Military service

[AmrcnZeR0]

So I was wondering who all was in military. What MOSs and branches and years were y'all in?
Just a get to know your bro type thread

I was a 62B heavy equipment mechanic for 5 yrs and 11B infantryman for 2. From nov04-dec11. Deployed to hurricane Katrina, northern Iraq, Southern Afghanistan, and Korea.

[Cottoinc]

I did 6 years 2003-2009 as a 25B (Computer Repair) in the army.
1 year training Georgia
2 years South Korea 18th Medcom
2 years Fort Hood 1-21 Field Artillery
15 Months Southern Iraq (Camp Bucca) Try and find it on the map I dare you.

[AmrcnZeR0]

I'm not even gonna try. Lol I know how that goes. I've found my fobs and OPs on google earth but the pics are really old and thankfully don't show any real intel. I hope and suspect the military has a hand in that. I was on fob Sykes at tal afar. Diamondback and morez in Mosul and in sinjar was fob I can't remember the name of. You could throw a rock over it, but next door was an Iraqi army post so it was sketchy as fuck. Also did jump FARPs in the middle of the sand nowhere on the Syrian border. Dug into foxholes just observing and directing lum rounds and mortars on AIF crossing into Iraq from Syria. Crazy days. Kandahar was just nuts mine fields all over the fob itself. Plus it's still an active international airport. NATO runs that. Everything there was MRAPS and Strikers. and the kiowas. I was 1-17 cav . SOP was pre apply tourniquets before leaving the wire. Everything was mined and ied'd, huge efp's. nutzo place man. Foreign army's all over. Canada, Germany, Estonia, we used to go by the French area to see the girls sunbathing with they titties out. Lol. Rockets and mortars followed by outgoing. From there I got 3 weeks leave and then my 11b reclass started which was bullshit. They sent us all right back to basic training week 3 because 11b is osut... Whatever it was fun but stressful because I was already e5. Then it was straight off to Korea to 2/9 infantry. But that's a whole nother story. This is already way to long. Just venting I guess

[Deslock]

I have to ask Zero, what in the world made you decide to go 11 Bravo of all things ?. Good God. You must be one of the guys that just likes punishment like I was back in the day. I figured if I was going to be in the Army, there was no way in holy Hell I was going to just sit behind a desk.

Going from a mechanic to 11 Bravo is like a finance guy deciding to re-up as a combat medic...Pretty drastic change. I give ya props for that one, shows you had the fortitude to accomplish that. And I don't understand why they had to one station unit training you, unless it was to teach you about the newer equipment, but they should've already taught you all of that in Basic.
And then of all things, they decided to stick you in a Cav unit?.
Trust me I understand, they did that to me also.
But then again, the Army did bizarre things sometimes back in the day, and I'm beyond sure they still do. And I'm sure most officers are still...well, I'm not going to go there. I'm quite sure you and Cotto know exactly what I mean. ;)

Being a combat soldier is a rough thing. And in the damned Middle east, EVERY soldier there is a combat soldier, regardless of their MOS.
Maybe it's just the old timer in me, but I absolutely HATE the new BDU's, but I love the new boots.(No FK'n spit polishing.) I have nothing but the highest respect for our fighting men and women over there in that middle eastern Hell hole, and those that served over there and are home now safe and sound, and those that aren't. I also learned a new hatred for sand that I'm quite sure you and Cotto both understand also.

That and dry shaving. Even today I mentioned that I miss the Military from time to time. But I do not miss the dry shaving. I served in the 3/8 Cav, and the 168th Infantry. Either your roasting your ass off, or freezing it off. But truth be told even after everything I went through, I wouldn't trade those experiences for damn near anything in the world. It's just so much better than the civilian world is. It took me quite some time to re-adjust to being back in the world of round doorknobs.

I look back at it now and can't understand just how in the Hell I did it, and went through all the things I did.

But if anything, it sure as F'k shows you what you're truly made of.
The extreme times of monumental boredom; and outright fear to the core of your soul. And no matter which, you have to keep your cool no matter what.
You just don't have a choice. You just do what you have to do.
Most civilians will never understand this. Not all, but most.

And that's why I salute them all regardless of which branch. We all serve the same country and people.

And I salute you both also. God bless you, and I thank you for your service for us all. I'm proud you are here. You deserve to be.

Cotto already knows this, but I'll tell you this also Zero, if you ever need to talk or just vent about shit, please feel free to PM me. I'm here for you also.

[Stryker0022]

Gentleman, thank you for your years of service. I'm grateful for what you have done for us and our country.

[BOSS]

My father was in the military, my great grandfather, uncles, other family members and close friends have also served/serve. The stuff they tell me/teach me really shows how much you have to commit and really shaped my values as a leader in this clan. Recently a good friend of mine that served as a Marine stationed in the Middle East visited me, but I could see he changed and that the experience really stuck with him. I have the utmost respect for them and anyone else who has served their country.

*salutes*

[AmrcnZeR0]

Ill answer u eventually deslock. I just gotta be in that mood to start talkin and typing a lot of shit

[AmrcnZeR0]

But I will say that I still dry shave to this day. I have beard now but I do the lines dry w/ a double blade disposable. Old habits die hard Lol

[AmrcnZeR0]

I went infantry after 2 deployments because I wanted to pull the trigger. It wasnt quite as drastic as finance because mechanics gotta roll where the trucks roll. We used to roll around with a LRS (long range surveillance) unit. Straight ranger tab unit, snipers and they brought us but we always got stuck as cordon and outer security while they went door kicking. It was frustrating. I hated that my only role was to either wrecker the fucked up trucks or do bdar (battle damage assessment and repair) basically mcguyver some shit up so a truck could limp home. I never got to get in no real shit besides a lot of incoming rockets and mortars which is also frustrating because when it hits close it scares the shit outta u but there's no way to retaliate. So infantry I went.

[AmrcnZeR0]

I actually loved being infantry but no down time after deployment then goin to Korea was too much ( they counted my time in osut as my down time which is rediculous seeing as basic in general is geared to be as stressful as possible) not the best chain of events going 12 months in Kandahar straight to osut straight to the dmz in Korea. I snapped on a drunk night in Korea. Over some dudes jumping me. Mps rolled up the dudes scattered and the mps beat the fuck out of me. It took 6 of them to take me down and even when cuffed I still fought them off and on for the next 3-4 hrs. So then its demotion to e4 (after 3.5 yrs as e5) extra duty, restricted to camp Casey barracks. And misconduct chapter which meant a total of 15 months in Korea 9 months of which i was locked down being treated like a shitbag and a convict. They used me and as soon as I showed signs of mental health issues it was out the door on ur ass solo in the world. They tried to give me an OTH which would make me in eligible for va benefits or gi bill but I had a few ppl in my corner fight and get it raised to a general discharge. 7 yrs 4 deployments (2 of which were combat) and then a swift kick in the ass. Now I'm trying to adjust to this civilian bullshit and I must admit I really don't care for most civilians at this point. Most don't get it and think I'm a psycho or tell me I volunteered for it or some other hippy bull shit.

[AmrcnZeR0]

My 1st unit was a Sapper battalion. 307th combat engineers had more ranger tabs than any unit in 82nd. My psg had triple stack sf ranger airborne. So that got me into the high speed shit. Had a selection date for sf but a week prior broke my hand. Then came on orders to cross the street to 3bstb then orders to deploy w/ 1-17 cav (all 82d) instead of osut they shoulda sent me to ranger school. Like u said army is retarded sometimes. My biggest regret( besides getting booted) is I never got either a ranger tab or a green beret. I truly did enjoy the suck. I loved the mud and the hooah shit. But once out I said I'd never be clean shaven again or wake up b4 0600. Ok I'm gonna shut up rant complete

[RegentOne]

I was in the U.S. Navy for 21 years 3 Months. I retired as an ITC(SW/AW) this equals Information Systems Technician Chief ( Surface Warfare Specialist/Air Warfare Specialist). I retired in March of 2007. My history while on active duty and all may not be listed:

Joined in November of 1985 through MEPS of Fort Jackson, SC

First command assignment was aboard USS STEIN FF-1065 where I completed on world cruise with USS KITTY HAWK battle group. My second cruise was with USS NEW JERSEY BB-62 battleship battle group. I was aboard the STEIN from 1986-1990

Second command assignment was NCTAMS LANT NORFOLK VA. This stands for Naval Computer and Telecommunications Master Station Atlantic, Norfolk, VA. I was at this command from 1990-1993. I participated in Desert Storm at this command providing long haul telecommunications.

Third command assignment was USS KLAKRING FFG-42. I went on 2 Mediterranean deployments, 1 Persian Gulf Deployment, and 3 Counter Drug OPS deployment in the Caribbean’s. I was at this command from the end of 1993-1997. I participated in Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Mass Cuban Exorcist, various drug bust in the Caribbean’s, and Haitian uprising.

Fourth command was NCTAMS MED Det London UK. I was at this command from 1997-2000.

Fifth command was COMEODGRU TWO this stands for Commander Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two and was located at Little Creek Amphibious Base, Norfolk, VA. I was at this command from 2000-2003.

Sixth and last command was USS KEARSARGE LHD-3. I was at this command until retirement in 2007. I went on 1 Mediterranean cruise and 2 Persian Gulf cruises while aboard. While at this command, I was also sent on a 6 month special deployment to Bagram, Afghanistan in support of Joint Coalition Special Forces at Bagram Airfield to provide specialized IT and Telecommunications sustenance to Task Force Tiger.

[Cottoinc]

They turned my camp in Iraq into a HOTEL!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/world/middleeast/camp-bucca-in-iraq-once-a-prison-base-now-houses-a-hotel.html?_r=0

[AmrcnZeR0]

I saw that a few days after you mentioned camp bucca. I was gonna share the link but forgot to do so.

[AmrcnZeR0]

Needless to say but... I found your camp.. Lol