4 years in the Marine Corps, and it was tough for me. Went in at 17 and they shipped me to Japan. I was young and homesick. While the other services spent their freetime goofing off, we spent ours cleaning barracks and toilets for inspections. That got old fast.

Looking back, I'm proud though. And watching some of that video from Iraq/Afghanistan makes me miss it.

But...if I had to do it all over, I think I'd want to man the .50 cal on a Coast Guard patrol boat.

 

Svanni,

Unfortuneatly thats what you gusy do in Oki. That place is probly one of the if not the worst duty stationed to be at when your a troop! The games are rediculose there and the training sucks. Believe me thats not what the Marines is about, although everyone does have to put up with it, just not as much as the guys in Oki.

 

I agree with everything you say...but I've never been to Okinawa. I was on an Air Force base in Misawa (on Japan's east coast, about as far north as you can go on the mainland). There were only about 80 Marines on a base of 5000+. Therefore, the senior enlisted and officers rode us pretty hard since we had to "represent" the Corps. 2 years there was about 1.75 years too long.
Then shipped off to Yuma, AZ for 1.5 years. Yuma was the kind of place that...well...makes you miss Japan. But it had some good qualities too. For one, it was the air wing side of the Corps, so cleaning barracks and toilets were a thing of the past. And it was an easy drive to San Diego, LA, Las Vegas, or Phoenix.
I got out in 92, graduated from Arizona State University in 97, and never left the Phoenix area.
I'd still love to be on that Coast Guard .50 cal.

 

Well maybe you have something with that idea....or then again maybe not

 

hahah thats a funny pict

 

Go ahead and admit it...You really would like to play with that for a few minutes...wouldn't you?


Fire a broadside off that that and it will likely roll turtle on you so fast, you won't even get wet

 

yea but you turn that baby backwards and fire after the butt and your about to pickup an extra 30 HP

 

Yeah but it would be hell on your skier though

 

Hey Trapper, I just passed my 12yr mark (USAF) on Thursday. I was 21 when I joined and already married for a year at the time. The wife and I wanted to get away from our hometown (Buffalo, NY) and boy did we ever. After basic & tech school, we went to Kadena AB in Okinawa Japan...was there for 5yrs. Compared to what some of the other guys have said about Oki, we enjoyed ourselves there...lots of partying, memories, and pictures. I knew some Marines there and they hated it. After that we went to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK for 4yrs, which was NOT long enough. We can't wait to go back. Got to Ellsworth AFB just outside Rapid City, SD in early '05, had our son in November that year, and now have another on the way this August. With kids now it's a little more difficult being away from the rest of our family that still lives in NY, so I'm looking into possibly being a recruiter or trying to get a full time Guard or Reserve job closer to Buff. that way I can continue on to retirement and keep all my benefits.
Anyway, I'm in an aircraft mx career field (or AFSC - Air Force Specialty Code) but it's an inside office job. Like any job it's got it's good points and bad points...I really don't like paperwork and being inside most of the day, but I'm not out on the line trying to fix broke jets in all kinds of weather either...every day. I think that would put a dent into my passion for working on cars/trucks. It's a trade off. Now AFOSI...the FBI of the Air Force...you can't just come into that career field. You come in as something else, do that job for a length of time (don't know how long), then you can apply for OSI duty. It generally doesn't matter what job you did prior to applying, since they take people from all different AFSC's. If you want to be a cop (SP) I say go for that, but be prepared to deploy a lot.
Well this is a long post now, but feel free to PM me. I've got some spare time over here so I can probably answer any questions you have.

 

Where'd ya get the picture of Chrisreyn ??? I thought he had his military record sealed & expunged of all incriminating photos like that ??

Cheers,
PISTOL

 

Just remember the recruiters are salesmen.
My buddy wanted to be a fireman. His recruiter told him to join the a.f., become a fireman there and alls easy when ya get out.
He did all this. He got out. Now he works for me. When it comes to experience, he gats an extra 10 points on a civil service test. That's IT.

My wife is an RN in the operating room. There was a husband and wife couple who were in the military for something like 15 years. They were both Surgeons. They got out of the military thinking they could still be surgeons...NOPE, they had to go to a "real" college to become "real life" surgeons. That HAD to suck. I do believe she said they were allowed to be nurses from their experience though.

 

It doesn't matter what branch- just do it! You will never regret it and you will be all the better for it.
However, you know which one I would recommend....

 

Thanks for the info guys/gals. Im still in my dieting faze at the moment. Im just trying to get an idea of the best one For Me to join. I really want to do something along the lines of SWAT or US law Enforcement. I want a hangs on type of field. I want to get my Airborn Wings too. Can i go to other things in the Air Force if i join as a SF. Like in the Army as a 11B and then go to Ranger School? Just curious.
Thanks again.
Trapper

 

I do not think you can go wrong with any branch you choose. I know our recruiting guys are much more interested in military folks than non-military.
I am talking about the guys that I use to work with NNSA National Nuclear Safety Administration.
When they go to these recruiting fairs, they really take interest with the guys that come from SF, Rangers, Recon and the such.
Good luck and represent yourself and your future unit with pride.

Boris,
'80-'83 USMC Semper Fi

 

I have a good buddy who is a K-9 handler. If you go into Sf in the AF you could do that job after 2-3 years. If you want to go special forces in the AF Combat Controller, or Parareascue. After you get done with those schools and get into a squadron, those guys get what they want. But anyway good luck with your choose what ever it is.