I spent the vast majority of my time in the Navy working at Naval Training Center Orlando (RIP) as a police dispatcher. Long story on how that worked out, but that's irrelevant. Early to mid 80s was a peaceful time on the planet relative to today. The base police schedule was 3 days on, 2 days off, 3 off 2 on. I spent a lot of time at the beach.

Was I in the US Navy? Yep. Do I consider myself a veteran? Nope.

One of the last draftees...

July 1972 - July 1974


95th Military Police Bn
Germany

Yes, BUT , you were there for the good or the bad.
The EZ or the hard.
You wrote a check for the whole enchilada.
If you have a DD214 or going to get one, stop lying to yourself. You are a VETERAN.
It took us Vietnam Vets a LONG time to come to terms with things.
Now I say "we went to an unpopular war." "If it had been popular we would have gone anyway."
Thay sort of sums it it for most of us.

Probably luck of the draw. You were doing a job that had to be done. A friend of mine got drafted, they learned he was a ski instructor so he spent his time in Germany as ski patrol.

What good is a Military without a war?
Ready!

1970-2003 US Army.
Ten years as an 11B Infantryman (loved it) and 23 years as a Special Forces soldier 11BS before the MOS/branch change to 18...18B, 18C, 18F, MFF/SADM. Miss it every day.
RVN, S/S, Somalia, Astan.

You volunteered, you served. You, Sir, are a veteran, and I thank you for your service. Please do not confuse 'veteran' with combat. All of us who served were ready to give all, only some were called to go in harm's way. Be proud of your service, most don't ever take the first step in serving our country.

army, artillery branch drafted 6-17-66 and separated 5-29-69! i was 25 years, 11 months and 20 days old....less than two weeks from my 26 year birthday....cut off point for the draft at that time! i was married but no children!

U.S. Army 1973-2000. 82nd Airborne (Company C, 2/504), then 3rd Ranger Regiment (Third Herd of Company B!)

I volunteered right out of high school in 1970. I entered boot camp but was honorably discharged soon there after for medical reasons. I took the oath , wrote the check as some would say, got my DD214 but never got to serve. I am proud that I volunteered at the height of VietNam but I am not a veteran. I do however reserve the right to present arms when facing the flag.

Thanks to all of you for your service.


I noticed one ole-fart in particular was in the army (no initials but his name is JP), and no one cracked the north or south joke yet.

Slackers.

ER.....You lost me Sammy. Not hard to do with we elderly types.

101st ABN 1986-1990 (SIGO for Cobra/Apache BN)
1991-2014 (National Guard Signal and Infantry BN, Armor and Signal BDE)
2015-Present Retired

In 2014, I had the honor of swearing in my son as a 2LT into the Army and he's currently going through Ordance/EOD training at Fort Lee.

Bump

A lot of you guys doing 30+. Kudos!

Am now at 22 yrs, just spend the last 6 mths supporting Antarctic flying working with C17's of the 304th out of McChord and LC130's of the 109th New York ANG out of Schenectady.

I normally wouldn't have bothered to do this except had just found this colourising tool tonight https://colourise.sg/

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551948975.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551948975.jpg

Thank you all...

Don’t know how I missed this thread.

USN, 83-89
ET2 SW, 85-89, USS Enterprise out of NAS Alameda
Royal Order of Neptunus Rex

Chair-Force...

USAF- AMC- Air Transport- Tactical Airlift - ALCE/TALCE

Just Cause (served there with my Special Forces father (1SG-RIP)—-Desert Shield - Desert Storm- Somalia (Provide Relief) - Bosnia - multiple missions Africa/South America/SW Asia....yada yada....

MattR

Sorry Rika, only took me 4 years to answer your question! 82nd Combat Engineer Battalion May 1978 - February 1981. Swing by more often!.