I sure miss the Army

[ECKSJAY]

Chatting with a buddy, telling stories...and I realize how much I miss the Army.

Old stuff from the past. Done and over with. Some of the greatest times of my life.

That is all.

 

[JeepXJ93]

I havn't served my time yet...my plans were for the end of the year but i tore my f'in ACL and miniscus about 2 weeks ago on the job. My best friend was in iraq for 11 months....he's got a new story for me every time we hang out. There are a few guys from his company in the new england area and when they get together it seems as though they are blood brothers, something as far as i'm concerned you dont make friends like that anywhere else.

 

[WrenchMonkey]

Chatting with a buddy, telling stories...and I realize how much I miss the Army.

Old stuff from the past. Done and over with. Some of the greatest times of my life.

That is all.

I feel that way about the Navy sometimes.

Then I look at my paycheck stubs, and the feeling goes away.

USN, no doubt about it, the best experience and worst job I'll ever have...

Robert

 

[GSequoia]

They're all under the control of the Illuminati anyway.

:eyes:

 

[ECKSJAY]

I feel that way about the Navy sometimes.

Then I look at my paycheck stubs, and the feeling goes away.

USN, no doubt about it, the best experience and worst job I'll ever have...

Robert

I think about the little girls sleeping upstairs...and realize I'm needed here more.

But yeah, best and worst job ever.

 

[tbburg]

...,the best experience and worst job I'll ever have...

Workhorse!atriot:

 

[XJ Eric]

I'm still in and I'm in my second career field. I really miss my old job. (Controlling Air Strikes)
Now I cruise the streets at night looking for people who don't seem to understand those 8 sided red and white signs all over the place.

Love being a cop, but miss the old days too.

 

[fscrig75]

Still playing GI Joe, 4yrs 9months to go, but whos counting.
I'll be glad when its done but I know I'll miss it.

 

[Ben H]

I often miss the work, but not so much the structure. I dont miss the MP work as I much miss air defense stuff. I miss my homies. I know for a fact if not for my family, I'd be doing the same thing, only as an officer.

 

[beakie]

I just got out in July after 6 1/2 years as a combat engineer. All my buddies are over in Afghanland right now. I went up for a weekend before they left, sayin 'seeya' was worse than when I moved away, knowing they were going over and I wasn't.

I still do the reserve thing, and could go over again if the wife and I decided it was an ok idea... but ya I sure as hell miss the Army.

The Best/Worst people/job/bosses your ever gonna find, and I would go back in a second.

 

[wycowboy]

I served in the Marine Corps from 83-89. There were some not so good times but it was a great experience overall. Yepper, I miss it too sometimes.

Chris

 

[ECKSJAY]

I often miss the work, but not so much the structure. I dont miss the MP work as I much miss air defense stuff. I miss my homies. I know for a fact if not for my family, I'd be doing the same thing, only as an officer.

I miss shopping carts at the PX that fit between the pushbars of my patrol car. I miss bowling with them behind the PX on boring nights. I miss the Army vs. Marine scuffles at the bowling alley. I miss writing the CO of JTF-6 a speeding ticket even though he was notorious for screaming at MPs (It sure humbles a Major when he has to STFU and STFD on the curb while we run a dog through his 'Vette). I miss rattlesnake hunting in the middle of the night. I really miss the practical jokes on the Desk SGT during a grave shift. I also miss the phony alarm calls that kept you on your toes and made you fly across post because you thought the Mexican Cartels were raiding the base...only to be called off a few blocks away from the target. I honestly miss writing tickets at the gate for turds who refused to belt their kids into their cars. I miss joint jurisdiction with local PD to write tickets on traffic duty just off the base. Radar goes through that thin cyclone fence fabric, didja know that? MP clubs break when you hit hard spots on Marines if you're holding them the way you're supposed to. Getting sent home, with the day off, because you had the sharpest uniform and shiniest boots at guard mount. Finding a lost child and putting a family's mind at ease is worth all the hardships. Going to schools for crime prevention training sure is cool when the kids wanna flock around you and listen to what you have to say. The friends are among the best I've had. Feeling snarky? Go ask that civilian girl to dance...yeah the hot one there with her boyfriend. He looks like the jealous type. Don't worry, we've got your back.

Just a few thoughts.

 

[ladywolf]

I've got a lil over 8 years in now, I honestly dont know what i'd be doing if i remained a civilian, or what I'd even do right now if I got out. I'm gonna make it a career, make the army give me retirement I love working on aircraft and dealing with stupid captains that cant figure out how to put a seatbelt on (i shake my head a talk about how much of a dumbass he is over coms before he gets on a headset). Dropping infantry guys off into an LZ and just watch them whoop up on some guys, then the joy of picking them back up knowing they accomplished the job more effeciently, and managed to surprise the enemy (i guess they never hear blackhawks in the middle of the night??) Playing practical jokes on my pilots (they get mad when you turn their rank sideways on their jackets), dropping beanie babies for kids and watching em scramble, dunking the pathfinders in the lake when they've been out for a week and we know they are in need of a bath *evil grin*. Then of course you cant forget sending privates to get the prc -7 that doesnt work, flightline, rotorwash, gridsquares, keys to the drop zone (the list continues) and seeing how long it'll go before he finally clues in on the fact that he's being played. The army'll always have its good and bad points, but thru it all, its a job that not a whole lot of people can say that they've actually did well, or even tried to do.

 

[redneckboarder]

we get the new guys in the maintenance shop take the semi and contact the tower to cross all the runways to retreive 500yds of flightline, the controllers usually let them go and then inform them once they are over to the other side driving around aimlessly, thats entertaining

 

[ECKSJAY]

Swapping the Company CO and First SGT's offices around...including door locks and name plates...while they were gone for a weeklong training exercise out of state. Giggling from down the hall while watching the CO try his key in his door lock but it doesn't work. 1SG walking in asking WTF to CO...trying HIS key in the "CO's" lock and door opening. Faces turning purple FTW.

Filling the 1SG's office with balloons on his birthday while he's on leave with his family in AZ. The pushups were all worth it.

Going geek and setting up a LAN party to play Unreal Tournament and Quake 3 in the Battalion conference room. Bribing the watch officer with pizza and Coke and cleaning up completely spotless, 48 hours later. Called into the BN CO's office with a couple of your cohorts to explain what a LAN party was. Getting really nervous when he calls the CSM into the office so you can repeat yourself...then laughing HYSTERICALLY when the Lt Col pulls out a 16-port hub and wants to be invited to the next one. :roll:

 

[RTicUL8]

Not having served, I was just curious:

What rank would I need to be in order to be making 65-70K per year?

.

 

[rocknxj]

The 5 years I was in the military were some of the best (and worst) times of my life. I too miss serving and all the excitement of working aircraft systems on the flight line, but have been fortunate to remain affiliated with the Air Force for the past 21 years since I left active duty. I still get to experience the joys of working aircraft (A-10, F-111, F-15, KC-135, U-2, and now the RQ-4 Global Hawk) but with without the uniform.

Try to find yourself a contract or government position with the Army. I plan to continue working another 25 years and hope to remain in the aircraft industry.

 

[redneckboarder]

65-70k is in the O-7 base pay range i think

 

[Boatwrench]

I got the best of both worlds. Got out as an E5, stayed in the reserves, raised the kids without moving every 3 years and went back in after 9/11 as a really old guy. Unfortunately won't be able to convert the pension from reserve to AD.

 

[WrenchMonkey]

Not having served, I was just curious:

What rank would I need to be in order to be making 65-70K per year?

.

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

If "redneck" says O7, I'll believe him. But it bears pointing out that O7 would be achieved busting your ass to get through OCS (the rough equivalent to earning a college degree), then busting it for another, oh, thirty years to make rank.

No one enlists for the money...

Robert