Experience of service in the Armed Forces

In another recent thread about missed opportunities, I expressed regret about not joining the Army or Navy for a few years when I had the chance to do so, as I was in the cadet corps at school. How many of you have had experience of serving the Armed Forces, and how much did you benefit (or not) from that experience?

Coming up on 16 years' service between the RCAF, RCN and JAG, on deployment as I type (internet connectivity willing), and benefitting immensely!

Discipline, leadership (exercising and receiving), challenges both physical and intellectual, travel of course (off the coast of Portugal at the moment), the ability to seek new experiences.

There are challenges, of course. I am missing my family, it's my wife's birthday tomorrow and calls home are 15 minutes. My youngest turned 7 last week, and I'll be away for Christmas and New Year's. I missed both girls' first birthdays and first steps, and earlier this year our babysitter taught them how to ride their bikes, while I was at sea during mission workups!

I'm hoping to slow down next year on the return home, as it is becoming more challenging to be away on temporary duty, deployments and training. Having said that, I wouldn't have traded this for anything.

"Mr. C."
Lieutenant-Commander, CD

I was in the national guard in college. ROTC and active duty in artillery. I would never trade the times. Closest group of friends you could have. This summer at Boy Scout camp( I'm a leader, not a scout) they had all military come foward...there were 3 of us. Out of many people. One guy in his 60s a guy in his 50s and me..41. But the 3 of us had a bond. I cant describe it. I don't look down on people who didn't serve in the military, but I will say you missed an experience and a bond you can't find anywhere else.

I did 4 years in the Army right out of high-school. Changed my life greatly. For starters, if it wasn't for the New G.I. Bill, I'm not sure how I would have paid for a university education. Also that was my first experience living overseas, which has since become a way of life. Finally, I was stationed in Key West for a spell, where I was introduced to both E. Hemingway and Jimmy Buffett... I've remained a fan of both for my entire life. Also met people from every corner of the USA, from every race and class. Made some tight friendships. In short, I wouldn't be who I am today without that particular experience. At the time ---like many enlisted men--- I did my share of complaining. But with a few decades of hindsight, the discipline and responsibility probably did me good.

I have done a career (active and reserve) in the US Navy. Seen a lot of places I never would have been able to afford as a civilian. As examples, I have been to Israel and The Bahamas several times each.

I suppose a war in one's youth is the supreme test but it exacts a price that is paid over the course of life.

I spent 12 years as an infantry medic ( Army). I can not tell you how much my experience has benefited me in the civilian world: I was a paramedic for a few years, in charge of security at a college for a few years and am now an executive in a mental health corporation- and the only one of the 6 of us with out a college degree. I handle training of staff, compliance and risk management.

I miss my days working at the Mountain Warfare School and my time in the 101st. I never got shot at by someone I didn't know, but deployed to some great places ( JOTC in Panama was the best). I miss it everyday and am quite certain my time in uniform helped me become what I am today.

Harp said:

I suppose a war in one's youth is the supreme test but it exacts a price that is paid over the course of life.

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Well said! Not to be forgotten, not all that served had a choice on whether to join or not.

The friendships are often quite tight. Whether it's the experiences of basic training, the stresses of operational deployments, the fact of doing something most people wouldn't, or couldn't. It brings you close together.

I heard that folks in the military learn how press their uniforms and a polish their shoes really well.

I'm a civilian, never served.

Been quite some time since I visited, but I'll chime in. Served 21 years active duty Marine Corps, after starting life as a small town country kid from Northern Illinois. Made friends closer to me then the majority of my own family, to this day they are my closest friends. Served all over the world and experienced things I only imagined as a youngster. Learned that I am capable of so very much more than I could ever have imagined, and that I can accomplish most anything I set my mind to. I could probably prattle on for hours, but my experience was life changing. Semper Fidelis!

I'm interested, how much real the scenes of basic-training and Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in FMJ are. Could someone tell about?

Trenchfriend said:

I'm interested, how much real the scenes of basic-training and Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in FMJ are. Could someone tell about?

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Having spent 13 weeks with a Marine Drill Instructor at Navy OCS. I would say that Gunnery Sargent Hartman is as close to the real thing that you will get in a Hollywood movie. With that said, the time period shows that Drill Instructors hit their recruits. That would not fly in modern basic training.

Treetopflyer said:

Having spent 13 weeks with a Marine Drill Instructor at Navy OCS. I would say that Gunnery Sargent Hartman is as close to the real thing that you will get in a Hollywood movie. With that said, the time period shows that Drill Instructors hit their recruits. That would not fly in modern basic training.

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Thanks for information!

After a four year marriage ended in Small town Indiana I was drafted into the US Army in 1970 leaving a three year old Daughter for basic training at Ft. Knox, KY. After Basic, I was sent, as a one striper, without leave, to Ft. Polk, La. for 13 weeks of OJT where I was promoted to PFC and then Spec 4. Finally allowed Christmas leave home, I returned to Polk to where I attended Drill Sargent School graduating as a Sargent E5 after eight months service and began training SPC troops at TigerLand for Viet Nam.
I learned several very important things from my military experience during that era: 1. Through that training I learned to come out of my introverted quiet shell and lead trainees to be able to save themselves and their buddies who were mostly Gov selected to put their lives on the line. 2. If we go to war we should be in it to win it. 3. Keep myself physically fit at all times. 4.That ruthless, callous, unsympathetic evil does exist 5.That political agendas and greed can deny victory to even those who do give their all.
I came back home a different man in 1972. Much of those experiences were good for me and I did learn a bit about humanity. That many of us are not really so unalike when it comes down to the nitty gritty. I often beamed with pride watching those who had little confidence push themselves and overcome their weaknesses and fear to exclaim "Drill Sargent...I DID IT..I MADE IT".
HD

My step father (who sadly left my life recently due to a divorce) served in Vietnam. No words describe the admiration I have for the man. I don't think he was ever really receptive to others' gratitude. He gave me his medals, which to him were of little value, and always remarked that the war was fought for the men alongside him.

Thank you everyone for your service. Of all shapes and forms.

My experiences are unimportant in comparison with yours as I am talking only about membership of the Corps at my boarding school. However, I did learn some important outdoor and survival skills which have stood me in good stead, as well as forging strong friendships and enjoying a great deal of laughter.

Most of all, I value the training and direction given by our Instructors, men in their 40s and 50s who managed to combine discipline with humour. When they were not barking instructions at us, they addressed us by nicknames and in turn we alternated between addressing them as ‘Sir’ and being on first name terms with them.

On the lighter side, those of you who have seen one of my previous threads will know of my liking for the ‘Woolly Pully’ commando sweater. I liked them then as well and enjoyed having the chance to wear one with the school crest sewn into each arm below the shoulder patches. I have also retained a strong liking for baked beans on toast, which were a staple diet of weekends away with the Corps.

This leads inevitably to mentioning that as an all-male group we did a lot of farting about, in the literal sense. I apologise if I offend anyone by mentioning this, but where else could we produce so many appalling noises and smells? Our Instructors did not censure our behaviour in this respect but condoned and even encouraged it.

U.S. Army, 1967-1970. The last year included a tour in Vietnam. The military impresses on you your actual value in the grand scheme of things, which is not much. This is a valuable lesson to learn, and far too many young people never learn it. There is a great deal of boredom in military life, and I've never felt truly bored since, which helps. I learned I could do just about anything. I was a 20-year-old kid when I went in, and middle-aged at 23 when I got out.

The closest I ever got to military service was a year of Navy ROTC in college. I simply signed up, and while I had expected the military to be largely based on merit it didn't really turn out that way.

There were basically four classes of cadets in an unspoken hierarchy:
1) The full ride guys who had been recommended out of high school by a governor or senator, who got all tuition, books, housing, and at that time, a $200/month stipend.
2) The scholarship guys who got everything but the stipend.
3) The "retreads" who were enlisted guys who had spent their 4 or 6 year term as an enlisted man, but showed promise, so they reupped, the Navy sent them to college, and still paid them their salary, plus a full ride; they were still considered active, but we going to school on a full ride on the Navy's dime. They probably had he best deal.
4) The guys who just showed up for the "fun"of it--like me.

I did like the sensibility of the Naval Science courses; how engines worked, basic navigation, command and control, etc. That said, while I didn't think it was funny at the time, the #4 guys like me (low man on the totem pole) got the crappiest details, but at the same time had zero obligation like #1, #2, or #3, who were committed to enlist if they flunked out of school; and that did happen to a number of people I knew.

Anyway, being a #4 guy, I was assigned the "Sick Squad;" what was considered one of the worst details. That meant that I had to show up at the unit (two Quonset Huts) on campus at 5:00 a.m. in the morning (and this was winter term in rainy Oregon) and run the people who were not considered physically fit by Navy standards, through an hour and a half of PT. The funny thing was that most of those guys were from #1, the guys recommended by governors and senators on full rides! They were book smart and were very active in volunteering during High School and such, but weren't for the most part what you would call, "strapping young men." In any case, we'd run in the dark, in the rain, around campus, and do the USMC obstacle course. If they complained, we'd run the steps of the football stadium or do the low crawl across the wet soccer fields.

I thought this would be different in the fleet, as opposed to the college campus, but not really. I went on one summer cruise on an LST, the Ogden, from Seattle to San Diego and that was enough for me. I didn't sign up for the next year--I detest incompetence, inefficiency, and arbitrary decision making and from what I saw, the Navy was full of it.

Hindsight being 20/20, it may have been better to have stuck it out, got a commission and served 20 years retiring at 42 with a $3,000/month retirement ready to start a new life and carer, but then again, I doubt I would be where I am today professionally and financially had I not instead gotten an MBA and entered the world of banking and finance, which ironically is very similar to the military.

Juanito said:

The closest I ever got to military service was a year of Navy ROTC in college. I simply signed up, and while I had expected the military to be largely based on merit it didn't really turn out that way.

...
I did like the sensibility of the Naval Science courses; how engines worked, basic navigation, command and control, etc. That said, while I didn't think it was funny at the time, the #4 guys like me (low man on the totem pole) got the crappiest details, but at the same time had zero obligation like #1, #2, or #3, who were committed to enlist if they flunked out of school; and that did happen to a number of people I knew.
...
Hindsight being 20/20, it may have been better to have stuck it out, got a commission and served 20 years retiring at 42 with a $3,000/month retirement ready to start a new life and carer, but then again, I doubt I would be where I am today professionally and financially had I not instead gotten an MBA and entered the world of banking and finance, which ironically is very similar to the military.

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I identified with this post for a number of reasons. First, in my first couple of terms at University, I joined the Navy OTC after being persuaded to do so by a friend - his father was one of the instructors. Although I was in the Army section of the Corps at school, I was (still am) interested in both Services. Like you I enjoyed the Naval Science classes. I had a good rapport with both the military instructors and the other young men I was serving alongside. I also think I should probably have 'stuck it out' and continued at least to the end of university.

My reason for giving up on it, I fear, was laziness. There was quite a lot of physical training including early morning runs and I was also expected to play Rugby once a week with practice on two other days and an afternoon's drill of course mid-week. At school, there had been a lot of pressure to do a lot of sport (or 'eccer' as it was known - everything at boys' boarding schools has a different name) and I decided that I wanted to concentrate on other interests at university without doing eccer every day. I also had first year exams coming up. I intended to return to the OTC after a short break, but didn't bother I'm afraid. Pure laziness.

You say that working in the banking sector is similar to the military and I can see the analogy: so is the area of property management in which I now work.