So You Served!!

Thought it would be entertaining to find-out how many forum denizens have prior service experience and how much. I'm guessing there are a bunch of folks with military service. How about telling us your branch of service and the number of years you served. Active, reserve or National Guard; Army Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard... report it all. How about you peace officers and fire fighters reporting your service as well. Colorful anecdotes are optional and encouraged. If you are normally a lurker and donÔÇÖt join in the discussions, then please make an exception and tell us about your service.
:thumb

IÔÇÖll start it off: Army, 25 years.

United States Air Force - April 7, 1966 through December 20, 1972

Air Traffic Control and Warning (Radar) Operator
Airborne Weapons Control Technician
Electronic Warfare Countermeasures Technician

NORAD and Alaskan Air Command

June 30, 1970 to Jan 15, 1972
One tour of duty in Vietnam at Can Tho Army Airfield.
Trained as an Aircraft mechanic for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
Became the Aircraft Electrician for the Company thru OJT while in the army.
Disliked it then, wouldn't trade the experience for the world now.
Grew up in Ohio, did basic training at Ft Campbell, KY.
Now live in Nashville, TN, 20 miles away.
Have been here 30+ years.
Must of liked the heat doing Basic Training in July-August....

Marine Corps....'69-'78 Worked on avionics systems on A-4 and Harrier jets for 6 years. Trained in ECM and Com/Nav. Then, they made me a recruiter.

Tom

USAF, 1979-1983, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Wichita Falls and San Antonio Texas and Albuquerque New Mexico.

Sometimes I wish I had made a career of it.

US Air Force, 1979-1983 stationed at Aviano AB Italy & Luke AFB in AZ.
Worked on air-air & air-ground missiles.

USAF OSI Agent: 1977-1999. Deployed as a tactical counterintelligence agent to the Kurdish Mtns during/after the 1st Gulf War.

20 years US Navy active and reserve time. Radioman

[I]Highlight[/I] First Persian Excursion under George I- Saudi Arabia, UAE, Baharain as a SEABEE with a Marine Expeditionary Force.

In order USNR, USNR-R(TAR), USN, 1959>1987. Still work on Flight and Weapons System Simulators at NS Mayport, FL.
Ret CPO Ride Safe :usa

Two years Navy ROTC full scholaraship at Brown University 1967-69. Active duty in summer based in Newport News. Wanted to be a pilot, couldn't pass the eye exam, and in the first draft lottery in 1969 got a high number assigned by birthdate and decided to opt out of the program. A decision regretted many times over; but it does no good to worry now. Maybe for the best anyway, as I found it difficult to follow orders I disagreed with, and the military depends on near blind obedience.

"every man is the architecht of his own character."

U.S. Navy
1978 - 1998
Aviation Electronics
P-3 Orion ASW and maritime patrol
F-14 Fighters
F14 and A6 Comm/Nav systems
Instructor Duty Electronic Identification Systems IFF
VC-6 Seaborne Powered Targets

USN 77-81 BT3
USS Chicago CG-11
USS Bradley FF-1041

Served in the USAF almost same time period as Paul: Aug 68-Aug 72. Came between my first and second year of law school. Served at SAC HQ in Omaha, NE as a systems analyst in the underground command post. Very neat duty! Great skills learned. No one ever shot at me, unless you include the MSgt who always shot off his mouth. :blah

Moi? USN 68-74, ETR, ECM.

Man you guys are OLD! Currently serving in the US Navy, stationed in Panama City, FL at Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center. Entered service in 1988.

Just kidding about the old statement. I appreciate the service that all of you have done.