Anyone here is/was in the military?

[Cybermat47]

I was just wondering if anyone here has military experience.

 

I myself am going to try to join the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) in February

[B12]

I was just wondering if anyone here has military experience.

 

I myself am going to try to join the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) in February

 

Have fun, stay safe.

[SeriousFox]

I was, for 2 years. it was mandatory though 

[Pupo]

good luck with your ventour.

 

i tried to join the portuguese Airforce a few years back, ended up quiting during the recruit. Today i dont regret it, the entire portuguese airforce is grounded.....

[Herbs107]

I spent 7 years in the RAAF, very rewarding, saw some wonderful things and did some awesome stuff...Good luck with your application

[Requiem]

I was in the AAFC for a couple of years myself and it encouraged me to join the RAAF, which I did for eight years and really enjoyed my time. If you like aircraft and the RAAF you should like what the AAFC has to offer. Just make sure you sign up for the camps over the school holidays, they have some good things to do instead of bumming around the house.

[Mastermariner]

Navy 15 months. We all had to back then. Id stay away from it if I where you.

So much useful for a young man to do with his life outside the military'

Master

[LukeFF]

 

 

So much useful for a young man to do with his life outside the military'

 

And there's much useful stuff for a young man to learn in the military as well. 

 

Cybermat, go for it. It'll be good for you.  

[Brano]

9 months (+7days in prison serving my sentence  ) in Slovak Armed Forces.Compulsory military service.

23rd Mechanized Brigade,2nd battalion,2nd company,2nd squad (easy to remember hehe).My specification was IFV gunner/loader.We used modified russian BMP1 degraded to APC by removing its original turret.I spent hundreds of hours on firing range with this 2 comrades - PKT 7.62mm and KPWT 14.5mm.From time to time I could get my hands also on some RPG7 and handgranades.That was really fun.I like blowing things up.

[DD_bongodriver]

I was in the Army cadets......hardcore shtuff.......got the 1000 yard stare and badges and stuff.

[MarcoRossolini]

My reading of history tells me that being in the military is a no gain proposition. 

[Wellness]

I was a squad-leader for 6 years at German Infantry. It is called Panzergrenadiere.

A squad consists of 9 soldiers riding on a SPZ Marder Schützenpanzer. In the left front sits the driver and in the turret the gunner and the platoon leader.

In the back are 5 soldiers and the squad leader. They can dismount from the tank with their weapons if the mission requires it.

I was on a mission for 6 months in the Kosovo conflict. It was an interesting experience.

 

But now where i´m enjoying aircombat sims so much, i should have joined the German Luftwaffe !

[DD_Arthur]

Important to remember that the idea of Cadet forces in both Australia and the UK is not primarily as a recruiting tool for the armed services but for the personal development of young people.

 

I was a member of the air cadets briefly but didn't enjoy it so joined the Scouts and got right into canoeing which was much better and ironically led me to spend five years in the Royal Marines when I was a very young man.  I got out of the marines nearly three decades ago and looking back now I can only say I agree with these sentiments;

 

Navy 15 months. We all had to back then. Id stay away from it if I where you.
So much useful for a young man to do with his life outside the military'
Master

 

 

My reading of history tells me that being in the military is a no gain proposition. 

 

There are much much better ways for a young man to make his way in the world than carrying a rifle.

[HagarTheHorrible]

Six years as a Sapper (Combat engineer). Enjoyed blowing stuff up and making loud bangs in general, but hated having to put it back together again, usually because it always seemed to be done when it was cold wet, dark and you'd been awake for what seemed like two weeks. I left when it started getting dangerous, taking government advice, by giving up bad habits and taking up a healthier life style. Lying down in a cold wet trench, at two in the morning, on a freezing January soon loses it's appeal.

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 1 year as conscript in Finnish Air Force, working on Mig-21bis. After that studied a bit and back to service. 17 years and counting. Main work F/A-18C and D + EOD and Armament. 14 years or so to retirement.

[9./JG27golani79]

Served for 9 months in the Austrian Army which was our basic military service - later I volunteered and served for 6 months as a peacekeeper under the UN at the golan heights.

Enjoyed my time in the army and at the golan heights as it was quite an experience.

[fdswer]

3 years light infantry, should have stayed in maybe and got a trade.

[-NW-ChiefRedCloud]

20 years in the USAF and retired ...... Father retired from the USAF after 30 years .... and our son has been in the US Army for 15 years and is now a Captain. Though I recognize that the Military is not everyone's cup of tea, it does a lot to help one grow.

 

Chief

[71st_AH_Hooves]

13 year TSgt. USAF. (Now California Air National Guard) best kept secret is what i always say about the USAF and the Guard.

[sallee]

Important to remember that the idea of Cadet forces in both Australia and the UK is not primarily as a recruiting tool for the armed services but for the personal development of young people.

 

That must be nonsense..I mean., just look at me.

 

Actually I was in the RAF section of the CCF at school. Got lots of free flying and shooting which was ace at age 16 onwards. I wanted to join the RAF, but my eyes let me down.  If only I had listened to father...."if you keep doing that...yatter yatter".

[DD_bongodriver]

 

 

If only I had listened to father...."if you keep doing that...yatter yatter".

 

irony being RAF pilots are all massive W**kers.......:D

[sallee]

They must have been saving up for after they got in.

Perhaps I was over-qualified?

[DD_Arthur]

That must be nonsense..I mean., just look at me.

 

Actually I was in the RAF section of the CCF at school. 

 

CCF at school?  Blimey!  Was it like this Sallee?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmoHv8Mf_-o

 

'Ere, Cybermat; you want to watch this.  It's a great film!

[sallee]

CCF at school?  Blimey!  Was it like this Sallee?

 

 

 

'Ere, Cybermat; you want to watch this.  It's a great film!

,

Something like that, except we weren't in our thirties and Arthur Lowe wasn't there unfortunately!

Weirdly, they did make us watch, "If". I still can't fathom why. But they also made us watch "Walkabout" so that made up for it and brings us full circle to the cause of my myopia.

[DD_bongodriver]

Why oh why oh why!!!  is it that in every single movie with the British military represented they always wear the beret like a chefs hat?.....winds me up for some reason.

[sallee]

Catering corps?

[DD_bongodriver]

 

 

But they also made us watch "Walkabout" so that made up for it and brings us full circle to the cause of my myopia

 

Oh yes....Jenny Aguter.....

[sallee]

Mmmmm....

[GOAT-ACEOFACES]

RA 4 years

CA AR 4 years

CA ANG 4 years

[EvilFD]

US Army Infantry. 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Italy, 3rd BDE 3rd ID out of Ft. Benning, GA, and another Infantry unit also at Ft. Benning, GA i'd prefer not to name. Spent 12 years total. Deployed to Iraq twice and Afghanistan 4 times. Best days of my life. Sure some were better than others, some were really horrible, but ultimately it made me who I am (not to mention paid for my higher education).

 

Go for it. I always wished the US made service mandatory. When I got out of the Army I made up exactly 0.49% of the American population (percentage that had served). It'll give you a whole new perspective on life, your country, other countries, etc. A couple years isn't too much for ones country to ask of someone. If you don't like it, then move on with your life. If you do, its a great career. But at least you can say you stood up and gave something back.

[unreasonable]

Short service commission in British Army (3 years) after university, mostly as infantry platoon commander back in the cold war days. Lessons learned in planning and leading under pressure actually came in useful later in management.

 

If it is guns and action you are after, you will probably get more by joining a street gang.

[Brano]

If it is guns and action you are after, you will probably get more by joining a street gang.

 

[79_vRAF_Friendly_flyer]

1 year mandatory service in Norway. Infantry, made it to squad leader.

 

I spent a lot of time living rough in the field, though I really knew most of the field-craft from my boy scout days. Got to shoot a bit which was fun, but if it's gunsmoke, the military feel and comradery you're after after, join a reenactment group in stead.

[SOLIDKREATE]

15 years in the United States Navy. I was an Air Traffic Controller.

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 Request to fly by tower

[pilotpierre]

Royal Australian Navy Jan 63 - Jan 83 (Warrant Officer). 

 

Visited Viet Nam 66,67,70,71 and 72.

 

Loved every minute of it and would do it all again.

[VRPilot]

10 years ago, German Army, Tank Gunner. Never had so much fun in such a "short" time again. I loved that cannon... 

[saf]

From 1979 - 1984 Denmark Infantry, the best job I ever had - and now I'm studying to become a nurse

[duko]

I was a squad-leader for 6 years at German Infantry. It is called Panzergrenadiere.

A squad consists of 9 soldiers riding on a SPZ Marder Schützenpanzer. In the left front sits the driver and in the turret the gunner and the platoon leader.

In the back are 5 soldiers and the squad leader. They can dismount from the tank with their weapons if the mission requires it.

I was on a mission for 6 months in the Kosovo conflict. It was an interesting experience.

 

But now where i´m enjoying aircombat sims so much, i should have joined the German Luftwaffe !

 

How big is the military force now in Germany? It will be nice if my country wil buy some leopards form Germany 

[HagarTheHorrible]

From 1979 - 1984 Denmark Infantry, the best job I ever had - and now I'm studying to become a nurse

One of my most embarrassing moments. On excersize, in Denmark, having taken a very satisfying, if incredibaly smelly dump, I opened the door of the toilet, releasing the oder within, to find myself confronted by several, very attractive, Danish female soldiers all queuing to use the toilet. Needless to say I made myself scarce rather quickly. Unisex toilets, very un-British and not to be recommended.