I have a feeling that there are a lot of veterans and service members in the game andI wanted to make a thread where we could post a little about our time in service.

I'll start by saying that I was Regular Army, Combat Engineer, from 1980 to '83, cold war. Joined up because I needed to get my act together, after basic training was stationed at Ft Kobbe, Republic of Panama. Cheap booze, pretty girls, about a mile from the beach and access to just about anything a young man could get into trouble with I somehow managed to survive but I realized that the army was not a career that I was cut out for but I will never forget the jungles of Panama or the great people I served with or the lessons I learned about life and what you can endure and accomplish if you just put your mind to it.

pmoon1{WP***} wrote: I have a feeling that there are a lot of veterans and service members in the game and I wanted to make a thread where we could post a little about our time in service.

You're right about that.. there are already some other threads (somewhere!) addressing it... lots of veterans love Dogfight!

US Navy from 1983-2009. Aviation Electronics Technician. USS Enterprise, Millington for A school, NAS Jax AIMD, HS-17, HS-9, HS-1, HS-15, NAMTRAGRUHQ Pensacola, HS-7, FRCSE Jax, HSL-48, NAS Backyard (I retired from HSL-48) The list of things I did, collateral duties, different jobs, etc. run from working in Avionics Corrosion control, to cleaning compartments on the Enterprise, to production CPO with 387 sailors working for me, to flight deck coordinator, to MMCPO of an HSL squadron with 18 aircraft, 264 enlisted in 9 different detachments. 5 Med cruises and a large variety of additional travel to a variety of different countries.

I would go back in a second if they let old guys serve. I miss the ocean, the travel, the camaraderie, the work, the aircraft, the friends and shipmates I met over the years..... hard work but oh so rewarding.

I could go on but will spare everyone the sea stories.

Currently serving in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. Though I am nowhere near as experienced and decorated as the veterans who have already posted in this thread, I'm honored to be serving in their footsteps.

RTC Great Lakes IL, HM "A-School" in METC Fort Sam Houston TX, FMTB-E Camp Lejeune NC, 1st Medical Battalion MCB Camp Pendleton CA, and now currently back to METC for "C-School". Providing clinical, emergency, and field medical care to US Marines and Sailors is what I do, and not a day goes by am I not grateful for my brothers and sisters who serve with me, and before me.

...Viper10: I'd love to hear any sea stories you have to offer, Senior Chief! You served on the USS Enterprise, now that's a beautiful ship! She retired just as I joined the service, and I can only imagine how it's like to work aboard an aircraft carrier, not to mention the Enterprise!

[NLR] Luna wrote: Currently serving in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. Though I am nowhere near as experienced and decorated as the veterans who have already posted in this thread, I'm honored to be serving in their footsteps.

RTC Great Lakes IL, HM "A-School" in METC Fort Sam Houston TX, FMTB-E Camp Lejeune NC, 1st Medical Battalion MCB Camp Pendleton CA, and now currently back to METC for "C-School". Providing clinical, emergency, and field medical care to US Marines and Sailors is what I do, and not a day goes by am I not grateful for my brothers and sisters who serve with me, and before me.

...Viper10: I'd love to hear any sea stories you have to offer, Senior Chief! You served on the USS Enterprise, now that's a beautiful ship! She retired just as I joined the service, and I can only imagine how it's like to work aboard an aircraft carrier, not to mention the Enterprise!

Carriers was all I ever did, and the Big E was my first duty station. Also I had the chance to do a Med cruise onboard the Enterprise in 1996 with HS-15. I have my share of sea stories, that's for sure. Like I said, I would do it all over again given the chance. What a lucky guy I am to have served in the US Navy. I am envious of you, Luna. I wish I was at the beginning of my career again.... <sigh>

Now that's a proper maritime force! So glad you're on our side. The US coastguard has more firepower than the Australian Navy. The George W Bush can house all of Australia's Super Hornets! MARFORPAC is almost as big as the entire Australian Defence Force.
Thanks for investing all those dollars and people, so we Aussies can relax down under, fat dumb and happy, enjoying the sun and getting very rich, digging shit out of the ground and selling it as fast as we can to China, your future enemy.
What a funny world we live in.

I would love to hear your stories. My Grandfather Sim was a stoker on the HMCS Kamsack. A corvette escort ship in WWII in the Pacific. I am sure it was a horrible job in the guts of the ship shoveling coal. Never knowing when a U boat might torpedoe your ship. He never talked about the war but I have done some reading on these old Canadian escort cruisers and a lot got sunk escorting naval and merchant vessels during WWII. Must have been very unnerving serving during those times when U boats were sinking ships left right and centre. I am grateful to all Vets that have served to keep our Countries safe and free.