Triumphrat

Kem770

I retired from the Air Force several years ago, but I often miss the structure and team work of the military. The military is one government organization that functions very well as long as politicians keep out of their business.

I was on Offutt, AFB, doing some I.T. work today and the desire to be back in the Air Force really hit me. I can’t get back in because I’m retired and I’m too old. Being too old for something doesn’t sound right to me, but it is true.

I congratulated a SSgt who found out today she made TSgt, and my head started kind of spinning. I thought about what a MSgt told be in 1978. He said, “Kem, you know you’re living the good old days, right?” I laughed, but he was right.

Do any of you other veterans miss the military? Tell your story.


Kem

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sjw

I miss the steady paychecks and the work with explosives. Aside from that, no. I don't have officers sitting in the AC telling me the IED littered road isn't that bad, I don't have a first sergeant chomping at the bit for some glorious death, I don't have supposed allies trying to kill me for money any more. All in all, I'm good.

Air Pirate

I miss the camaraderie.

I miss very little else....

Easy10pins

Yes I miss it. I retired after 22 years in the Navy and was assigned to the Green Side as well (Marines).

Aside from civil service positions like law enforcement, fire fighters and EMTs, I sincerely doubt I will find the level camaraderie I had while on active duty.

The Sailors and Marines I worked with along with their families were like a family in and of its own. You worked, played, deployed together. You were a part of the good times and bad times.

I live in a military city and see all of the services represented here. When I see the junior Sailors, I reminisce about my early days in the Navy.

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Silverado57

Well, the coolness of working on USAF fighter planes too... but that pretty much sums it up for me.

Many years ago, after I had been out of the USAF for a few years, I thought about going into the Air National Guard. A brief visit to the base on a Saturday morning reminded me why I got out after my 4 year hitch.

Thank you to all the veterans!

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Kevin
Luceo Non Uro
NJ USA

Irishguy

I served in both the U.S. Marine Corps in the late 70's and early 80's. A few years after my hitch was up I thought I missed it so I signed up for the U.S. Army Special Forces and served in a USANG SF Group for another few years. Both were rewarding experiences and there have been times where I missed the camaraderie of a bunch of guys being thrown together often in a bad situation, doing a dirty job in dangerous circumstances. It breeds a certian kind of humor and stoicism that you find in few other places. People that have never experienced it may not understand.

I haven't missed it in a long time now and I guess it's because I work for a large company where we have a lot of the same type of positives that the military has, but none of the negatives. Our company is huge with about 35,000 employees, and has a command structure that is pretty easy to follow. Our company, unlike the military though, is very people and safety oriented.

Our small design team is kind of set up like a platoon with the engineers as officers and the designers as NCO's only not as rigid as that. Our team specializes in very large industrial flue gas ductwork. We have a huge fleet of power plants that we have to maintain. We frequently have to go into the field and perform dangerous and dirty tasks which are often adventerous. When we are in the office we have a very relaxed, open and honest friendship with each other and we all cut up constantly. We all look out for each other and a wonderful lady who is our supervisor [and over several other teams also] looks after us, makes sure we have everything we need to get our jobs done, doesn't micromanage, and often flys high cover for us. [Heck... Writing this is making me want to go into work today.]

My job has a retirement plan, a pension, college tuition, perks and pays much better than the Military, so no... I don't miss the Military anymore. However, I still fondly remember my service and I am still very proud of my service.

Semper Fi
De Oppresso Liber

BrewDudeBob

I did 4 years in the Army, got out just before the 1st Gulf War. I hated it while I was in. But in the years since I have been out, I have developed a deep appreciation for the experience. I suppose at 19, I knew it all and could not tolerate being told what to do. The 45 year old Bob looks back and thinks he could do it all over again standing on his head.

Some of the friendships I made are still going strong today. Facebook has been a boon to re-kindling friendships too. I have been re-connecting to folks I only spent a short time with and lost touch. It is like we are able to pick right up where we left off 25 years ago.

Despite all my bucking the system, I was chosen to apply for Special Forces. Spent a week driving back and froth from Ft. Hunter Liggett to Fort Ord to go through their pre-screening process. Lots of tests. Physical, Mental, Drownproofing, Interviews with strangers wearing suits & ties, and so on. Monday morning there were about 75 candidates, and by Friday, there were about a dozen or so of us left. After all that, I was invited to a program where I where I would go through all the training back to back to back. Airborne; Air Assault; Medical Specialist school; Ranger Training; Medical Sergeant school; and finally Special Forces school. The program would have placed me first in line for each school. In other words, the day after I completed one, I would head to the next one and cut to the head of the line. I was all excited and set to go, then they dropped a bomb on me. They told me I had to extend my enlistment for three years before I could begin. Also, if for any reason I was to wash out of any of the training, I would be recycled back into an infantry unit.

So, with that caveat, and my pre-conceived notion that I was going to do 4 years and go to college, I declined the invitation.

Sometimes, I find myself wondering how my life would have turned out had I chosen to follow that path. I am fairly certain I would have made it through all the training hurdles, and I am certain I would have developed into a fine career soldier. But I also have to be thankful for the path I chose, because in college I met my beautiful bride who gave me two wonderful children.

So there you go. I sometimes miss it, and other times I am glad to be rid of it.

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echoraven

Did well on my ASVAB so I was courted by a whole poop load of recruiters. Was wavering between Navy and Air Force. The navy guy thought I would be great as a Nuclear tech on a sub, but being semi claustrophobic didn't think that was a good idea. With the Air Force guy I wanted a day job with weekends of, he said as an admin guy it would be a shoo-in.

It wasn't. My particular job had me working every holiday (that happens to single guys), nights weekends in a building with no windows. Military time became critical for me as it was usually the only way I could tell day from night (I still use it to this day). About a year in that job I get a new supervisor who REALLY didn't like me (honestly I wasn't the best airman) and would write me up for the littlest things and some stuff he would just make up while completely ignoring my coworker who would arrive drunk 3 hours late to relieve me.

I thought his hard on for me was due to me being hispanic (him white) and one of the base resources said that it could be because I was "too masculine"; weight trainer, motorcyclist with a MGB convertible. He slipped and violated security (in a Nuclear area) to "get" me and my military attorney used that to get me out of there.

My last year was my most rewarding. For a small while I managed a dorm, the youngest and lowest ranking on base. I did pretty well and loved it. Then I was moved to an actual admin position with normal weekday hours and weekends off. Aside from some sexual harassment (some girls like their latin boys), which to some extend I didn't mind, was great. Had I done only those 2 jobs I would have stayed my 20 years, but I never wanted to be that vulnerable.

He tried to dishonorably discharge me for not wearing a hat. At 46 I would have retired 2 years ago.

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BrewDudeBob

Echoraven,

I feel your pain. Mine was a Staff Sergeant, former Artillery (Gun Bunny) who re-upped to get his E-6 and go to computer school. Guy was a class A prick. When he first arrived, my NCOIC gave me the task of ramping him up to our mainframe operations and teaching him our procedures and basically teach him my job. No problem. I was happy to do it. That lasted about a week. He could not handle the fact that a subordinate knew more than he did, and he started pulling rank on me at every chance he got. I told my shift leader, an E-5 Sergeant, what was going on, and he arranged it so that he could take over training him. Made some excuse that it was better for him to learn a little from everyone.

Anyway, the friction did not end there. He made it his mission to fixate on me and belittle and demean me at every opportunity. One day, he finally got to me and I couldn't take it any more and wound up calling him an effin' arsehole right in front of our C.O.

Of course I got in trouble, and had to come in early and do "extra training" for two weeks in order to avoid formal punishment. But my C.O. later revealed to me that he was more upset with my new Sergeant than he was with me, as he saw that I was baited into my insubordinate retort, and he could tell that I was being unfairly targeted. I got put on a different shift after that.

That is one of the things that really sucks about the Army. Even though my C.O. liked me and had a good working relationship with me, some jack-wagon can show up and make my life hell for no reason, and there is seemingly nothing anyone can do about it.

edit: I am still good friends with the E-5 Sergeant who did his best to protect me from the effin' arsehole. He recently retired after 25 years.

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echoraven

Bob we need to share a beer sometime. You pick. I know squat about beer.

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...exposing Forchetto's real identity since 2011...