Why do you serve?

[Booshanky]

For those calgunners who are in one of the branches of the military, what prompted you to sign on the dotted line?

For those who are veterans, do you feel that your time in the service was worthwhile?

Have any of you seen combat? If so, did that change your view of military service?

What advice would you give to those who are thinking of enlisting?

[dribbler]

in, been pondering this same stuff for about a month

[stphnman20]

For those calgunners who are in one of the branches of the military, what prompted you to sign on the dotted line?
Wanted a better life outside the "hood" Also my life wasn't going far!
For those who are veterans, do you feel that your time in the service was worthwhile?
HELL YEAH! would I do it over again? YUP
Have any of you seen combat? If so, did that change your view of military service?
SEEN it in 03, 04 and 08. No it didn't change my view.. It's the Military not the peace corp!
What advice would you give to those who are thinking of enlisting?
DO IT!

Answers in bold

[Stockton]

For those calgunners who are in one of the branches of the military, what prompted you to sign on the dotted line?

For those who are veterans, do you feel that your time in the service was worthwhile?

Have any of you seen combat? If so, did that change your view of military service?

What advice would you give to those who are thinking of enlisting?

My hero's growing up were soldiers. It was explained to me as a teenager what it meant to serve this nation and doing something for society that could never be taken away from me.

Absolutely worth while. I wanted it though. If you don't want or have to be forced into it that please stay out of the military.

Yes, no it did not, don't be fooled by yourself or anyone else, the very first things you are taught is how to listen,move,shoot, and communicate. There is a reason for that.

Advise: Do it because its what you really want. The military isn't for everyone but you need to understand why you would be doing it. Don't do it for money, fame, glory, or anything else. You would only be failing the man standing next to.

[dwa]

my country was at war and i felt it was my duty to serve my country.
many seem to not be able to understand this, im not able to understand how people can choose not to serve. regardless of your politics your country needs you, some can choose to ignore that i cant. i got all the way out thinking that i had done my part, after some soul searching i decided that i need to do more so now im in the reserve while im in school and intend to return to service as an officer in four years.

[Matt C]

For those calgunners who are in one of the branches of the military, what prompted you to sign on the dotted line?

I wanted the training, the experiance, and the chance to serve (joined right after 9/11).

For those who are veterans, do you feel that your time in the service was worthwhile?

Absolutely.

Have any of you seen combat? If so, did that change your view of military service?

No, it didn't.

What advice would you give to those who are thinking of enlisting?

Join the Air Force...

[Ironchef]

I signed back in November of 1990 but was disqualified because I had a 1" patch of psoriasis on my back, so I didn't serve. Been a couch commando ever since..a fanboi as it were.

I just wanted to get out of dodge, get combat training (still want it of course), and Bush 41 was getting ready to invade Iraq so I wanted to go play volleyball in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait!

About 9 years ago I again attempted to go into the Army NG but again, my psoriasis got in the way. I just wanted to be trained, possibly play with toys I paid for with my taxes, maybe help in a disaster. I tried to explain that my dad was a proud 1st sgt in the ANG and he had gobs more psoriasis than I'd ever have. But no go. I'll bet if I enlisted during the last few years, they'd have let me in...but now I'm washed up and plagued with arthritis and i'm a good 60lbs too much man for them! lol Well, that's some of the reason I wouldn't have enlisted in the last few years....the other reasons are best left off this forum.

[Vacaville]

I was in the Army from '82 to '85. No combat for me, thanks. I was a legal clerk. I joined because there was kind of an unwritten rule in my family that if you didn't go to college, you joined the military. What I picked up:

The good: I learned discipline. Before the military I had about 30 jobs over a couple of years. Since I got out, I have worked for three companies over the past 23 years. I also learned that I am capable of working my way through pain and adversity when most people give up. Basic Training will show you what the human body is truly capable of. And, it's not all physical, a lot of it is mental. I can also get dressed and out of the house in 10 minutes.

What to watch out for: Don't think specific military training is going to open doors for you when you get out. Unless you've learned a specific skill that translates directly to civilian life, like being an electrician or some kind of mechanic, most employers won't give a rat's *** about your MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). That being said, most employers do look favorably on people who have served our country.

If you're a loser and can't make it outside the military, you're not going to make it inside the military. When you get kicked out or quit, you become a BOLO!

[Army GI]

For those calgunners who are in one of the branches of the military, what prompted you to sign on the dotted line?

For those who are veterans, do you feel that your time in the service was worthwhile?

Have any of you seen combat? If so, did that change your view of military service?

What advice would you give to those who are thinking of enlisting?

1. Mostly family tradition and admiration of the military as an institution. Grandfather was a WW2 vet (fought in the segregated Army units in the Pacific). Father was an LT for a short while before being medically discharged.
2. Can't really answer that, I've never been deployed. So the only thing I can say from my light experience is that it forced me to grow up in a hurry.
3. No, thank God. But I will follow orders of called upon to do so.
4. The first thing that comes to my mind is to make clear to them what the purpose of the military is. It's not boarding school, it's not a job welfare program. It's an institution meant solely for one thing, to fight wars, kill people, and destroy things.

edit: why are you asking this? Are you writing a dissertation or something?

[chris]

For those calgunners who are in one of the branches of the military, what prompted you to sign on the dotted line?

I have to say a sense of duty and patriotism mostly. i grew up around servicemembers. neighbors dad was a WWII vet, was in the pacific saw all kinds of stuff. both sons served one in the Marines other the Navy, dad Air Force, both grandparents helped in the war effort in WWII. but i serve mainly for the reason is that the freedom we have is not free it has been paid for in the blood sweat and tears of men and women of this country. some of our finest leaders have been in the military. i personally think you should serve if anyone plans to run for office. see "Starship Troopers". that made sense service entitles you to privalages that others who don't serve are not allowed to have. holding public office is not a right it is to be an honor and privalege to serve in public office.


For those who are veterans, do you feel that your time in the service was worthwhile?
my time in continues and will for sometime to come. and it has been 20 yrs. now. i have met some of the funniest and strangest people in the military. but while i was deployed i had the distinct honor and privalege to serve with SF in Iraq. and i can tell you that is an honor to have.

Have any of you seen combat? If so, did that change your view of military service?

why yes i have been in combat and i will go again if called upon. in Iraq 05 and 06. great time. i will never forget my tour.

What advice would you give to those who are thinking of enlisting?

to serve this country should be an honor as some of the finest men and women have worn the uniform. especially today total strangers will thank you and shake your hand. it is a great time to serve. and at no time should anyone in uniform abuse the kindness of the people of this country. we cannot do our jobs without the support of the people. they are our anchor and we can accomplish our missions placed before us.

do you plan on serving this country or just wanting to find out what makes us serve. sometimes no words can describe why we do it.

there are many reasons to serve.

[Maddog5150]

Im just a cherry but I do have regrets. My largest regret is that I didnt sign the dotted line at 18 and waited eight years to do so.
I joined because I wanted to serve like my father and his father did. We take so many things for granted and I knew I would probably never really understand the pain and sacrifices made to make my life comfortable. I got tired of sitting on my hands and just being a fan boy and wanted to be one of the good guys to give others the chance of freedom. Just went in late in the game but better late then never.
Second regret is that I cannot afford to go active. Pay for a private is too little for my bills but my next goal is either 82nd or 173rd.
Airborne!

Sometimes friends, family or strangers ask me about the training and if I regret dealing with the heat, humidity, injuries, stress, and some stranger screaming at me. Now Im no hero like some of the guys here, never been over seas and in combat only been away from my family for 20 weeks and not 12-14 months and im just some cherry out of training but I would say that so far, those 20 weeks in benning was the greatest time of my life. I would endure everything all over again in a heart beat. Especially jumpschool

If you want to join, dont hesitate and make excuses. You will never look back no matter what branch or MOS you pick... less its MP

[nick]

less its MP

+1.

[Crosis]

For those calgunners who are in one of the branches of the military, what prompted you to sign on the dotted line?

I had always wanted to join, my family were all government employees or military... When 9/11 hit I was 17, I walked into the recruiting station that day.

For those who are veterans, do you feel that your time in the service was worthwhile?

Yes, I learned a lot and I'm a better person for it.

Have any of you seen combat? If so, did that change your view of military service?

Nope, I'm a wounded vet. if I had the chance I'd go back... I had an idea of what to expect My uncle was in a few spats in the middle east before Desert Storm... He is a Sheriff now...

I was deployed from Feb '03 - Oct '03, and Feb '04 - April '05.

What advice would you give to those who are thinking of enlisting?

The military isn't for everyone...

Pick a job that's reasonably transferable into civilian life... Grunt/MP = easier to join police force, EOD = Possible Bomb Squad, etc...

A buddy of mine joined the Army, keeps changing his MOS each time he re-enlists... I believe he is an "Artillery Weatherman" currently... I don't foresee that having a whole lot of potential in the civilian world...

[hotwls13]

For those calgunners who are in one of the branches of the military, what prompted you to sign on the dotted line?

I have been out for 9 years now. When I joined (back in 90) I had been on pre-enlistment for over a year. I knew I wanted to be in the Air Force at 16. I didn't grow up around Military or really know much about it. I just Knew that's what I wanted.

For those who are veterans, do you feel that your time in the service was worthwhile?

Definitely. I am proud to have served.

Have any of you seen combat? If so, did that change your view of military service?

No. I deployed a lot of guys during Desert Shield and Storm, as well as other deployments throughout my 9 years.

What advice would you give to those who are thinking of enlisting?

Pretty much what others have said. THINK about what you would like to do when you get out. Try to get a job while your in doing something similar. It's tough though as most guys going in are young and really don't know what they want to do when they grow up. I was Air Transportation and when I got out, I moved back to my small hometown with a small Airport. Hence, NO JOBS in my line of work. Luckily I had some computer training and experience.

[kermit315]

I cant point to a reason why I joined....it just felt like something I needed to do. I joined before 9/11. I was in school during 9/11 and thought my class was going undesignated to the fleet to chock and chain airplanes: it didnt phase me one bit, that was my job at the time. I have always worked hard, and done my job to the best of my abilities, while looking out for my guys at the same time.

My advice to those considering enlisting: dont do it for the college. do it because you want to be there. if you are just doing it for the college money, TA, NCPACE, etc., your head wont be fully in the game, you will be looking at the clock, waiting to get out and dedicate your time to school. if you are there, you need to be all the way there. if you can dedicate yourself to doing 100 percent of your job, and still have the time and motivation to pursue education off duty, you are welcome in my AT shop anytime.

I have launched aircraft guiding ordnance to hostile areas, and seen aircraft come back with no ordnance left, so I guess that is as close to combat as a carrier/squadron Sailor can get without getting an IA billet (that my wife informed me I have to wait for till after our shore duty). Did it change my views, no. We dropped those bombs on people who needed it done, because they were screwed up in the most fundamental sense. Do innocent people get caught in that, yes, and for that I am sorry, but only because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

JMO