So You Served!!

[42906]

US Navy '82 - '89: helicopter pilot, flew the UH-3A station SAR on Diego Garcia (ugh) and then the CH-46D performing VERTREP out of San Diego with HC-11.

Now I work as a civilian analyst for Naval Air Systems Command, but there was 18 years between the time I left active duty until I came back aboard as a civilian. A lot changed in between.

I have to laugh, my old job has been turned over to civilian aviators and the ships are now civilian manned (or is that "staffed"). I tried to get a job doing what I qualified to do in the Navy but according to the insurance of the contractor hired by the Navy to provide VERTREP services I did not have enough experience.

[HONDARIDER]

US Army...active duty...1990-1994...Biomedical Electronics Tech...lots of TDY...favorite assignment was Ft. Ord, CA...least favorite Ft. Hood, TX...these days I work for Navy SSP.

[PeoriaMac]

U.S. Navy, nine years active and reserve. Joined the Navy to see the world and saw a lot of Maryland: Ft. G.G. Meade, MD. Left reserves when training for my specialty was no longer available. Not sure that was the smartest thing I never did....

[binkleylane]

US Army Signal Corp, Feb 68 thru Mar 76, Ft. Bennington,Ga; Ft. Monmouth, NJ, Vietnam, Ft. Monmouth, NJ, Piermansens FRG.
Owned my first BMW, both two and 4 wheel there. Both great machines.

[argent brick]

Enlisted in 1976, got out in 2002 after 20 plus years. Most of it as a medic. Loved it. Got out because I could not keep up with the 19 year old kids any more. I miss the troops but do not miss the politics. Would consider going back if I was younger.

Worked for a prison supply company and stayed with them for 9 years 7 months.
Hated almost every minute of it. Glad I am not with them any longer. Means more
time with my family and my Flying Brick.

[Delaware.Dave]

Civil Air Patrol in high school.

Aircraft Mechanic on KC-135As in New Hampshire 1985-1990.
European, Alaskan, and Pacific Tanker Task Forces. SAC Nuclear Alert Force.
Operation El Dorado Canyon (Raid on Libya, 1986), ELF One (Saudi Arabian) deployment

C5 Flight Engineer in Delaware 1990-2011.
Desert Shield, Desert Storm, numerous humanitarian relief missions.

[akbeemer]

Deteriorating cartilage,
torn meniscus,
bruising of the femur.

arthritic diagnosis,
disabling infusion
of shrapnel, peppered
by an explosion.

Then, my parachuteÔÇÖs
canopy partially inverted,
slamming me to
the weakened joint.

Early morning clicks,
occasional popping midday,
and an aching in the evening
only endured by way of
abusive substance.

And thatÔÇÖs the good knee.

Sean Barnett