Joined the U. S. Army

[BlasterBob]

Exactly sixty two (62) years ago today, I enlisted in the U.S. Army. Signed up for three years. Excellent experience but wouldn't want another one like it. [39]

[Bailey Guns]

So you fought for the North?
[Coffee]

Your annual threads always put a smile on my face, BB. It'll be 38 years for me since I enlisted on July 3rd. I hope some day I can say the same thing.

[vossman]

Thanks for your service BB. I share your thoughts on my enlistment

[lex137]

Thank you for your service sir!

[trlcavscout]

I don't remember when I signed the papers (I was delayed entry due to college) but June 3rd of 2003 is when I shipped to FT Knox. I would do it again any day.

[brutal]

Thanks for your service Bob!

I wasn't even born then.

Enlisted US Army DEP the summer I graduated HS - 1979, Served Feb 1980 - Jan 1988. Did basic at Ft Jackson, 2x AIT at Ft Gordon, 3 years in Germany, 3 at Ft. Riley (did not enjoy that place).

[thedave1164]

35 years ago for me this August

Doesn't seem like it has been that long

[RoughRider07]

Thanks for your service BB! 38 years total Army/Guard service for me. Enlisted on 19 Oct 65 and did basic at Ft. Ord. My wife and I have reserved burial spaces there!


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[bobbyfairbanks]

June 16 2000 been 17 years for me. I miss being in service and would go back if only I wasn't broken.

[BlasterBob]

So you fought for the North?
[Coffee]

Your annual threads always put a smile on my face, BB. It'll be 38 years for me since I enlisted on July 3rd. I hope some day I can say the same thing.

Yes, well, as a matter of fact I did "fight" IN the North (at chilly old Fairbanks, AK)
[blaster]

[BlasterBob]

Thanks to everyone acknowledging and responding to my post.

[theGinsue]

The Army couldn't have appreciated you as much as I/we do here @ COAR.

To keep things in perspective, you joined the Army 10 years, 2 months & 5 days before the hell that is 'theGinsue' was born.

BTW Bob, you've got KP duty next week.

[CS1983]

I don't remember when I signed the papers (I was delayed entry due to college) but June 3rd of 2003 is when I shipped to FT Knox. I would do it again any day.

Which troop did you end up in? I was D 5-15 and graduated right as you were coming in.

[.455_Hunter]

Accepted my commission and took the oath on 07 May 1998. Can't believe it is soon to be 20 years ago. My buddies who are still on AD are finishing their battalion commands.

[Gman]

Thank you all for your service.

[BPTactical]

So Bob - do you remember when they issued the Sharps carbine?
Was Custer wrong?

[Joe_K]

Thanks for your service, and contribution to this site.

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[trlcavscout]

Which troop did you end up in? I was D 5-15 and graduated right as you were coming in.

C 5/15. Good times!

[Aloha_Shooter]

Which troop did you end up in? I was D 5-15 and graduated right as you were coming in.

... and here I was thinking most of you were F Troop ...

[ROFL1]

[CS1983]

... and here I was thinking most of you were F Troop ...

[ROFL1]

Nope, though it sometimes felt like it.

[BlasterBob]

So Bob - do you remember when they issued the Sharps carbine?
Was Custer wrong?

I was fortunate enough to be issued an M1 Garand. Others were issued slingshots and/or bows and arrows and perhaps a stone axe here and there. Custer wrong ?? We all thought that Custer should stay on post that particular day. [blaster]

[CS1983]

I was fortunate enough to be issued an M1 Garand. Others were issued slingshots and/or bows and arrows and perhaps a stone axe here and there. Custer wrong ?? We all thought that Custer should stay on post that particular day. [blaster]

Interesting note:

Custer ordered that sabers be left in camp for the attack on Little Bighorn camp. The theory he had was they'd do a fast, light attack and utilize carbines for standoff rather than getting in close.

They attacked without waiting for proper recon from their Scouts (Crow and Pawnee), and coordination between the elements of company size failed.

A buddy's mother did her Master's Thesis on the battle from the perspective of utilizing the Sioux side's reports of the battle, both in oral tradition and post-battle artwork detailing their actions. Since honor was a highly valued thing to Sioux warriors, she trusted the veracity of their reports. She wrote a book on it which I had the chance to read (now out of print). It was a fascinating read from the perspective of the Sioux.

The Indians closed to saber distances while themselves utilizing carbines for standoff in the attack's opening moments. The Indians made use of close quarter weapons.

In short, Custer majorly screwed up by ordering sabers left at camp, not waiting for proper intelligence from his Scouts, and failing to coordinate command and control elements between his companies.

If he'd allowed his Scouts time to conduct their recon and report back, properly disseminated that info and utilized it in a proper C&C fashion, it's highly possible they'd have massacred the camp. Instead, they got waxed.

[laportecharlie]

It will be 52 years this August for me.
Charlie

[Sucka]

Thanks for your service.

That makes you 80+? My mother was born in 1955, same year you joined!

[StagLefty]

54 years ago for me. Time flies !!!

[Zman]

Haven't thought about this in awhile ... 31 years ago was driving my old rust bucket to NAS Pensacola with a freshly minted green ID .... Smiling from ear to ear. Ahh to be that young again.

[Guylee]

Coming up on 2 years since I got out. Still don't miss it, but everyone says to give it time.

[Pistol Packing Preacher]

Coming up on 2 years since I got out. Still don't miss it, but everyone says to give it time.

The day after my 19th birthday I joined the USAF. 4 years in, 18 countries, and shot at in the Congo... I had enough. I got out Jan '69.
My buddies ( I use that word lightly ) all said... You will be back! You won't make it on the outside! You are 'liffer' material...
Those folks, since 1969, are still waiting for me to return!

[BigBear]

Tried to join to continue the family legacy... never could due to health issues from a car wreck my junior year of high school. I spent all summer after my senior year turning 18 going to all the recruiting centers for every branch in my area, lol. Was not to be.

Thank you all who HAVE served. You guys are amazing and true role models/hero's. Thank YOU for your service.

[Ronin13]

Congrats on making it this far Bob! Looking back sure is fun, but everyone I talk to say they wouldn't change anything. I would have chosen a different MOS and stayed in longer, if I could do it again.

Coming up on 2 years since I got out. Still don't miss it, but everyone says to give it time.
I'm coming up on 7 years since getting out, and 11 years since going in. I miss it, to a point. I more miss the people, I sure as hell don't miss many of the garrison duties (like staff duty, and BN upkeep). Oh and the ruck marches, those sucked.

[cstone]

1984 for Basic at Fort Knox and I never saw any gold reserves. I did not enjoy our regular trots up and down Baby Baines, but the worst thing I can remember from Knox was the uncanny way our senior Drill could find an M113 or two to run behind almost every morning. It was like he knew exactly where they would be and we would just roll in behind them to breath deeply from the high quality diesel exhaust as we shuffled along. I was so much happier going to Ft Rucker for AIT. Getting our runs started at 4AM to beat the black flag heat and hosting as many chiggers as our skin could hold.

Good times. [Beer]

[BlasterBob]

Congrats on making it this far Bob! Looking back sure is fun, but everyone I talk to say they wouldn't change anything. I would have chosen a different MOS and stayed in longer, if I could do it again.

I'm coming up on 7 years since getting out, and 11 years since going in. I miss it, to a point. I more miss the people, I sure as hell don't miss many of the garrison duties (like staff duty, and BN upkeep). Oh and the ruck marches, those sucked.

I was fortunate to get the MOS that I enlisted for - Small Arms Repair. [blaster]

[Ronin13]

I was fortunate to get the MOS that I enlisted for - Small Arms Repair. [blaster]

I got the MOS I enlisted for... then discovered what it really was all about, and should have joined as something else.

[BlasterBob]

I got the MOS I enlisted for... then discovered what it really was all about, and should have joined as something else.

When I enlisted, I received a letter of assurance that I would attend Small Arms Repair School immediately after Basic. Numerous people told me to make damn sure I hang on to that letter of assurance because many times that assurance could be overlooked and the recipient may find himself in Infantry. Small Arms Repair school was located at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD at that time. [blaster]

[CS1983]

I got the MOS I enlisted for... then discovered what it really was all about, and should have joined as something else.

What was your MOS?

My only fear with my MOS was being a baby tanker. When we graduated and they gave us our file, there was a big sheet in it that said, "This soldier is D3 qualified and requests assignment to a unit with Bradley Fighting Vehicles" or something to that effect. I ripped it out and threw it in the trash. Escaped after 6 years having only touched a Bradley in OSUT.

[Martinjmpr]

Enlisted on DEP 37 years ago this month, shipped in August.

Fort Benning, GA for 12 weeks of infantry OSUT in August - it's not quite hell, but you can see it from there. ;) (for anyone else who was there, Harmony Church, D-2-1.)

While I was there I remember reading something in the Atlanta paper. It said "Nobody GOES to Georgia. People come FROM Georgia, or they PASS THROUGH Georgia, or they get SENT to Georgia, but nobody goes TO Georgia." :D

[Ronin13]

What was your MOS?

My only fear with my MOS was being a baby tanker. When we graduated and they gave us our file, there was a big sheet in it that said, "This soldier is D3 qualified and requests assignment to a unit with Bradley Fighting Vehicles" or something to that effect. I ripped it out and threw it in the trash. Escaped after 6 years having only touched a Bradley in OSUT.
35F, formerly 96B- Intelligence Analyst. Obviously the recruiter- and the CPT at the recruiting post who did 8 years in intel- made it sound way cooler than it actually was. At the BN level it simply was creator of death by powerpoint... for the most part.

[Martinjmpr]

35F, formerly 96B- Intelligence Analyst. Obviously the recruiter- and the CPT at the recruiting post who did 8 years in intel- made it sound way cooler than it actually was. At the BN level it simply was creator of death by powerpoint... for the most part.

I joined as an 11b but actually spent most of my career as a 96b. Where were you stationed?


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[Ronin13]

I joined as an 11b but actually spent most of my career as a 96b. Where were you stationed?
Good old Ft. Drum. You?

[Martinjmpr]

Good old Ft. Drum. You?

Germany (1st AD), Lewis (201st MI BDE and 3/1 SFG), Korea (2nd ID) and Bragg (3/3 SFG.). In Germany and Korea I was fortunate to work in Division G2 so I got to do more of an intel job as opposed to ordering maps and processing security clearance forms.

Actually the worst job i had was in the 201st MI. I was the brigade S2 NCOIC as a cherry E-5 and spent most of my time ... ordering maps and processing security clearance forms .[emoji2]

Last job before I retired in 05 was as a 13f (but only MOS qualified as a 96b) in a FA Brigade in the WY ARNG. As a 96b I was "topped out" at E-6 but the SGM pulled some strings to get me put into the 13f slot so I could make E-7 before I retired.


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