And because we almost hit 80 degrees today...

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Cheers Mark! Taking it easy on a school night with a cold white wine. And because we almost hit 80 degrees today...

Nice. We're getting snowed on.

[BMW F22]

Lol at you guys. Too funny. And thank you for your services.

Thought about joining the armed forces a year or two ago but didn't wanna go through boot camp. Lol I believe joining as an officer still requires that.

[E92 M Sport]

Ty for your service!

[Samurai of 2day]

Don't feel bad OP. I'm not too far behind you. Few more years and I will be hitting the big 40 myself

But after 15 US Army years and counting, I can still give the youngsters a run for their Money!!

Here's to living Army Strong, and to all my fellow service members, past present and future.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Back in the day. That's me with the cheesy 'stache and shades. The others guys were 3 of my scouts. Good times then. I miss those guys. We had a lot of fun.

This was me and my closest friend in 1971

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

This was me and my closest friend in 1971

Yep, you were right. 6 years before me. Never made it into a fixed wing cockpit, but I had lots of stick time in OH-58's and some in Cobras. More seat time in a Huey than I care to think about. Even a few hours in a Navy H-3 Sea King. Flying was awesome then because you were either in control, or you had absolute faith in the guy who was.

Very cool pic, btw. I hope it's proudly hanging up somewhere worthy.

[smoosh]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Yep, you were right. 6 years before me. Never made it into a fixed wing cockpit, but I had lots of stick time in OH-58's and some in Cobras. More seat time in a Huey than I care to think about. Even a few hours in a Navy H-3 Sea King. Flying was awesome in then because you were either in control, or you had absolute faith in the guy who was.

Very cool pic, btw. I hope it's proudly hanging up somewhere worthy.

that is so badass!!!

I had the chance to ride on a MH-60S during touch-and-go training while I was out in San Diego last summer...love aircraft, hopefully I get to ride along on many more!! and subs...fingers crossed :

is there anything you'd tell a kid just joining the service?? based on your experiences?

[M_Six]

My experiences were 40 years ago, so I'd imagine things have changed quite a bit. I doubt you'll get dogged as bad as we did in basic training. My basic training platoon was housed on two floors in the barracks at Ft. Knox. There was a narrow staircase leading from the ground floor to the 2nd floor. One day the drills decided the upstairs rooms weren't up to snuff, so they took apart every bed and threw the whole bunch of beds, mattresses, blankets, pillows, and chairs down the stairwell until it was completely clogged. Then they made the upstairs guys unscramble that mess from the bottom and drag it all out into the assembly area in front of the barracks, and then bring it all back upstairs. Luckily, I was on the ground floor and we passed the inspection.

Another time the drills told us when we heard a whistle blowing, to be outside in 60 seconds. The next morning it was pouring buckets and sure enough, there was a whistle at 4am. I got out of my bunk in my underwear, threw on my boots, and hightailed it outside to stand in the pouring rain. The idiots who wasted time getting dressed and into rain gear and weren't outside in 60 seconds got marched across the road to the oval dirt track where we ran PT. The drills made them low crawl around the track in the mud. Those of us who made it outside in 60 seconds went back in to dry off and get ready for breakfast.

Lesson here: Keep your shit squared away and do exactly what you're told and you'll make it through basic just fine. Once you get out of basic and into the real world, you can start using your brain again.

The one thing I regret not doing more of while I was in was taking advantage of the opportunity to travel. I spent 3 years in Germany while I was in and didn't see much of Europe when I could have been traveling during the weekends. I also passed up lots of chances to get started on my education when it was free for the taking. Make the best of your time in the service. Don't just hang around on base and waste time. It should be a lot easier these days when you actually get paid halfway decent money. When I went in, I was making $480/month. That didn't go far.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by M_Six

When I went in, I was making $480/month. That didn't go far.

My first year in the Air Force, my salary was $6,600 and I bought a brand new '71 Corvette for $6,995

[smoosh]

Originally Posted by M_Six

My experiences were 40 years ago, so I'd imagine things have changed quite a bit. I doubt you'll get dogged as bad as we did in basic training. My basic training platoon was housed on two floors in the barracks at Ft. Knox. There was a narrow staircase leading from the ground floor to the 2nd floor. One day the drills decided the upstairs rooms weren't up to snuff, so they took apart every bed and threw the whole bunch of beds, mattresses, blankets, pillows, and chairs down the stairwell until it was completely clogged. Then they made the upstairs guys unscramble that mess from the bottom and drag it all out into the assembly area in front of the barracks, and then bring it all back upstairs. Luckily, I was on the ground floor and we passed the inspection.

Another time the drills told us when we heard a whistle blowing, to be outside in 60 seconds. The next morning it was pouring buckets and sure enough, there was a whistle at 4am. I got out of my bunk in my underwear, threw on my boots, and hightailed it outside to stand in the pouring rain. The idiots who wasted time getting dressed and into rain gear and weren't outside in 60 seconds got marched across the road to the oval dirt track where we ran PT. The drills made them low crawl around the track in the mud. Those of us who made it outside in 60 seconds went back in to dry off and get ready for breakfast.

Lesson here: Keep your shit squared away and do exactly what you're told and you'll make it through basic just fine. Once you get out of basic and into the real world, you can start using your brain again.

The one thing I regret not doing more of while I was in was taking advantage of the opportunity to travel. I spent 3 years in Germany while I was in and didn't see much of Europe when I could have been traveling during the weekends. I also passed up lots of chances to get started on my education when it was free for the taking. Make the best of your time in the service. Don't just hang around on base and waste time. It should be a lot easier these days when you actually get paid halfway decent money. When I went in, I was making $480/month. That didn't go far.

Hah, I've heard those horror stories: "mopping the rain" and "sweeping the sunshine off the roof"...

luckily (or perhaps unluckily?) I skip basic and do officer development school for 13 weeks and naval justice school for 9 weeks...ODS can't be as bad as army basic, can it?...certainly hope not :

thanks for advice; well-taken!! one of my motivators for joining was chance to travel as much as possible, so definitely looking forward to that...with pay being relatively (with consideration to inflation) higher than what it was for you, should get some spare change to travel...

but you mention don't hang around on base after work...could you elaborate? after my 9-5, hit gym on base and go home and eat/sleep, no?