Just curious to know how many veterans we have here. It would also be interesting to hear a brief sentence or two about the job you did, and when you got out.

I served 8 years in the US Navy as an Operations Specialist. A vague job title that is responsible for operating shipboard radar, communications, navigation, and computer systems.

The coolest thing I did in the Navy was when my ship was on a "cruise" (yeah, right) in the Persian Gulf, and as the guy solely responsible for tracking aircraft, I detected a low, slow flyer approaching our ship squawking negative IFF (identification friend or foe). We didn't know who this was, so I called the Electronic Warfare guys and they told me the radar they detected along that bearing was that of a P-3. We knew of a certain Persian country that had one P-3 (guess who they got it from) that made daily recon flights down the gulf. Anyway, aircraft approached with a hundred miles or so and I was they guy who went out on the radio, just like the movies, and said something like, "Unidentified aircraft in position LAT LONG, on course 180 speed of 400 kts, you are approaching a United States Navy warship, your identity and intentions are unclear, request you establish communications with me immediately, over". Anyway, the first deconfliction (as they call it) went out with no reply, the second uses a more stern voice, and a sense of urgency - no reply. The third one basically tells the guy that we're gonna shoot his ass down if he doesn't change course immediately. To that I get a, "US warship, this is [country] P3, we are friendly, I repeat, friendly". I then noticed an abrupt course change, which was damn good coz we had our Fire Control (missile directing) radars locked on to him and were ready to rock and roll. I swear I felt like I was the shit Much better than the movies, but quite tense. Sorry for rambling. Glad I followed my own guidelines of "brief sentence or two"

Happy to have served, but I got out in April of 2000, and couldn't be happier.

What's your deal?

 

I'm 19 and my thoughts are; I'd rather attend college than "waste" my time in the armed forces. However if my country ever needed me I'd be the first to join. I'm pretty sure I'd join the air force.

When I was in 4th grade we had to do a report on our grandparents and my grandad (who was in the air force all his life) told me he flew the "enola gay" over hiroshima. We'll I put this in my report (I believed him) and my teacher gave me an "F" for lying.

Drew

 

I would actually love to join the Air Force, but I don't think I am physically fit enough to get through boot camp

 

No, but I was "support personnel" (wife) to someone in the Navy... does that count?

 

I was in the Air Force for 4 years, go out in 1980.
My job was Automatic Flight Control Specialist (auto-pilot)
and Compass systems. My duty station was Little Rock AFB
with a lot of tdy's to England (Mildenhall RAF).

 

I was an Airborne Fire Control Specialist, USAF. I worked on the airborne missile guidance (radar) systems for the F102 and F101 fighters. I was stationed at Travis AFB (Fairfield, CA) and Naha AFB (Naha, Okinawa) during the Viet Nam war '62 - '66.

 

I was in the Navy and stationed on an aircraft carrier.

 

They wouldn't take me if I wanted to, which I don't.

 

My nephew is in the Air Force Academy. "Wasting" his time is the absolutely last thing I would say he is doing! His educational program is valued at more than $300,000 and he is not paying for it in money, he is working for it, but his education does not have to be funded by Mommy or Daddy or college loans for years and years after he gets out. Maybe I'm a little sensitive but your usage of the word "wasted" really gets stuck in my crawl!

I deeply respect all those who have served, will serve and have supported those who have served. I have not served but that is only because I had to get older before I realized the value of such a cause and now I'm a bit too old. My Dad was in the Navy during WWII and to this day he battles the nightmares. My brother was killed while serving in the Navy and I miss him and respect the cause he made for all of us.

 

I served in 'Another country's military'. Does that make me a mercenary?