Need a new poll option.

Was in the military - going back into the military.

I wanted very badly to serve, but my health kept me out. I was 15 and at Culver Military Academy when I was diagnosed with BiPolar Depression. I've been disabled 100% with it for 20 years now. My meds work OK, but I'm pretty much a homebody. Leaves lots of time for hobbies, anyway.

I wanted to be a Marine most of all, and probably would have wound up around aviation or tanks, 2 things that I really love.

That's tough. I was on medication for depression for a few years, but was never disabled from it so I could only imagine. Best of luck.

Thanks man. :) I have a good doc and a great therapist, but I'm not really getting better. I'm maintaining though, and I work hard at managing my moods and the anxiety. One day at a time.

This forum has been great for keeping my mind occupied. The more I think, the less the moods control me, and T2K and this Forum are great at being thought-provoking.

You sound much like me; I have a subset of bipolar disorder called schizoaffective disorder. (Sort of bipolar d/o with some schizophrenia thrown in for fun.) It waited until many years after I enlisted in the Army and thought I was going places to finally floor me, but looking back, it probably started out in my mid-teens. I have a lot of problems with some pretty dark depression, and antidepressants don't have antidepressant qualities on the schizoaffective; the best thing my docs can do is stabilize me at a depressed level. I'm pretty much a homebody as well; between medication and pain I can sleep a whole day away, without artificial help from more medication.

You've got that right!
We've had some very good "discussions" here over the years and most have definitely prompted a lot of thought. In my opinion a good, well thought out argument (not flame war) can be more productive than a years worth of back slapping and tiptoeing around everybody's feelings.

I feel for you Paul.

I found your website soon after I got into T2K a couple years ago, and your openness about your illness there was a big help in overcoming the shame I have about my illness.

My meds don't fix either the depression or the highs totally, but they do - Thank God - make the worst of the suicidal thoughts stay away.

- Dave

roger that. i remember in iraq carrying 40 lbs of armour, 60 lbs of ammo/grenades, 25 lbs of mission equipment(radio, Batteries, E-tool, etc), in addition to food and water for three days. my ruck alone weighed more than i did. oh then they also had me carry out everything we captured.
i was a veritable walking weapons cache.:D

Guess I'll add my bit here. I was U.S. Air Force from 1996 to 2000. My AFSC was Avionics for the F-15 bird, I mainly worked on the C and D models. Definitely a bird that's been aging along, but still a good bird nonetheless. Not as flashy as the fly by wire F-16 or the newer generation of aircraft like the F-22, but it's served pretty well in nearly every theatre of the world and it's got a pretty impressive kill ratio, so there. :p

I did most of my tour in Europe in Germany at Spangdahlem AFB, did a quick tour over in the sandbox at Prince Sultan AFB in Saudi Arabia, and finished my last leg at Langley AFB in Virginia. They've taken all the F-15's out of Langley (AFAIK) now, pretty much all F-22's.

Funny thing was, I joined the Air Force yet was morbidly afraid of heights. Good thing they stuck my arse behind a workstation bench I suppose. Plus, you can't beat working indoors in a very nicely lit, air-conditioned environment. :D

I served as a conscript a while before the millenium in the Finnish Rapid Deployment Forces (most of my basic training mates went to Kosovo after their conscript service) until my knee got busted in the service by a fellow serviceman, got transferred out for a bit over a year and ended up in the Guard Jäger Regiment, where I did the rest of my service.

I originally served as a FO in a Jäger (=Infantry) Coy and upon the re-entry evaluation I was called in front of the board, led by the then-brigadier general, who was in charge of the military district I lived in. He suggested arty for me, at which point I stated 'I've been trained as a Jäger and there's no way one can turn me in to an artillerist'. The senior lieutanant who was serving the board as a scribe looked like he'd be shitting bricks the very moment but the BG just laughed and I got assigned to the Guard, where I ended up serving overtime due to a clerical error.

After my service, I've been training other reservists in infantry weapons (from the pistols to anti-tank rockets) and even more in combat medicine, due to my civilian education in the field - the guys did laugh at me, when I had the medic patch on my sleeve and a sniper rifle on my back (then again, the Geneva Convention does not actually state, what kind of a weapon a medic is allowed to carry for self defence, I think). As a civvie, I've worked as a primary nurse, emergy medical technician (or rather, the Finnish equivalent), a paramedic, a surgical technician and a scrub nurse. I'm about to finish my Registered Nurse degree and work as a Recovery Room nurse at the local university hospital.

I'll just say, my current allotment in the reserves is with the territorial company, which means I get more active days in the service than the average reservists, though even my active days are pretty much effected by the budget cuts.

You know, one of the minor reasons I went Airborne was to conquer my fear of heights (which I still think is genetic -- my mother, my sister, my brother, and one of my cousins has the same phobia). And I was terrified right through Ground and Tower week -- and right until I got up to the C-130's door before my first jump -- but once I got out, I was fine. I guess that's taking aversion therapy to the max.

DOD Civilian
 

I was a Dept. of the Air Force employee--DOD civilians should have been an option.

In a poll to see who is/was military? No disrespect intended but I disagree.

It might however be useful as an indicator of knowledge.

I cant agree more that contractors have something to add to any conversation about how Modern Wars are waged and supported. However being a Contractor and being military are two very very different worlds.

A LOT of the contractors are former active duty military.

Not sure why I did not post to the thread any why here is my biref military career

Join as reserve infantry solider in 1994 with the Royal Regt of Canada (RRC) in Toronto Ontario, I completed basic and basic infantry training in Petawawa

In 1996 I transfer to Algonquin Regt in order to attend college and get bussiness admin diploma. Durring my time as reserve infantry solider I got qualifed as TOW Gunner, Machine Gunner and RTO, durring my time I called up active duty durring the 1997 Flood in Winnpeg MB and 1998 Ice Storm in Eastern Ontario

In 2000 I trasnfer (remuster) trades to Resource Management Support Clerk and attended CFSAL in Borden Ontario

2001 I transfered to Regular Force and was assigned to 22 Wing in North Bay which overseas the Canadian NORAD Region, durring this time assigned as armed guard (Wing Auxl Security Unit) durring the events of 9/11

2003 I was transfer to Petawawa to 2 Brigrade Headquarters and Signals Sqn and then to Combat Engineers, while in Petawawa I was deployed to Afghanstian in 2003-04 with the 3 RCR Battle Group and again in 2006-07 with 2 Svc BN where I was assigned to ISAF HQ/Camp Souter in Kabul

2010 - I assigned to Canadian Expeditionary Force Command where I currently work in J1 Personel Branch

Outside the Military I serve as Scoutmaster, and brother is Canadian Army who also posts on this broad

wearing my II VP shirt from A coy today around Hawaii.

Out now.
 

I am out of the Army now, having spent 20 years. Held five MOS 12F, 19K, 74D, 89D, and 91W.

Started as a 19k (M1 tank crew) and would mostlikey have been one for entire time, but clerks screwed up somthing. I was an Spc (E-4) about ready to pin on my 5 and they told me that I either had to take a reduction or find a new home as they put me in the wrong MTOE slot, so I went to be a 12F (heavy combat engineer) I was suppsed to be a CEV Gunner, about the time that I completed my training the Army decided to get rid of all CEV's so I got to be a regular combat engineer (no offense to any one who did that job and liked it). That job sucked big time, so I got out and joined the UT Guard, one of my high scool buddys was in it at the time and so I signed up to be a 91B (Combat medic, later changed to 91W Medic), I did that for a couple of years and then the Army told me to be a combat engineer again. As I was comeing up on my ETS I told my command I was getting out, when my commander asked why told him I hate being a combat engineer, so he offered me the position of being the unit 74D (NBC NCO) I did that for a couple of years. After my first deployment were we got to work with EOD I applied and was accepted as an 89D (EOD Tech), I did that for next eight years and then got out.

Air Force back in the mid 90's. Got out just before my field changed names, security police to security forces.

I currently serve in the United States Army and have been stationed at Fort Hood Texas for five years. Just got my 5 earlier in the year.

Muns
 

Hi! Some of you know me from other boards (aka Muns)
I Spent 26 years US Army (all active duty). Enlisted in 1980 as a airborne tanker. Spent 3 yrs in and then got out and went to college, then when the VEAP money ran out I re-enlisted in 1985 and stayed in until I retired as a 1SG in 2008. I have served on many types of US tanks and I am a Master Gunner on the M1 series from M1A1 through the M1A2SEP (fourth MG trained on the SEP). That just means I know a bit more than the usual tanker.
Oh yeah before most of you start, that is Distinguished Armor Technician to the rest of you (you grunts types that think like is the only way to go). Only us tread heads can call one another a Dumb A$$ Tanker. The CDAT 'moniker' is just a old term that tread heads use to identify those that were Jedis and those that were not. Use of that term just dates those that use that it.

So how was being an Airborne Tanker? We had one guy from my OSUT go to the 82nd. I loved being a tanker and still get to live a bit of it by listing to my brother tell stories about his platoon.

It was an experience to say the least. I had a hard ass Platoon Sergeant (who later became a CSM many years later) who would not let me go to Sat fun jumps, and wore my ass out the first three months I was there. I thought my only saving grace was that I could remember everything he and my tank commander taught me. Back then we were taught early on that we may not have the Sheridan as a Heavy drop could be called off for any reason. Also preventative maintenance was drilled into us as we were our only lifeline, if you track went down, you were basically useless to the TF commander. Things were also pretty crazy back then too. I did not know how good the unit was unit was until I returned to the Army later on.
Any particular questions?

I am a former Marine and proud of it. 9-91 to 5-98. Served in Somalia for a few months. A couple of months in Kuwait (post Desert Storm). Sometimes I miss it, then I remind myself of all the dirt and grime, deployments, early morning PT every day, bad chow, inspections, drill....

Enough that it stuck with me, but not enough that I've kept up my PT!

With that many years in a "rolling coffin" should we call you "Retread" or "Missing Link?" Thank god there are people crazy enough to do what you did for a living. In all seriousness, Thanks for your service. I guess I would be called your "poor cousin." Started my career as a 13 BRAVO (Artillery Crewman) on the M109 SP. Then I joined the 10th Mountain and switched to the Towed 198 Gun/Howitzer. Had myself a go at Air Assault School and Special Weapons training before making Ammo Team Chief (E5) during Restore Hope. Did 8 years in all. Then I got REALLY STUPID and decided to carry a gun for a living on the streets of my home town. They did tell me; "If you really want to be loved; become a fireman...."

Ancestor again - forgot I already voted. I'm currently serving as an AGR-occasional tour. Was MDAY for most of my career but sometime around 2009 I started spending more and more time on ADOS. Did my OCONUS tour, got back, hated the civilian world and threw my name in for resident CGSC, got it, quit my civilian job, and am now full time. Who knows what's going to happen after this - I'm starting to understand the politics of the NG and I'm not sure about life after this tour.

I only did about half my time in tanks the other half was as EOD. Now I am out and a Police Officer.

How many have gone on to Law enforcement?
 

Trained as Airborne Radio Operator.
Then to Arty OCS Fort Sill. Wanted Benning and Inf.
Then did my time as an FO with the Inf.
Then Training Officer in what was then called "quick kill" a point and shoot system with shoulder weapon, we used a m-14 stocked bb gun :rolleyes: and worked trainees down to alkaseltzer (sic) as targets.
Then law enforcement , Oakland PD then Western Colorado.
Patrol, SWAT, narcotic then strike force with CBI.
Shot and killed a perp on a SWAT call and PTSD took me out.
Hmmm lots more since but a whole 'nother track.

I have heard that term Training Officer a few time what is it? do you go to OCS?

I am old enough soldier to remember when there were chocolate chip cakes in some MREs.

Meanwhile in Australian ration packs we had Biscuits, Jam Filled, Pre-crushed.

but do you remember the small white spoons? or dehydrated pork patty?

Oh man, I remember them! :D
The jam was the only thing stopping them from instantly falling apart when you opened the packet :p

Ah back in the days when the Aussie ratpacks had tubes of sweetened condensed milk and tubes of jam in them, and that chunky breakfast cereal block... (actually I really liked them, 'specially when you lathered them in the condensed milk...memories...).
I've still got a few FREDs in a box somewhere.

Loved the cereal biscuits too. Could break your teeth on them if you weren't careful.
Worst thing was that god awful pineapple gel they replaced the tinned fruit with. Diabetes in a can.

Going from memory, weren't we supposed to soak the cereal block in a little water first to soften it?
I liked them as a biscuit and could never be arsed "preparing" them, although some of the other guys did dip 'em into their tea.

As for the pineapple gel, I don't think I encountered it. I left in 1994 and being in a regional ARes unit at the time, some of our newer ratpacks dated from the early- to mid-1980s. I don't recall ever seeing a ratpack dated after 1987 except for some of the freeze-dried ones we got via SAS whenever they used our depot for their car commander's and demo courses (we were right out in rural WA so they had plenty of space and very few spectators!)

It didn't last long. Was issued around 94-95 I think and I got it two, maybe three times before the backlash forced it's removal and the fruit reinstated. Larger tin than the fruit, but it was basically pineapple jam (jelly for you yanks). Only knew one person who liked it, even better than the chocolate if you can believe it!
And then there was the abomination known as ham and egg, steak and egg, anything with egg really. Even starving dogs would turn their noses up to that muck!

On another note, I'm seriously considering re-listing in the reserves and going for a commission.

Hey if you're still young enough for it, go for it! Can't hurt to give it a bash. :)