Veterans, where did you serve?

[Pneumatic-Addict]

Two weeks out of high school I was in the big green machine.  U.S. Army Security Agency 1971-1977.  MOS 33G ECM/DF Systems Repairman.  Ft. Devens, MA, Vint Hill Farms, VA, Helemano, HI, Ft Huachuch, AZ.

[AlaskaAirgunner]

"until they told me I was going to have to leave Alaska!"  <---  What, it was getting too crowded?   

Haha, it is definitely getting more and more crowded in Anchorage, but the rest of Alaska is still pretty isolated and amazing! In the military, typically you are only allowed to stay in Alaska for 3 years before you have to move on. I lucked out and was able to stay for 9 and then put in my retirement paperwork to stay.

[Petetheairgunner]

US Navy CV-67 95-99
FL Army National Guard 2004-2008

[Fate]

USN '59-'63. Radioman on two destroyers, first one North Atlantic and Med and next plank owner on a Guided Missile Destroyer doing two more years of Cold War exercises including one intense non-exercise in October 1962 most know about.

Joined two days after graduating high school, first year out of the WV woods, first year wearing shoes year round, and shaped the rest of my life. Always with me.

Many say thank you for your service, and it's always welcomed. But Veterans know what it means and say it with meaning... so,

Thank you all for your service.

[Sammi1968]

USAF 1986-1990
ICBM Maintenance Tech
VAFB, Ca

[surfsup]

March 1973-77, USN Jet Engine Mech (AD), Squadron VA-66 (A-7E), NAS Cecil Field, FL.  Concurrent sea duty with Carrier Air Group 7 onboard the USS Independence (CV-62).  Two Med Cruises, one North Atlantic (Blue Nose), and one Caribbean.

Also Spent 8 years with Army Reserves out of Morehead City, NC.  Activated with IRR during Desert Storm, 2001.

That's about it!

[RyGuy]

1/111th Stryker Unit  '99 - '04
MOS: 11B


Basic - 1/19 IN Ft. Benning
AIT - 2/58 IN Ft. Benning

[RobertMcC]

I'm curious as a Canadian Forces member. Why in the states, not many people do long terms of service? I often see people do 2 to 4 years and then get out. Most in the CF, will do 20 years of service, unless they were medically released. I know for us, gotta do at least 10 years to get a service pension.

[Hoosier Daddy]

USED to be... not sure today
In the US...  the lower enlisted mens pay was less than minimum wage. Because you got fed and clothes and barracks.
 4 years is not long enough to reach NCO status to get "decent" pay, so they don't reenlist.

[RobertMcC]

USED to be... not sure today
In the US...  the lower enlisted mens pay was less than minimum wage. Because you got fed and clothes and barracks.
 4 years is not long enough to reach NCO status to get "decent" pay, so they don't reenlist.

Dang. US military really under pays. I was only a Cpl, and I was making well over 50K.

[Blowpipe Sam]

Back in 82 I enlisted for 4 years.  I was making $725 a month as a PFC, cadre in training command.  17 months later I was injured in a training accident and discharged with just under 2 years service.  In those days we recruited Canadians and they were glad to join the US Army.  They all said that the Canadian Army was the worst paid in the world.  If they served honorably in the USA, Canada gave them credit for their service.  They got American pay and benefits plus the college tuition deals the service was offering in those days.  The Canadians said it was a no brainer to join the US Army.  Our recruiters actually visited Canadian high schools to pitch the USA.   I trained a number of Canadian Inuits and man did they have some stories to tell!

[Insanity]

USED to be... not sure today
In the US...  the lower enlisted mens pay was less than minimum wage. Because you got fed and clothes and barracks.
 4 years is not long enough to reach NCO status to get "decent" pay, so they don't reenlist.

Dang. US military really under pays. I was only a Cpl, and I was making well over 50K.

My "income" while in the Army at 10 years was = to around 52k a year when I got out I took home much much less than that. But they factered that my housing health etc was that equivalent.

[Rocker1]

 My Pay in 1970 was around 130 dollars , plus 95 dollars a month family separation and hostile fire.,  sure wasnt worth it fellows. David

[Rob M]

from 1999 when i signed up , till the end 05 , the pay went up dramatically in the US military,. I wanna say an e1 in 99 was making 750 a month on active duty ( that was take home )

[oldnamvet]

My Pay in 1970 was around 130 dollars , plus 95 dollars a month family separation and hostile fire.,  sure wasnt worth it fellows. David

I think I was getting about $20 more as a sgt e-5 but as you said, it wasn't worth it.

[Bicycleman]

At the end of September, 1965, my first full month pay was $95 after deductions.  The DIs sure tried to get their money's worth out of us in "Boot Camp".

[RobertMcC]

from 1999 when i signed up , till the end 05 , the pay went up dramatically in the US military,. I wanna say an e1 in 99 was making 750 a month on active duty ( that was take home )

750? WOW

I know when I joined the reserves in 01, it was 66$ for a full day, 33$ for a half day. Pay wasn't that great till I got my Cpls 2 years later. I think it jumped from like 80$ to 100$. When I got out, I think I was making over 140$ a day. Now that was Thursdays, and couple weekends a year, Till I made a full time career in the reserves.

My tour, I was getting my pay tax free, and extra 1000-1500 $ in danger pay.

[HunterWhite]

I can remember getting $58 every two weeks my first year. By the time I was in 3 years, in Veitnam theater I was getting $411 per month plus $65 "hostile fire pay" plus being in the war zone, they didn't take out taxes!

I think that EVERYONE should go into the military, even disabled should be part of it if at all possible. I think that your education is unfinished if you have never experienced being part of something bigger than yourself.

Hunter

[Blowpipe Sam]

I can remember getting $58 every two weeks my first year. By the time I was in 3 years, in Veitnam theater I was getting $411 per month plus $65 "hostile fire pay" plus being in the war zone, they didn't take out taxes!

I think that EVERYONE should go into the military, even disabled should be part of it if at all possible. I think that your education is unfinished if you have never experienced being part of something bigger than yourself.

Hunter

I agree.  Everyone should at least try to serve their country.  Unfortunately not everyone is suited to.  I served almost two years in an OSUT.  6 training cycles including my own boot camp.  Our motto was "Weed out the weenies!"  WE TDP'ed 15 to 20% of each cycle.  I met a number of very fine people who had no business being in the service.  Kudos to them for trying!

[Hoosier Daddy]

"Danger Pay" was a joke to me... the "BB Stackers" (Munitions) were hanging bombs on MY F-4 while I, as the Crew Chief, was standing right next to them watching over their actions... even assisting, then signing off their work.
They got it, I didn't.