Who is a veteran?

[Stonewall]

Just thought I'd throw this one out there on Veteran's Day.  Figured we could see who our veterans are and see when, where and how they served.  Obviously, we all serve our community, state and nation by being in CAP, but for this occasion, who served or is still serving in our beloved armed forces.

If you were/are a reservist or guardsmen, just mark your branch.  Some people like me have served in 2 branches, so I've allowed for multiple votes.

Me: 

Active duty Army 1991 to 1995
Army National guard 1995 to 2001 (activated and deployed to Bosnia for 9 months in '97)
Air National Guard 2003 to present

A well earned "thank you" to all those who have served and are serving today.  Hooah!

[AlphaSigOU]

Active duty A1C USAF 1985-1986. 52d Services Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany. Served in the 'gap' between Vietnam service and Gulf War I, so no National Defense Service (aka 'firewatch') medal for me or other Cold War vets. But that's another sore subject...

[desert rat]

I served 8 years US Air Force and 2 years US ARMY.   I am a dissabled vet.

[Flying Pig]

Served 4 years USMC active and 4 years Army Reserve.

[wingnut]

Served

3 years as a CAP Cadet, Cadelt 1st LT. 1970-73 (made me a patriot)

4 Years USAF 1972-1977  Combat Field Medic, Environmental Engineering and NBC warfare specialist. Specilized in Missile Launch Operations at VAFB 73-75, GUAM 75-77 served as Observor on SAR in C130s of 54th Weather Squadron (Hurricane Hunters), Environmental Health Specialist, 6months special assignment to looking for remains of US Soldiers killed on Guam, Saipan, & Tinian (Found lots of Japanese Soldiers in caves)

3 Years US Army Reserve. Field Medic, Biomedical Equipment Specialist. Combat trained to let a T60 tank roll over my foxhole and shoot it in the butt with a laws rocket (FUBAR)

40% disabled Veteran (too many hours wearing a scott air pack and falling off ladders), TBI-(NCOIC kept hitting in the head) PTSD (too many dead people in my dreams)
Biggest night mare ( a North Korean Nuke going of in Long Beach Harbor)

Will always wish to my dying day I had Joined the US Marine Corps and stayed in for 40 years.

GOAL: Push for Veterans STATUS for those 70+ CAP members who DIED in WW 2 including the two Civil Air Patrol SUB Chasers That President Roosevelt Awarded  the Wars U.S. Army's FIRST AIR MEDALS FOR ACTION IN COMBAT.

To all of you who have never served on Active duty or in the Reserve, I see you as a Veteran because you Proudly are a member of the Civil Air Patrol we are the United States Air Force AUXILIARY, Wear your UNIFORM WITH PRIDE TODAY.[/u]

[Dad2-4]

USAF Security Police, 1985-1989, USAF IRA 1990;
Tried to enlist in USN MA dog handler program but they stopped taking prior service before I could get a shipping date, 1990;
US Army winter of 1990-91, discharged due to knee injury.
Sometimes wish I had stayed in the AF...I'd be retired by now and starting a 2nd career.

[ColonelJack]

US Air Force, A1C, 1975-76.

Jack

[Flying Pig]

USAF Security Police, 1985-1989, USAF IRA 1990;
Tried to enlist in USN MA dog handler program but they stopped taking prior service before I could get a shipping date, 1990;
US Army winter of 1990-91, discharged due to knee injury.
Sometimes wish I had stayed in the AF...I'd be retired by now and starting a 2nd career.

  Wow!  If we only knew then what we know now!

[Fifinella]

USAF 1989-1998

[Cecil DP]

Active Duty USMC 2/68-3/77 Vietnam 70-71, Operation Frequent Wind 1975
USMC Reserve 1977-1978
Army Reserve 1978-Present mobilized for Operations Joint Endeaver, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom served in Djibouti 2003, Iraq 2006
Other overseas service, Phillipines 1971-72, Guam 1971, Okinowa 1974-75, Gitmo Bay 1969
Awards: Purple Heart-3, MSM-2, DMSM, JSCM, ACM, AAM-2, CAR-2  

[JCJ]

USNR 1977-1983

Hospital Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force)

[PHall]

A1C - California Air National Guard,  Apr 74 - Feb 75, 163rd CAMS, Instrument/Autopilot Specialist

SSgt - U.S. Air Force, Feb 75 - Sep 80, 22nd AMS Instrument/Autopliot Specialist, 22nd AREFS Boom Operator KC-135A

SP5 - California Army National Guard, Sep 80 to Apr 83, HHB 2/144FA (155MM) SP, Field Medic

TSgt - U.S. Air Force, Apr 83 - Jul 90, 2nd ACCS Boom Operator EC-135C "Looking Glass", KC-135E, 9th AREFS, Boom Operator KC-10A

MSgt U.S. Air Force Reserve, Jul 90 - Aug 05, 729th MAS, Flight Engineer C-141B/C

[Short Field]

medical discharge USMC - 1971
enlisted USAF - 1972
commissioned USAF - 1975
retired USAF - 2000

2 ACCS Looking Glass battlestaff - 1983-1985 (just for PHall)

[Ranger75]

1974-1976 - U.S. Army, Sergeant, 11B20V
1976-2005 - U.S. Army, Colonel, Infantry

[Tim Medeiros]

Not one presently, however, I do plan to serve in the USAF once I get my BS in Meteorology.

I also have 2 friends in CAP that are currently in training, one at USAF Academy, the other is at Lackland for basic.

To all those that have served and are currently serving, thank you.

[caplegalnc]

Army National Guard 1980-1989 Infantry
Army Reserve 1989-1996- Infantry
Army National Guard 1997- Military Police
Army Reserve 1997-present -Judge Advocate General Corps

[Cobra1597]

For the time being only "wanted to serve". I have a bad hip resulting from an injury when I was 16, and now a bad back from problems with the hip. I intend to get corrective surgery at some point when I have the money to do it, and if it works and I am not too old, I'll probably try to go USAF.

[flyguy06]

1974-1976 - U.S. Army, Sergeant, 11B20V
1976-2005 - U.S. Army, Colonel, Infantry

Where did you get commissioned?

[flyguy06]

I am an Infantry Officer in the Army National Guard. I was active duty enlisted in Hawaii in 1996-99.

[scmaul]

Served 1966-1970 USAF 97th AMS.

[Ranger75]

41st Company, OCS, USAIS, Ft Benning, GA, Class 1-76

[Stonewall]

Hey, just want to thank everyone for responding.  It is awesome to see what a variety of miiltary backgrounds flourish thoughout CAP.  Obviously, this is just a small portion of what's out there among our ranks, but it feels good to know what we have in our toolbox.

Again, this thread was not designed to separate vets from non-vets, it was just to see who was around.  There are tons of non-veterans among us who bring just as much experience from a very broad background.  It's an honor to serve with all of you.

Semper Vigilans!

[aveighter]

USMC, 0311, long ago and far away.

I have two sons currently serving as USAF officers, aveighters all,  (one prior enlisted USMC)  both with Afghan/Iraq service. 

A fathers fondest wish is for his sons to exceed him in every way.  I am very proud.

To all of you who continue to serve this great nation as a patriot wearing the uniform of the United States in whatever form, I say thank you.

[PHall]

medical discharge USMC - 1971
enlisted USAF - 1972
commissioned USAF - 1975
retired USAF - 2000

2 ACCS Looking Glass battlestaff - 1983-1985 (just for PHall)

Which section?  You weren't one of the Ops Clowns who never answered the intercom were you?

[Camas]

Air Force 1962-65 with service in Panama
Army 1967-69 with service in Vietnam
Army Commendation Medal
Vietnam Service Medal among others

[MSgtBillRet]

USAF 1974 - 1995 Retired as MSgt - therefore too many "war stories" to even start....
Thanks to all that served

A short pause for my friends that didn't come home.

We never forget!

[lordmonar]

Served 21 years and counting in the USAF.

Watched the wall come down, cooled my heel in Japan in the first Gulf War, got some gun time in Bosnia and Kosovo.  Directly prosecuted the Global War on Terrorism from Japan (and that is all I can say about that!) and I am currently fighting the war via the Predators at Nellis AFB!

I have two NDSM, 1 AFSM, 2 Nato Medal, GWOT and Korean Defense Service Meal and 1 Combat Readiness Medal.

[Redbird Leader]

Enlisted AF 1974 to 1982 (Security Police)
AFROTC 1982-1984
Commissioned 1984-1996 (Security Police)

Joined CAP as a Cadet 5 Dec 1968
Transitioned to Senior Jun 1974
Still trying to be a good Sqdn Commander (Commanded many sqdns, started 4)

[Short Field]

Which section?  You weren't one of the Ops Clowns who never answered the intercom were you?

If I remember right, the boom pod was under the head.  

Targeting - I did the nuclear weaponeering for the retargeting and contingencies.  Plus I keep everyone happy by getting the computer system up and running once we were airborne.   Since I sat where the General always had me in sight, I couldn't goof off and nap like the rest of the crew - and I sure couldn't let any intercom calls go unanswered.  What years were you there?

[PHall]

Which section?  You weren't one of the Ops Clowns who never answered the intercom were you?

If I remember right, the boom pod was under the head.  

Targeting - I did the nuclear weaponeering for the retargeting and contingencies.  Plus I keep everyone happy by getting the computer system up and running once we were airborne.   Since I sat where the General always had me in sight, I couldn't goof off and nap like the rest of the crew - and I sure couldn't let any intercom calls go unanswered.  What years were you there?

May 83 - May 87.  You missed all the fun when they started reconfiguring the aircraft.
Of course the reconfig did move the crew pooper back up front. So no more waiting for that bloody red light to go out!

[mikeylikey]

Here it is......enlisted (guard), went to College at the same time.  Did ROTC, Commissioned (at the end of 5 long beer years), minus 1 year for some invasion of Afghanistan.  Branch Detailed to the Field Artillery in the Army, Went back to my basic branch as Adjutant General (which I hated), switched again back to FA.  Took 2.3 years enjoying Iraq.  Worked some joint ops with the AF friends I made at Fort Sill a few years back.  Finished up 2 masters degrees on line.  Hoping to make Major early.  Currently moving through the Northeast from one Army ROTC unit to another, Working For Cadet Command.  Possibility of a MEPS Station Command billet opening up around an area in PA I really like.  If so, I may be taking it.

^Too Narrative? 

Also, I enjoy running, snowboarding, racquetball, was an all conference heavyweight wrester in College (lost some major weight since then!).  Was accepted to both the Military Academy at West Point (Dad was a grad), and the AF Academy (Mom was a grad).  Declined both.  Took the easy Way out an enlisted in the Guard for the money to attend a State school.  BEST choice of my life.  I have a cool clean feel when dealing with Officer-Enlisted matters because of it!

Back to WAR.  10th, 28th, I Corps.

LAST Assignment before now..... TRADOC.  FA Basic Training Battery Commander. 

I have also published in the Field Artillery Journal (RIP) and was an adjunct tour guide at the FA Museum at FT SILL.

[Larry Mangum]

Served 1976 to 19080 USAF, SRA

[Gunner C]

1975-1977 National Guard 19th Special Forces Group (Abn)
1977-1978 US Army 5th Special Forces Group (Abn)
1978-1979 US Army Defense Language Institute
1979-1982 US Army Classified Assignment
1982 US Army Defense Language Institute
1982-1983 US Army 5th Special Forces Group (Abn)
1983-1992 US Army 7th Special Forces Group (Abn)
1992-1995 US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School

Was honored to serve during the Iranian Revolution, counterterrorism in Europe (including Iranian Hostage Crisis), the Central American Campaign, Salvadorian War, Drug War in Bolivia, and Panama Invasion.

De Oppreso Liber

[Al Sayre]

USN 1982-1989
Aviation Electronics Technician AT1 (E6)

[KFreeman]

~S~

USAF FEAF, 315th Air Division, 314th Troop Carrier Group, 62nd Troop Carrier Sqnd. (C-119s), (5) Battle Stars Korean War, 1950-53

Regards,
Ken

[JohnKachenmeister]

1963-1966:  Cadet, CAP (up to C/MSgt)
1966-1968:  USNR (AR-HN)
1968-1970:  USN, Active (HN-HM3)  (RVN, 1969-1970)
1970-1972:  USMCR (HM3)
1972-1975:  (break for college)
1976-1980:  Ohio National Guard (SP4-2LT)
1980-1993:  Army Reserve (2LT-CPT)  (Panama, 1986; Honduras, 1987)
1995-2002:  CAP (Capt)
2002-2004:  Ohio State Guard (CPT-MAJ)
2004-Present:  CAP (MAJ)

[genejackson]

1971-1975 USAF   657th TAC Airborne, Clark AFB (and lots of SE Asia fun doing black ops stuff)
1975-1979 break for college
1979-2005 US Army (retired 0-6/COL)

Was heading to the Pentagon and my 1st star when wife got cancer and asked me to retire to help her thru surgery, etc.   Now all well and life is GOOD!

[SeattleSarge]

1974 CSC 3/161 Infantry Washington Army National Guard
1975 Active Duty - BCT Fort Ord, California
1975 AIT - Fort Sam Houston, TX
1975-1977 - 427th Med Co, Fort Rucker, AL
1977-1978 -  1/68 Armor, 8th ID, Baumholder, Germany
1978 - 91C Course Fort Sam Houston
1978 - 1981 Madigan Army Medical Center, Ward 1, and ER-EMS
1980 - NCO Academy Fort Sam Houston, TX
1981-1982 HHC 3/161 Infantry Washington Army National Guard

-SeattleSarge

[wingnut]

I am proud to serve with you all

I have to confess that during the First Gulf War I was assigned to an operation in  Israel, but the truth is my most terrifying night was when the Air Conditioning went out at the Hilton and they ran out of Gin.

[MSgt Van]

MSgt, USAF; 1977 - 1994
MSgt, CAP; 2006 - ?

1977 - 1980  86 CRS, Ramstein AB, Germany
1980 - 1982  48 CRS, Avionic Sensors Shop. RAF Lakenheath
1982 - 1985  431 TES, McClellan AFB, Ca.
1985 - 1988  48 CRS, Avionic Sensors Shop. RAF Lakenheath
1988 - 1992  Lowry AFB, Co., Technical Training Wing
1992 - 1993  51 Log Group, Osan AB, ROK
1993 - 1994  365 TTS, Sheppard AFB, Tx

[NIN]

1985-1986 ARMY IRR DEP (the gap between my September enlistment and my February BASD always throws off my @#$%& reserve time)
1986-1989 Active Duty Army 67U1F Medium Helicopter Flight Engineer, Cp Humphreys, ROK
1989-1995 MI ARNG "wrench bender on multiple aircraft" (UH-1s, AH-1s and OH-58s, normally, but CH-47s, UH-60s and AH-64s when they happened to be there.  Only school-trained on CH-47s and AH-1s, shake-and-baked for Apaches)

CAP member since 1981.

[dmac]

1981-1986 Cadet, Nebraska Wing, Attempted Spaatz exam once.
1982-1985 Supply Clerk, Co. B (Med) 67th SPT Bn, 67th Inf Bde Nebraska National Guard
1985-1987 Equipment records and parts specialist, 226th MEDSOM, Pirmasens, Germany
1988-1989 Assistant NCOIC, and NCOIC, Aviation Supply, Laguna Army Airfield, Yuma Proving Ground AZ
1989-1992 Supply Sergeant and Operations NCO, 261st Signal CO, Hanau, Germany
1992-1995 Drill Sergeant, D Co, 2/46th INF, 1st ATB Ft Knox, KY
1995-1998 Supply Sergeant, A Co, 94th ECB (H) Hohenfels GE
Apr 1996-Nov 1996 Deployment to Tuzla East(Camp Steel Castle) Tuzla, Bosnia Operation Joint Endeavor
Jul 1998-Dec 1998 Bn Supply SGT and HQ PLT PSG, HHC 2/101st AVN (Attack) 101st ABN DIV (AASLT)

Rejoined as a SM in Apr 1987, served in 2 overseas squadrons and been serving ever since including 3 times as a Squadron Commander

ARCOM-2, AAM-3, AGCM-4, NDSM, AFEM, AFSM, ASR, OSR-3, NCOPDR-3, NATOMDL, Driver's Badge, SUA, German Armed Forces Marksmanship Cord in Bronze

One addition I would like to make is a salute to my father, MAJ Woodrow R. (Ralph) McMillan, INF, USAR, RVN service 1970-1971, cancer took him in 2000 and I miss him so much and am so proud to call him dad and a role model!

Thanks to those who have served at any time and in any capacity, your service is important in any role!

Darrell R. McMillan, Lt Col, CAP
Inspector General, NEWG

[Ohioguard]

1973 - 1988 Active AF
1991 - 1993 Ohio Army NG
1992 - 2004 Ohio Air NG (200th Red Horse Squadron)

Member in CAP since 1968.



JEFFREY C WANDELL, Lt Col, CAP

[bosshawk]

A little late on this, since I was at the Wing Conf.

Army ROTC, Bucknell University, 1953-57.
Commissioned 2/Lt, Transportation Corps
Branch transferred to Military Intelligence-1964.
US Army Reserves, 1957-59
Active Duty, Army, 1959-68, with service in Germany, Korea and Viet Nam
US Army Reserves, 1968-1987
Masters Degree, the Johns Hopkins University.
Retired, Colonel, Military Intelligence.
Graduate, US Army Special Warfare School, US Army Transportation School, US Army Intelligence School.

Graduate US Army Command and General Staff College.
Graduate, US Air Force Air War College.

Probably have left some stuff out.

1968-1991-staff employee, Central Intelligence Agency,
Retired 1991 as a GS-15.

CAP service 1993-present.

[SarDragon]

Same here on the Wing Conf thing.

AT1, USN, 1969-1989

Served at:
Boot Camp (G'Lakes) and "A" School (Memphis) - 1969-1970
NAS Brunswick, ME - 1970-1973
Navy Air Support Unit, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan - 1973-1976
NAF Misawa, Japan - 1976-1977
NAS/NAEC Lakehurst, NJ - 1977-1980
USS Midway, Yokosuka, Japan - 1980-1983
AIMD Calibration School, NAS North Island, CA - 1983-1987
NAF Misawa, Japan - 1987-1989

Two IO cruises in Midway - Navy Expeditionary Medal x 2

My CAP service is documented elsewhere in CAP Talk.

[SarDragon]

Also late, but something I got in an email a while back. Vet's Day is one of
those holidays I get sentimental on.

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye.
 
Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity.
 
Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem.
 
You can't tell a vet just by looking.
 
What is a vet?
 
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
 
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
 
She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
 
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL.
 
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
 
He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.

He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.

So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
 
Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU".
 
Remember, November 11th is Veterans Day

* * * * *

"It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protestor to burn the flag."
 
often attributed to Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC

[Hoser]

US Coast Guard, 1974-78
HM2
Air Station Kodiak

[wingnut]

:angel:
Wow some of you guys served when they still carried WOODEN Rifles.

I think Bosshawk may have still had 03 Springfields around


If your ever at the VA Cemetery IN West Los Angeles, take the opportunity to walk among  the Brave men and woman there. I believe there are over 10,000 civil war veterans, men who Fought in the Indian Wars, Spanish American War and Many Soldiers who have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/losangeles.asp

[JohnKachenmeister]

:angel:
Wow some of you guys served when they still carried WOODEN Rifles.

I think Bosshawk may have still had 03 Springfields around


If your ever at the VA Cemetery IN West Los Angeles, take the opportunity to walk among  the Brave men and woman there. I believe there are over 10,000 civil war veterans, men who Fought in the Indian Wars, Spanish American War and Many Soldiers who have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/losangeles.asp

I can't speak for Bosshawk, but I was issued an M-1 Garand in Recruit Training.

I had an M-14 in Field Medical School.

That's the only "Woodstock" I ever experienced back in the 1960's!

[ColonelJack]

Kach...

We used M-14s in ROTC when I was in high school in the early 70s.  I can still do the manual of arms with it.  (Or I could if I could find one.)

Jack

[Fifinella]

Had an M-1 at the Academy for 4 years.  The barrel was lead-filled, allegedly to keep cadets from doing creative things like firing pencils from them.  I think some sadist just wanted to make them that much heavier for those long marches...

[Hoser]

Please don't infer that I in any way would detract from anyone's service. That would be unconscienable. I must say though, one thing about Veteran's Day that makes my blood boil is not that everyone is always talking about the vets who got shot at or liberated death camps, treated the wounded for hours on end or were POWs. Yes those brave men and women deserve recognition and honor and respect, they have more than earned it, and I hold them in highest regard. But what  does make it boil is the lack of mention of the men and women who go into the Bering Sea in a helicopter at night , mid winter in 50 knot winds and 30 ft seas. What about the men and women who brave the Columbia River Bar in a 47 ft vessel? What about the men and women who on a daily basis go into harm's way and never once hear an gunshot or face an IED, but instead face all that mother nature has to throw at them? Please don't forget us, The United States Coast Guard.

Semper Paratus

Hoser

[ColonelJack]

Please don't forget us, The United States Coast Guard.

Semper Paratus

Last night, I was the emcee at our annual "USO-Style" show to raise money for the upkeep of our town's veterans' memorial.  At the end of the show, our featured performers do a medley of service hymns and we ask all veterans to stand when they hear their service song.  (This year, the Air Force had the biggest number show up.)

But the loudest and longest cheer came about during the Coast Guard's song ... for the first time in our show's five-year history, a Coastie showed up and stood up.  He got the biggest cheer of all.

Thanks, to all Coasties out there.  You're one of us too.

Jack

P.S. -- if you visit my blog and look at the video clips, you'll see one of me actually singing at last year's USO show.  Sheesh, the things I do for art.

[SAR-EMT1]

CAP cadet 2000 to 2003
(transitioned to Senior to assist an overburdened Sq. Staff)
AFROTC 2003-2005
Honor Cadet, Rising Sophmore Internship, marked as a future Missileer.
(put on med hold one week from Field Training)
... Submitted waiver to AD USAF, ANG, AFR, ARNG... still waiting.
Joined USCG Aux 2006 to Augment in Health and Ops.

So far thats the closest Ive been, but Im still hopefull.
Current plan- finish bachelors and get SOS through CAP/AFIADL
Use them as extra ammunition on my waiver, attempt entry in to OCS.

Thanks to all, for your Service.
my maternal grandfather was the first person in the area and quite possibly the state of IL to enlist at the beginning of the Korean War.
Served the Navy as an Electricians Mate on a Destroyer. (personal Hero)

Personal note: was at Scott AFB, IL this weekend for CLC. WOW...
Never got a salute, only saw one person in uniform, who did compliment me on my uniform wear, the rest were civillians (what is the USAF coming to?)

[Hawk200]

Quick and dirty list:

10 years active Air Force, Telephone
3 1/2 years Army Guard (the first time), Radio
1 1/2 years Air Guard, was in school to be Weather, but Katrina interrupted
2 years Army Guard (currently), Blackhawk mechanic

Been interesting at times, and a headache on ocassion, but it's experience I wouldn't trade for anything.

[capchiro]

Question for the forum.  This is not a flame or an attempt to start WWIII.  Does anyone know what the requirements for veteran status are?  I think they are different than for prior service.  There are those that may have served that may not be veteran status if I am correct.  I believe that there are certain dates that apply and times on active duty.  Does anyone know the cite to the requirements for Vet status or where to look?  Thank you.   

[Al Sayre]

Depends on what you want the definition for.  I think for the purpose of VA benefits it is 180 days AD service + Honorable discharge or 1 Day active service with service connected disability ( i.e. got injured in boot camp...) You can contact your County Veterans Services Officer for more information.  Different Veterans Organizations have their own requirements, for example I am a member of the American Legion, but am not eligble for the VFW...

[davedove]

Depends on what you want the definition for.  I think for the purpose of VA benefits it is 180 days AD service + Honorable discharge or 1 Day active service with service connected disability ( i.e. got injured in boot camp...) You can contact your County Veterans Services Officer for more information.  Different Veterans Organizations have their own requirements, for example I am a member of the American Legion, but am not eligble for the VFW...

Very true, you would have to check the laws for different benefits.

AMVETS considers everyone who served honorably, active, reserve, or guard to, to be veterans.

[bosshawk]

Wingnut: thanks for your irreverent remarks.

I qualified in ROTC Summer Camp with the M-1.  In Basic Officers Course, I qualified with the M-2 Carbine and the 45.  I also qualified with the 3.5in Rocket Launcher and the 12 ga shotgun(fortunately never used either one).

I never had the opportunity to qualify with the M-14, although I took part in the acceptance tests for it.  I have never even held an M-16: the troops in VN when I was there were being issued them, but us REMFs didn't get them until after I left country.  I carried a 45 for my whole tour in VN.

Probably more info than you wanted.  Missed you in Ontario.

[Dragoon]

Active Army, 21 years and counting....

[ColonelJack]

Question for the forum.  This is not a flame or an attempt to start WWIII.  Does anyone know what the requirements for veteran status are?  I think they are different than for prior service.  There are those that may have served that may not be veteran status if I am correct.  I believe that there are certain dates that apply and times on active duty.  Does anyone know the cite to the requirements for Vet status or where to look?  Thank you.   

I read the VA definition and all the others, but to me, the definition of a veteran is simple:

You served in the armed forces of this country ... you're a veteran.

Jack

[Stonewall]

Question for the forum.  This is not a flame or an attempt to start WWIII.  Does anyone know what the requirements for veteran status are?  I think they are different than for prior service.  There are those that may have served that may not be veteran status if I am correct.  I believe that there are certain dates that apply and times on active duty.  Does anyone know the cite to the requirements for Vet status or where to look?  Thank you.   

From the USA Jobs (OPM) website for being labled as a "Veteran" for hiring practices...

Veterans' Employment Opportunity Act Eligible
You are eligible for this hiring category if you are a preference eligible or a veteran who separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions after substantially completing an initial 3-year term of active service.

Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA): You may be eligible for this appointing authority if you are

disabled veteran; or,

veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which you received an authorized campaign or expedition badge or medal; or,

veteran who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a United States military operation for which you were awarded an Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM); or,

veteran who have separated from active service within the last three years.

So, for instance, as I read it, if you are in the Reserves or National Guard, unless you are called up to serve in a campaign or called to active duty for which the Armed Forces Service medal is awarded, you aren't, by definition, a "Veteran".

My wife has only served in the Air National Guard.  When applying for a federal job, they did not award her "veterans preferance" status even though she has been in the guard for 4 years.  Basic training and tech school (or AIT) does not count as "being on active duty".

[Stonewall]

But what  does make it boil is the lack of mention of the men and women who go into the Bering Sea in a helicopter at night , mid winter in 50 knot winds and 30 ft seas. What about the men and women who brave the Columbia River Bar in a 47 ft vessel? What about the men and women who on a daily basis go into harm's way and never once hear an gunshot or face an IED, but instead face all that mother nature has to throw at them? Please don't forget us, The United States Coast Guard.

What about those folks?  While they may rarely be identified by job title or specific operation, no one thinks less of them nor do they specifically grant them lesser respect.  They are just as much veterans as the 5 year POW, the wrench turner, the PJ, the combat infantryman or the fighter pilot.  "Veteran" does not just mean "the person seen on CNN getting shot at", it encompasses all those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether it be on an Ice Breaker in the Bering Sea, in a nuclear submarine (out of site, out of mind) or at the forefront taking the battle to the enemy.

No one should get their panties in a bunch because they weren't mentioned by name. 

We have a USCG station down the street from my house and adjacent to the Navy base.  Those guys work their butts off and we often call them for support in LE situations where our boats need back-up or better gear than we have readily available.  Like all veterans, the veterans of the Coast Guard are equally respected.

[Short Field]

You will find Coasties scattered around the world on USN warships.  They provide a "Law Enforcement" role that the USN cannot do.  When a USN ship boards a "suspect" ship in the Persian Gulf, there is usually a coastie on the boarding team.

Ages ago you had to serve at least 180 days active duty to start getting any GI bill benefits.

[Stonewall]

These days they have VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seize) teams that do that stuff.  Not saying the Coasties don't do it anymore, just saying it's a big deal now in the Navy.  They have one of the schools here in Jacksonville, FL.

Oct 22 2005
By Journalist 3rd Class John Michael Cokos
The Naval Support Activity Norfolk Annex in Chesapeake, Va., was host to a pilot course now known as The Non-Compliant Boarding Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (NCB VBSS) course.

With the NCB VBSS course, Sailors train under a tougher, more in-depth training course to carry out maritime boarding missions.

"A lot has changed over the years," said Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMNAVSURFLANT) Global War on Terrorism Action Officer Lt. Cmdr. Ray Hartman. "The Navy has re-focused the VBSS course to meet those changes and make the Naval Surface Force more flexible and efficient."

VBSS teams are used to board suspicious vessels that may be trafficking drugs or harboring terrorists. In the past, a VBSS team member could expect to complete a basic two-week course on boarding and searching compliant vessels. If a vessel appeared to be non-compliant or hostile, the Navy used special operations forces for the job.

The revised basic course is eight weeks long and trains non-special operations Sailors how to gain control of a ship that becomes hostile after boarding.

"VBSS teams under the new program are not specifically designed to board vessels that are obviously hostile and opposed to a boarding," said Hartman. "But you can't always turn around and go back if a vessel's crew becomes hostile, so our Sailors will be ready to regain control when necessary."

One of the main focuses of the training is teaching Sailors how to safely board and search cargo vessels with proper climbing and rappelling methods.

The new course also incorporates a wide range of special operations maneuvering collected from all branches of the service. Sailors learn the basics of long gun control and small arms handling. Training also includes day and night defensive tactics, mission planning, shipboard team close quarters combat (CQC), and insertion and extraction techniques.

At one stage of training, Sailors board a three-story training vessel, known as the "Ship in a Box." Inside the square building is a Hollywood-style set of a foreign merchant vessel with the sights, sounds and even smells of a real vessel. Instructors can include pop-up targets and program a number of added problems and distractions during training to add realism.

In a final segment of training, Sailors actually board a vessel both at night and during the day to hone their skills.

The program is mentally and physically demanding and is not for everyone, one NCB VBSS instructor said. Physical preparation is necessary, and commands are urged to take under consideration the importance of physical fitness and discipline when choosing Sailors to attend the training.

"Sailors who have graduated the course are now deployed on ships throughout the fleet with VBSS teams," said Hartman. "We are in constant communication with those commands to monitor the effectiveness of the training and the need for revisions."

The course began in Chesapeake and is also offered at the Centers for Anti-Terrorism and Navy Security Forces in Mayport, Fla., Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and San Diego.

[JC004]

"Journalist 3rd Class"?  Civilian journalists should have those designations.   

[Short Field]

These days they have VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seize) teams that do that stuff. 

While the USN has the ability to board and search ships, the USCG member of the boarding team is a Law Enforcement Officer.   Coast Guard personnel are authorized by 14 USC 89 to enforce federal law on waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction and in international waters.  That makes boarding and seizing an Iranian ship carring counterband a civil law enforcement issue and not an act of war.

[floridacyclist]

2 yrs Army (44B), 4 yrs AF (811X0). Spent more time crawling around in the mud in the AF than I ever dreamed of in the Army.

Cop = 3 letter AF acronym for Infantry.

[JohnKachenmeister]

"Journalist 3rd Class"?  Civilian journalists should have those designations.   

You are scaring all the Marines I treated when I was a "Hospital Corpsman Third Class!"

[JC004]

"Journalist 3rd Class"?  Civilian journalists should have those designations.   

You are scaring all the Marines I treated when I was a "Hospital Corpsman Third Class!"

opps!   

[PORed]

I have been in the USCG for less than 4 years and recently made Operations Specialist 2nd class (E-5), soon to be switching to Intel Specialist 2nd Class. Places I have been stationed at USCG Headquarters in Washington D.C. and now Coast Guard Sector Northern New England in Portland, ME.

[sandman]

CA National Guard: 1984-1985
Regular Army:         1985-1994
Army Reserve:        1997-1999
USPHS:                   2000-2000
US Navy:                 2000-Present
(Returning to USPHS: Nov 2008 )
CAP:                        1992-Present

[Carl C]

Corpsman
USN (submarines) 71-79
USNR (FMF) 79-81

[Trung Si Ma]

:angel:
Wow some of you guys served when they still carried WOODEN Rifles.

I think Bosshawk may have still had 03 Springfields around

The foreign weapons course at Camp McCall had lots of wooden rifles, but we only carried them to the firing points and the cleaning tables.

When I was assigned to Korea in the late 80's, I carried an M-14 because no one else in the unit (including the armorer) knew how to tear it apart.  It was stored in the same wall locker as our G/VLLDs and I found it when I did my first inventory of the ones for my COLTs.  It had magazines (20+) but I had to de-link 7.62 MG ammo to get my basic and combat loads.  Had a friend at Bragg send me some '68 LC NM and had a blast with it.  Sure got some interesting looks from the ROKs when I got out of the HMMWV with it.

[Trung Si Ma]

All of the CAP NCOs.

[mikeylikey]

^ Nice!   

[Stonewall]

I think it's pretty interesting to learn how the number of Army and Air Force vets are neck and neck.  You'd think there would be a majority of Air Force vets in CAP. 

Also, the number of vets with a campaign medal goes to show that if you join the military, chances are you're gonna find yourself earning some hostile fire pay.

[stillamarine]

These days they have VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seize) teams that do that stuff. 

While the USN has the ability to board and search ships, the USCG member of the boarding team is a Law Enforcement Officer.   Coast Guard personnel are authorized by 14 USC 89 to enforce federal law on waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction and in international waters.  That makes boarding and seizing an Iranian ship carring counterband a civil law enforcement issue and not an act of war.

I'm sure within US waters USN ships have a CG member on them for VBSS, but when I served on a VBSS team on our ship in the Med I don't remember and Coasties on board.