I got to learn about the military right out of high school. I joined the Army National Guard with my twin brother so we could both attend college. I learned a lot about the military in that time and it wasn't all good or all bad but it was informative. I got in a lot of shape and realized now I understand when the Army says that we do more in the morning that most people do all day at work. What they were trying to say is that we start our day at 3:30 a.m. each morning as we run 5 miles in formation and then do exercises for an hour to the point that lifting my arm was a challenge. I learned how to respect weapons more and qualified in every weapon that the military has to offer. I also learned that the military doesn't believe in sharing valuable information with the civilian community. I experienced this during Desert Storm when we had the media believing we was in one location when we were really in another. After Desert Storm, I got out of the Army National Guard not because of the war but because I enjoy being clean and having only 4 uniforms to last for a month in the woods is not fun or humane.
I waited about 2 years and after a major lay off from work decided to go back in the military but this time chose the U.S. Navy. I figured if nothing else at least I wouldn't have to worry about woods. Being in the active military compared to the reserves or national guard is apple to oranges. I found out why car dealerships and other businesses love to practically give merchandise to the military personnel. It is not because they are being patriotic or anything. They give us anything we want because if we miss one payment, they don't worry about contacting us. They contact our command and tell them. Once the command is informed then we get a call to go to our captain's office and he explains that we can either pay our bills on time or we will have less money for bills. What he means by that is he will court martial us and we will get a drop in rank and pay.
The final branch I served was the Air National Guard. Out of all 3 branches this branch of service concentrates on keeping our minds working. When I went on a 2 day drill per month, the first day was used for working in my department. The 2nd day was for computer classes or re-qualifications on weapons.
I spent more time learning in the Air Force and Navy than I did in the Army National Guard. The Army National Guard was mostly set up to teach me about digging fox holes or preparing to fight the enemy with weapons or bare hands. All in all I would recommend all coming of age young men to have to serve at least 4 years in the military. I feel it's an obligation that we all owe our forefathers for fighting for our freedom.
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2 comments:
I found it interesting that you served in 3 different branches of the military, I don't think I know anyone else that has had that kind of experience. Did you ever consider the Marines?
My dad was a JAG in the army. He went to college on an ROTC scholarship around the Vietnam era. He told me that they pretty much gave him the choice of going to Vietnam, going to med school, or going to law school; he chose law. He had never considered that as a possible occupation, he had wanted to be a professor or a sports writer. Before he died he fulfilled both of those dreams; he taught through coaching and he was a part time sports writer for The Shreveport Times. He always talked fondly of his time in service, and occasionally mentioned that he wished that he would have stayed in.
No, I never thought about the Marines. I did consider joining the Coast Guard one time. I knew a JAG Officer in the Navy. In fact, I have a funny story. He had a light switch at the entrance to his office. I didn't know this light switch controlled all the electrical outlets in his office. One Friday, when I was leaving and he was typing up a document I said Goodbye and hit the light switch. Well I found out soon enough that I had just made him lose all the work he had been typing for the past 2 hours. I decided to stay late and help him retype all the information. Thanks for your comment.
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