[whirlwind]

i proudly did six years in the army and if i had it to do all over again i'd have never got out,war or no war. and if they ever get despirate enough to take an old soldier with a peg leg,heck yes id do it again in a heart beat!

[Otter]

I started in the United States Coast Guard, I'd go back in in a heart beat if I could, as a helicopter pilot. Without a college degree they won't touch me.
I went to an Army recruiter trying to get in for Desert Storm, Told him I was a helicopter pilot. He said, "You're too old pops." I said, "When you have a fighter pilot sitting in the bush waiting for extraction and a helicopter comes over head and drops a penatrator cable, and he snaps on and starts up. You think at that moment he gives a rat's !!!!! how old that helicopter pilot is? You think when he comes through the right door he's going to say 'Thanks Pops.' to me?"
I swore an oath to defend the United States and the constitution from all enemies foreign or domestic. I don't have to like our policies or be polically correct, but I'll still take orders from the Commander in Chief.

"Life is too important to be taken seriously."

[Stopper]

I wouldn't be able to keep up with the sorts I ran with when I was in. So I wouldn't go, if I couldn't hang, I wouldn't want to be there. I let myself go the way of the beer can - I'm just being realistic - don't get me wrong I would love to be back in but I wouldn't be able to keep up.

I'll stick to my deer stand and my cooler full of brewski's.

[Dennis]

You should Go.
You have to live with yourself Not going if you stay behind.
I enlisted and was disqualified at the last week of DEP because they had decided to requalify All the recruits in November and December of 83
they had to many comeing in
My hearing was barely passable so they sent me home.
to this day I wanted to go.
I would go today but i am Wayyy too old and haveing been broken in half and glued back together again several times... I think I would be more of a liability than an asset.
If you can Go,........GO
If you dont you will have to hear that little voice in the back of your head reminding you that you could have gone and did not. that someone else had to go in your place.
If you die over there Die Well! None of us ever really get much more than that.
dont worry the odds are in your favor. Stastically you are more likely to get killed in a getto in Washington DC than in Iraq.
Hey At least you will have a few stories to tell even if they are just about how boring it was.

[jerry]

I hate to sound like a broken record, preachy or anything. But the solution is crystal clear. If you want to help and have an employer that is good with it, Guard or reserves is the way to go. For someone 30ish you'd fit right in with the rest of the majority. DO your duty, hammer down, come back and resume a somewhat normal life untill the next time. Just check out the units very well. You want one that is active & involves everyone.

I have to admit I've seen some Air Guard units where the traditional guardsmen hand tools to the full timers and don't get to do the job.

There are some great opportunities out there to serve and still keep a civilian life of some sorts. I'm split 1/2 & 1/2 on my service from Guard vs Active. Both were good. I am not ashamed at all to be in the Guard today though.

[Johan Malan]

Geez guys haven't you learned NEVER volunteer for the army, police,church or school, ever.

[lefty o]

i'm gonna bite my tongue now!!!!

[1963duce100]

I was in Air force 95-99 Did the Boznia thing for two years. I would love to go back in. But now that I'm married and have three boys I'm selfish. I do not want to leave my family.
When Kosovo rolled around I was at Edwards AFB doing testing on F-16's. I had just three months left on my enlistment, BIg BIll put us on stop loss (liberials now refer to it as backdoor draf, dont get me started). I was the first one to sigh up and volintier to go back. The told me my seperation date was too soon for me to go. I said if I have to stay in, I might as well go back over there, or just let me get out. A few short months later I finally seperated.

Would I go back in yes.
With the situation in Iraq, YES

The Military, outside of my family it is the best thing that I have ever done.

[Rave]

Most folks join the service because they can't find a good job with any kind of security and choose the service for the benifits,inlistments always go up during hard times.
Lots of jobs available,but not many with benifits or security,most good jobs going overseas,mostly services jobs left,sign of the times I guess,us being sold out and all.:guitar: :guitar: :guitar: :guitar: :guitar: :nod:

[1963duce100]

I joined because my county had beed serving me I fealt that it was my turn st serve them in return,

[inuyasha]

yes, i would and am joining. i start ROTC in january.. also apparently got a friend interested and he gets a break from boot for xmas.. mandatory trip home from north carolina to south dakota. $360 ticket, paid by the soldier. sprised they dont have stock in airlines... end of the month means he gets my 8mm mauser and comes up for a week to visit and test out his shooting abilities now that hes been trained with other types of rifles... his first was testing my 8mm, now he gets to play with the army's toys *sigh of jealousy* :P

[Gunnie Ed]

I would have already joined if it weren't for the Insane doctors over at MEPS who hold whatever they can against you, even a mild case of gingivitis.

[Jay]

I'm an old fart. I'm a USMC veteran. I have very little tact.........

If an individual waits to serve this country until the US involvement around the world, suits him/her, then I wouldn''t want to serve with them. I was raised knowing that I had an obligation to serve this country, and I did. No country is always right or wrong, but right or wrong...... this is my country (somebody famous said that, but I can't remember who) . I served it, I vote, and I tell my elected officials what I think, and I excersise my responsibilities, as well as my freedoms. I also think quite frequently about the cost of those freedoms. The freedoms and rights we enjoy as a country are very expensive.

If you don't vote, don't whine about the outcome.

If you refuse to contribute to paying the price, then don't whine about the way others choose to contribute for you. (key word here is REFUSE)

I'd like to see more folks involved in sharing that cost. On the other hand, a very respectful salute to those who have served, and are serving in our armed forces.

Semper Fi

Jay

[RabidPitWeasle]

You'd have to trust your instincts, I wanted to be an army ranger but I fractured my knee in highschool and still had a limp when I went to the army recruiter. He thought I'd be a liability in my current state and jumping out of helicopters and planes wouldnt help much.
I wish I could have been able to serve my country, but I may be heading to Iraq to haul heavy equipment for the millitary.
What the !!!!, if your going to get rich why not die trying?

The Weasle

[AR-tim]

I am plagued with this same problem. I have thought about joining for a couple years now (with various degrees of seriousnous). I actually made a similar post the other day in the Veterans forum. Lately though, I have been thinking about joining the Army quite a lot. I have no house, wife, or kids... So why not? In my mind, the pros beat the cons. I am up in the air though on what I would want to do. I really have the bug to go infantry (maybe Airborne). Problem with that is thought it really doesn't transfer into the civilian world. But !!!!, I really could see doing it. Then again, maybe I would love Army life and stay in, maybe transfer MOS's. I pretty much need to work up the courage to just sign that paper and kiss everything (home, comforts, friends) goodbye! And get in better shape in the mean time.

Quick question. How old is too old to go infantry?

[Outriderdark]

They just raised enlistment age in the Army to 39. Some specific combat MOS's have age limits (Rangers is 29, I think)

[Thrawn]

If I knew I could make enough to pay on the house I would probably go right now. I guess at my young age adventure is a hard siren to ignore. The Army would'nt take me when I wanted in, but they now want me when finances beg diferently.

[pball942]

Most importantly do what you feel would benefit you. You decide what it is you want out of life. Many experiences are to be gained in military, which you can not get anywhere else. But it is not a life that should be taken lightly.

I do agree with Jay in the fact that if you refuse to contribute to paying the price, then doesn’t whine about the way others choose to contribute for you. But disagree with his refusal to serve with someone because of their politics. The point is if a person feels strongly enough about an issue, and willing to lay their life on the line then that is dedication. And I would serve with someone such as that. But Troy also made good reference to military life, and you have to be sure you are mentally strong. Especially when you have a 20 something NCO bossing around a 30 something privet. Just because they can.

I thought seriously of returning to serve my country, but will not as I currently feel that My wife and children are more important. But I do here you about lying in bed awake at night, wondering what to do what would it be like? I have many friends in Iraq, some have been wounded and some killed. And it makes me lie in bed awake at night, and cry. Am I doing the right thing? Have I let my buddies down? Have I failed my country? Yes it makes me think but then I look at my wife and realize that this is where my duty now lies.

Simper Fi

[Gunnie Ed]

I just did. HOOAH!

[Rave]

I served my country from 1962-1966,I joined,I wasn't drafted,and was proud of my service,I did my job to the best of my ability,even though I though the current war was a waste of our resources and made us look like fools to the rest of the world.
The question posed was "Would you join now?"
My answer is H**L NO!