View Full Version : Military service
Centurion Crastinus
10-27-2007, 00:01
I was just wondering who has any prior military service. If so, what nationality and what is your military occupational skill. As for me, I should commission in December as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. At the moment, I have an air contract.
Zaknafien
10-27-2007, 00:08
U.S. Army, CPT (O-3), 35F Tactical Intelligence Officer; 10th Mountain Division.
U.S. Army, SSg (E-6), 19D; 2nd Inf, 1st Cav, and 82nd AB, out since 90.
Long lost Caesar
10-27-2007, 13:23
paintball fanatic:beam: but on a more serious note, me and a friend have been thinking about joining the army sometime after we finish school. he wants to go right into it, i wanna get my uni work done, as im pretty sure it will be a sure shot to getting a higher-paid job. am i right?
Maksimus
10-27-2007, 13:27
I am not in US army, but yes, I am a reserve officer (captain) in Army of Serbia - special forces (I am 24 years old)
Zaknafien
10-27-2007, 13:47
i would definately say finish school before the army if you're determined to join. youll have a lot better head on your shoulders and be able to better deal with the plethora of retards and high school dropouts who join the military these days (America's best and brightest).
Maksimus
10-27-2007, 13:51
i would definately say finish school before the army if you're determined to join. youll have a lot better head on your shoulders and be able to better deal with the plethora of retards and high school dropouts who join the military these days (America's best and brightest).
Yes, that goes for all armies in the world, I personaly went to army when I was 18 - after high school (because we have all have to go - that is the law)and then - I mean now I am finishing my Master degree on strategic studies and ecomony - that made me a reserve officer actually.
be well my soldier-friends:yes:
Leão magno
10-27-2007, 14:50
Hope your country laws are the same as mine, here, as soon as you get your degree you will get the oportunity of engangin in oficers rank! This means a lot more of trainning , lot more of work but a lot more of influence to contribute with our army
I was a conscript sergeant in the Danish army.
(and @ the poster above: civilian educations should only have minimal bearing on the career options in the army)
Tellos Athenaios
10-27-2007, 15:11
Yeah but some armies require their officers to have had a lil' more education. So you can start as officer if you've done Uni or some such thing.
Yeah but some armies require their officers to have had a lil' more education. So you can start as officer if you've done Uni or some such thing.
Sounds silly to be honest. Here, officer training is an education in itself, and sort of counts like a short business education if you leave the military.
Zaknafien
10-27-2007, 15:37
silly? you'd want your officers to be just as uneducated as the average teenager that enlists?
silly? you'd want your officers to be just as uneducated as the average teenager that enlists?
No, they should just get the education that is relevant in the military. Being a trained archaeologist or whatever doesn't give any additional skills for being an officer.
Zaknafien
10-27-2007, 16:01
:inquisitive: uh.. you dont want them to have some common sense and life experience? should an 18 year old punk kid lead a bunch of other 18 year old punk kids? WTF dude.. thats a recipe for disaster.. (not that the idea of a 22 year old punk kid with a degree leading them is much better).
:inquisitive: uh.. you dont want them to have some common sense and life experience? should an 18 year old punk kid lead a bunch of other 18 year old punk kids? WTF dude.. thats a recipe for disaster.. (not that the idea of a 22 year old punk kid with a degree leading them is much better).
The 18-year old will still have to go through the military education which takes a few years, and I'm pretty sure a 22-year old with a military education is preferable over a 22-year old with some random bachelor's degree that has nothing to do with tactics or leadership.
Centurion Crastinus
10-27-2007, 16:24
In addition to school, I had to go to 12 weeks of Officer Candidates School in Quantico, VA. After I commission I have to go to The Basic School for six months. The Basic School is where you qualify with all Marine Corps weapons, learn how to call in artillary, and lead infantry units, regardless if you end up in a non combat type of unit. For the guys that get selected for infantry, they then go off to infantry school for a number of months before finally being assigned to an infantry platoon. I would say that qualifies these young officers to lead a rifle platoon.
Zaknafien
10-27-2007, 16:27
Nah.. most 2nd lieutenants don't know much obviously.. (I was one at some point too), and those who dont know they dont know anything are the worst.. they need to rely on their platoon sergeants for the first year or so.
Centurion Crastinus
10-27-2007, 16:28
Also, if someone gets commissioned through the reserve officer training corps, then they have four years of military classes that they must take in order to even be commissioned. Also, the officers that have gone to a military academy (West Point, Anapolis, or the Air Force Academy) will live in a military environement while going to school. The same goes for officers that have gone to one of the five military colleges in the U.S. like The Citadel, Texas A&M, VMI, Norwich, and Virginia Tech.
Centurion Crastinus
10-27-2007, 16:32
Zak, I do agree on your point. Any Lieutenant who doesn't take pointers from his platoon sergeant is doomed to failure. However the points that I am trying to get across is that a newly commissioned Lieutenant isn't completely oblivious to what is going on around him. I am just trying to say that the new lieutenant isn't randomly plucked from a graduated class of seniors at a random school, given some butter bars, and told to go lead a platoon on an attack at a fortified position.
Zak, I do agree on your point. Any Lieutenant who doesn't take pointers from his platoon sergeant is doomed to failure. However the points that I am trying to get across is that a newly commissioned Lieutenant isn't completely oblivious to what is going on around him. I am just trying to say that the new lieutenant isn't randomly plucked from a graduated class of seniors at a random school, given some butter bars, and told to go lead a platoon on an attack at a fortified position.
O rly? Ah nuts, I guess we shouldn't go to war with the US anyway then. I guess we'll just invade Sweden instead. :smash:
Anyway, it takes over a year just to become a sergeant here. Danish NCO's and officers all get a temporary promotion whenever they're serving internationally, probably to balance the difference in qualifications.
Zaknafien
10-27-2007, 16:38
hm, it takes about 3 years to become a sergeant in the US. 4 years minimum for staff sergeant.
hm, it takes about 3 years to become a sergeant in the US. 4 years minimum for staff sergeant.
It takes longer to become a sergeant than an officer? :inquisitive:
Zaknafien
10-27-2007, 16:48
no, because officers require a college degree. there are several routes of comissioning in the US military-- 4 year degreee/ROTC at college, Military Academy such as West Point or Annapolis, Officer Candidate School, which takes enlisted folks with degrees and turns them into officers.
no, because officers require a college degree. there are several routes of comissioning in the US military-- 4 year degreee/ROTC at college, Military Academy such as West Point or Annapolis, Officer Candidate School, which takes enlisted folks with degrees and turns them into officers.
Ahh. Well then some of those people get their higher education at a military academy instead of a regular university. That's pretty similar to the system we use.
At least, I know West Point doesn't require a college degree (but has extremely high standards otherwise).
Zaknafien
10-27-2007, 17:05
excuse me, I went to West Point, and it IS a college. It is one of the most respected universities in the US.
excuse me, I went to West Point, and it IS a college. It is one of the most respected universities in the US.
Yeah but you don't need to already have a college degree to be admitted.
Centurion Crastinus
10-27-2007, 17:12
I believe you have to have a congressional nomination and bad ass grades to get into an academy as well as being in good physical condition.
Wouldn't join the army for all the money in the world with all of the pointless wars the west is fighting these days... i'm not about to throw my life away for oil.
If my country was actually under threat though i'd be the first to sign on the dotted line.
russia almighty
10-27-2007, 18:12
I might do ROTC during college .
Zak any idea of what MOS would they throw you in if you where tackling chem or something for your degree ?
NeoSpartan
10-27-2007, 18:18
Yeah but you don't need to already have a college degree to be admitted.
ur not getting it...
West Point IS a university. You get in AFTER you finish High School (12th Grade 18y.o), you work on your Bachelor Degree AND your butter bar. The military academies are universities, they are not a special school you go into after u finish the university.
You can also transfer to West Point from another college BUT you will still have to do the 4 years.
NeoSpartan
10-27-2007, 18:27
Wouldn't join the army for all the money in the world with all of the pointless wars the west is fighting these days... i'm not about to throw my life away for oil.
If my country was actually under threat though i'd be the first to sign on the dotted line.
this is NOT a thread about politics, nor is it a thread about why u will/wont join the Service.
:smash:
this is NOT a thread about politics, nor is it a thread about why u will/wont join the Service.
:smash:
Alright then.
I'm not in the military. :yes:
Maksimus
10-27-2007, 19:50
No, they should just get the education that is relevant in the military. Being a trained archaeologist or whatever doesn't give any additional skills for being an officer.
I personaly moved to army after my highschool - when I was 18.. I spent one year there - 8 moths of drill and 4 months of service. But the point here is that I was in special forces - you know, like jumping out of the plane and fighting terorists - and after that I finished my university on Economics and Geopolitics (while all that time I had my 'calls' form the Army - for a regular trainings like once in two weeks for two days etc.) .. When I got my university degree, I went to military academy and finished 6 months education for a 'Reserve officer' - like in times of war and mass mobilisation.. and I got one rank of Lieutenant.. But now when I finish my Master Studies on Strategic Economy - I will, by automatic mechanism have rank of Captain - that means 'reserve Captain' - it is barely a title - The state will expect me to use it only in times of war or some natural disasters...
thank you for your time!
15 month conscript service in the German army.
For the officer topic: In Germany your military education includes a study at one of the two military universities when you enlist at least for 12 years as an officer. That means in return you need to have the Abitur (13 years school degree that allows you to study) to become an officer.
ur not getting it...
West Point IS a university. You get in AFTER you finish High School (12th Grade 18y.o), you work on your Bachelor Degree AND your butter bar. The military academies are universities, they are not a special school you go into after u finish the university.
You can also transfer to West Point from another college BUT you will still have to do the 4 years.
No, I am getting it: Like I wrote before, you do not need to have a college degree to enroll at West Point. You actually get one there, just like you say.
So you don't need a civilian education to become an officer by that route; and automatic promotion because you get a civilian education seems silly IMHO, since the army has practically no use for the skills you acquire with most civilian university educations, especially compared to an education from a place like West Point.
Zaknafien
10-27-2007, 20:31
They let you in "Special Forces" at age 18?
Leão magno
10-27-2007, 20:31
Some countries just benefits more then one way to people become oficers, ne through service, other through education... the initial education not being necesarily in military intitutions but being possible to be in one! After you enter, education specific to the military live is given no matter from which way you came. Believe it is like this in most countries (not all of then)
Maksimus
10-27-2007, 20:51
They let you in "Special Forces" at age 18?
Well, you went to West Point... You should know that Serbia is what it is.. Until just a few years ago - 90-95% of men in my country went to regular military service.. do, special forces are an elite realy.. it is very common for young men to go at some very hard drill (offcourse, you have to be 'interesting' for one spec.ops officer to join - that means you need some fighting skills and nice condition of mine and body ..man, I will never forget the last 10 days of drill there.. I have scars on my legs and hands still..)
But, you know, in countries like Russia - you have 14 year old boys that jump from an aireplane and then wait for a week in the stepes just to get their 'shot' of a target .. but those kids are homeless ..
Anyway, you should know the mentality of Slavic people.. during the I and II war.. there was hell here.
still, I don't think we should discuss these things here... hope you understand:shame:
but be well Zak, it seems that you are very well educated and creative!
Zaknafien
10-27-2007, 21:09
Ah, I understand. I thought you were from Finland or something.
keravnos
10-27-2007, 22:21
NCO, Sargeant, Greek Air Force, M.A.F. (Squadron of Guard and Defense). Anti-Aircraft gunner and trained in Anti-infiltration tactics. Spent 20 months guarding various airfields, and also leader of AA defense element, Rheinmetall as well as Artemis 30, cleared for high level maintenance. Also certified Anti-infiltration training. Highest point was commanding a small part of the AA defense of the airfield when my CO "died" in an excercise and a week in the mud for another drill.
Overall it would be a nice and quiet tour of duty, but then 9-11 happened.
And no, I haven't been to real combat, and have the utmost respect for those who have had. :smash:
No, they should just get the education that is relevant in the military. Being a trained archaeologist or whatever doesn't give any additional skills for being an officer.
actually, the opposite is very true.
Krusader
10-27-2007, 22:46
Conscripted into Norwegian Air Force and served for a year as Airman (Private).
Was first in 132nd Air Wing Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion during boot camp, but due to not that good physical condition I was transferred to a mountain base and served in Logistics there.
Was just recently drafted into Home Guard and was supposed to report for duty at some army base near the Russian border to get my G3 rifle and gear to store at home for the day someone actually goes mentally unstable and invades Norway...why you want shitty weather and mostly unfertile land for?
isn't Bergen, quite along way from the Russ border?
NCO, Sargeant, Greek Air Force, M.A.F. (Squadron of Guard and Defense). Anti-Aircraft gunner and trained in Anti-infiltration tactics. Spent 20 months guarding various airfields, and also leader of AA defense element, Rheinmetall as well as Artemis 30, cleared for high level maintenance. Also certified Anti-infiltration training. Highest point was commanding a small part of the AA defense of the airfield when my CO "died" in an excercise and a week in the mud for another drill.
Overall it would be a nice and quiet tour of duty, but then 9-11 happened.
And no, I haven't been to real combat, and have the utmost respect for those who have had. :smash:
Wow, I am impressed...I will be drafted in the Greek army when I finish my university studies. Couldn't enlist in the Airforce cause I wear glasses:furious3:
NeoSpartan
10-27-2007, 23:25
...automatic promotion because you get a civilian education seems silly IMHO, since the army has practically no use for the skills you acquire with most civilian university educations, especially compared to an education from a place like West Point.
U need to go through OCS (officer candidate school) to be go from College Grad to officer. Its basically the same as ROTC or the Academies, only shorter because you got all your degree classes done already.
But remember Sakkura, as Zak explained, most of the REAL Army learning will come from senior NCO's of the platoon.
when my CO "died" in an excercise
Indeed, I remember all those training accidents all too well. We referenced all our field problems by the type and number of training accidents that occurred, therein. For example, there was a field problem when a vulcan-track flipped off the bridge and landed upside down in the so-and-so river and the gunner was caught in the turret and suffocated in the mud?" Or...the time a track lost in the dark pulled into a cattle tank, the crew panicked except for the driver, swam for it, and all five drowned in 5 feet of water? And many, many, many others. After awhile you could tell whom may someday soon have a training accident.
Sometimes a field exercise could be as dangerous as combat. My troop typically lost one or two (dead), while the Squadron about five to ten people every time we went to the field for a week. Very often 10 to 20 sick, injured and/or crazy (insanity). But we often lost people from car wrecks or whatever all the time in garrison, too.
Krusader
10-28-2007, 00:04
isn't Bergen, quite along way from the Russ border?
It is. I'm originally from Kjøllefjord a town in the northernmost peninsula of Norway. My hometown is in the Home Guard District where the army base is located (GSV or Høybuktmoen).
Interesting, the type and place of service is based on hometown?
Krusader
10-28-2007, 00:17
Interesting, the type and place of service is based on hometown?
Home Guard yes. I'm still registered in the People's Registry as living in northern Norway, so why I'm supposed to report for duty there. Home Guard is basically there to defend vital infrastructure and conduct guerilla warfare. At least what the Norwegian High Command hopes Home Guard will do...:laugh4:
And those who didn't serve in any specialist unit formations during conscription are eventually transferred to Home Guard units.
Was just recently drafted into Home Guard and was supposed to report for duty at some army base near the Russian border to get my G3 rifle
Ah, now I know what they did with our old guns when the G36 was introduced: sold them to Norway. ;-)
guns or weapons? wich's fur shoot'n, wich's fer fun?
Swedish Coast Artillery Sergeant 1985. Anti-Aircraft.
YouTube example:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=RV2p2O-xJDw
actually, the opposite is very true.
:inquisitive:
All I can think of is the digging experience, but that's more of a benefit for privates than officers :clown:
pardon?
It's american military english and sort of a joke
guns are defined as large caliber arms or sometimes artillery, as handguns or rifles are small caliber or small arms. In US military not at all good to call a rifle, a gun. It's alittle difficult to explain the joke part? Any help please?
edit: The saying goes (in american military english, of which pigon english is actually different) ....'this is my weapon/rifle, this is my gun, this is for fighting/shooting, this is for fun'....
Privates repeated this over and over again, whilest a sargent may add from time-to-time ...'which is for shooting ....which is for fun?'
U need to go through OCS (officer candidate school) to be go from College Grad to officer. Its basically the same as ROTC or the Academies, only shorter because you got all your degree classes done already.
But remember Sakkura, as Zak explained, most of the REAL Army learning will come from senior NCO's of the platoon.
Just still beats me what benefit there is from at least some educations towards being an officer (and hence, why you can become an officer faster). :shrug:
Oh well, guess I'm not meant to understand everything.
And yeah, much of what you learn comes from the experienced people, irrespective of rank. Fresh conscript sergeants don't just boss around the grizzled veteran PFC's without listening to them, nor do the fresh second lieutenants ignore the experienced sergeants.
NeoSpartan
10-28-2007, 01:27
It's american military english and sort of a joke
guns are defined as large caliber arms or sometimes artillery, as handguns or rifles are small caliber or small arms. In US military not at all good to call a rifle, a gun. It's alittle difficult to explain the joke part? Any help please?
edit: The saying goes (in american military english, of which pigon english is actually different) ....'this is my weapon/rifle, this is my gun, this is for fighting/shooting, this is fun'....
and also
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTmKjUTBo9U
edit: The saying goes (in american military english, of which pigon english is actually different) ....'this is my weapon/rifle, this is my gun, this is for fighting/shooting, this is fun'....
Three words: Full Metal Jacket. :2thumbsup:
Edit: Heh, NeoSpartan beat me to it.
edit: The saying goes (in american military english, of which pigon english is actually different) ....'this is my weapon/rifle, this is my gun, this is for fighting/shooting, this is for fun'....
OK, now I got it.
Zaknafien
10-28-2007, 01:37
well, theres no such thing as a "fresh conscript sergeant".
well, theres no such thing as a "fresh conscript sergeant".
There is here; a conscript sergeant right at graduation. The US don't have conscription anyway, at least AFAIK.
NeoSpartan
10-28-2007, 01:48
Just still beats me what benefit there is from at least some educations towards being an officer (and hence, why you can become an officer faster). :shrug:
Oh well, guess I'm not meant to understand everything.
And yeah, much of what you learn comes from the experienced people, irrespective of rank. Fresh conscript sergeants don't just boss around the grizzled veteran PFC's without listening to them, nor do the fresh second lieutenants ignore the experienced sergeants.
Others can explain u better why Officers "have Bachelors & Masters", but remember officers have to deal with paperwork, local & religious leaders, coordinate work (opperations) with local civilians (military), etc....
since we are in the topic of officers and stuff, I think the fallas in the military will get a chuckle out of this one:
https://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/Neospartan/58-when-to-worry-1.jpg
NeoSpartan
10-28-2007, 01:57
Sakkura, remember NCO's are "promoted" expirienced ENLISTED soldiers.
PFC is entry level enlisted, 2nd lieutenant is entry level officer (Captain if you go to Law or Medical school).
pezhetairoi
10-28-2007, 02:01
I'm a conscript signals corporal in the Singapore army. Lowest ranked fellow here, bah. I was to have gone through officer cadet school and been commissioned, but apparently I failed some sort of psychological test of leadership. I even had a contract with the Air Force unmanned vehicles section that would have seen me through university and to a captain rank at least, too. But it was conditional on my getting into officer cadet school and I didn't, so that was that. Signals is fun, though.
Sakkura, remember NCO's are "promoted" expirienced ENLISTED soldiers.
PFC is entry level enlisted, 2nd lieutenant is entry level officer (Captain if you go to Law or Medical school).
I guess it's just the Danish system that is a little strange then. Most sergeants here either joined up specifically to become sergeants, which initially takes you through a shortened recruit period as a private, and then on to sergeant school, or were conscripts who were selected after a couple of months of the regular conscription period for privates and sent to sergeant school. Experienced privates can apply for sergeant training too, but it's comparatively rare.
Same for becoming officer basically; first a shortened recruit period, then a shortened sergeant school and then on to the military academy. Or alternatively, someone who is already sergeant can apply for a spot in the academy.
:inquisitive:
All I can think of is the digging experience, but that's more of a benefit for privates than officers :clown:
Let me brake it down for you. Overall as a discipline, archaeology is very regimented. Don't let the hippie vernier distract. Herein, as you wish, I'll address only the field work aspect, which may or may not include both surface survey and subsurface excavation. In the US, for the most part, archaeologist are actually expected to work, as well as record information. Thus, for most of these grad or post-grads, this wake-up is indeed their Great-Struggle. Yes, to live by ones own work. Of course this means they come to discover how little work they can do til they find a soft-administrative/government job, where little doubt they live out the remainder of a meaningless life.
However, in order to lead or participate in a professional field project one must be; literate, dexterous, fit, organized, disciplined, self aware, intuitive, of good hand-eye coordination, familiar with basic fieldcraft, and able to get lazy people to do work they neither understand or care about (with good cheer). Or one can always be one of the lazy people, no?
sounds alot like soldiering to me?
pezhetairoi
10-28-2007, 02:24
In Singapore you join up as a recruit, and after the first three months of boot camp you will be chosen either to go to stay as a 'man' or ordinary soldier, or to go to sergeant school or officer school. We all come from the same pool of recruits.
And we're all conscripts. Some signed on as sergeants or as officers before enlisting, some during boot camp, some during sergeant or officer school, or anytime after that when they are doing time in their respective units. But whatever their contract, they still have to go through the whole recruit thing. Of course, there are the very small minority on military scholarships, these go on the fast track and are automatically sent to officer school. But those number at most 20 a year.
I'm a conscript signals corporal in the Singapore army. Lowest ranked fellow here, bah. I was to have gone through officer cadet school and been commissioned, but apparently I failed some sort of psychological test of leadership. I even had a contract with the Air Force unmanned vehicles section that would have seen me through university and to a captain rank at least, too. But it was conditional on my getting into officer cadet school and I didn't, so that was that. Signals is fun, though.
We all do our part
Let me brake it down for you. Overall as a discipline, archaeology is very regimented. Herein, as you wish, I'll address only the field work aspect, which may or may not include both surface survey and subsurface excavation. In the US, for the most part, archaeologist are actually expected to work, as well as record information. Thus, for most of these grad or post-grads, this wake-up is indeed their Great-Struggle. Yes, to live by ones own work. Of course this means they come to discover how little work they can do til they find an soft-administrative/government job, where little doubt they live out the remainder of a meaningless life.
However, in order to lead or participate in a professional field project one must be; literate, dexterous, fit, organized, disciplined, self aware, intuitive, of good hand-eye coordination, familiar with basic fieldcraft, and able to get lazy people to do work they neither understand or care about (with good cheer). Or one can always be one of the lazy people, no?
sounds alot like soldiering to me?
But someone with a master's or bachelor's degree will have zero experience in leading anything except their own two hands, at least in most subjects (archaeology was a random example; I guess there are subjects that are more bookish). Being literate and organized should be covered by the admission criteria, the physical attributes would be better tested by the physical admission tests and the time spent as private and sergeant.
Krusader
10-28-2007, 02:45
Norway and I think Denmark too does not have a NCO system.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_military_ranks
In Norwegian military there is only one rank for sergeant, and that is sergeant.
Anyone who wishes to become an officer must start at Sergeant rank.
Norway and I think Denmark too does not have a NCO system.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_military_ranks
In Norwegian military there is only one rank for sergeant, and that is sergeant.
Anyone who wishes to become an officer must start at Sergeant rank.
Hmm, Denmark has several sergeant ranks. Everyone starts at private rank, although those who intend to move on to sergeant or officer quickly progress.
Otherwise, privates can advance in that set of ranks.
Sergeants can progress in their own hierarchy of ranks; or go on to become officers.
I just checked http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Danish_Army
And it appears the rank I had is now no longer in use :laugh4:
But someone with a master's or bachelor's degree will have zero experience in leading anything except their own two hands, at least in most subjects (archaeology was a random example; I guess there are subjects that are more bookish). Being literate and organized should be covered by the admission criteria, the physical attributes would be better tested by the physical admission tests and the time spent as private and sergeant.
All in the details? Remember this is all in good cheer? My point was that archaeology, as a discipline, would benefit from individuals that had more military service, not less. In this vain an officer would provide more the benefit, yes! Yet, one may call it leadership 101, critical thought, or common sense; the real problem is that these traits, for the most part, are not taught in most US schools, at any level. Of course, all present company excluded, right? Maybe, it's all part of the radical sheep-ifation of America? I, on the other hand, prefer to think, America is lulling the 'Homemade Social Engineers' into a false sense of security..
Additionally, these traits are viewed by many in US archaeology, and the greater education establishment overall, as associated with the military, and are thus consisted persona non gradus.
Now look.... my tea's cooled. Look at the time... I'm out of here
NightStar
10-28-2007, 03:40
Norwegian Royal Guard or HM Kongens Garde for you Norwegians.
Was going for Telemark bataljon and do some peacekeeping, then met my wife and she dragged me back home to Iceland, there went my military career. :shame:
sgsandor
10-28-2007, 03:56
U.S. Army Infantry. Fell 40 feet off a building. I would have liked to make E-5 but things happen beyond our control. 172nd Stryker
How do those babies perform?
How do those babies perform?
like babies
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1169053276
babies like to perform
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2AN7kBQOsw
russia almighty
10-28-2007, 06:32
You think EB could win the title of
Mod with the most team members in the military and the most players in it or considering it ?
Forward Observer NCO, Karelia Brigade. A 12 month reign, in which the highlight came in the last wargames, when I suckered an enemy squad of eight men (well okay, six men, two women (not proud of that)) to be shot by their own.
sgsandor
10-28-2007, 09:00
@ Sarcasm you mean the Strykers?
We have a Finnlander here? Or is that Karelialander? I remember the Kareliaers from somewhere? A fight aginst all odds...where numbers count for nothing? But maybe that was the Guards?
Tomorrow is my first day in the Swedish military. The Kings guard, in Stockholm. Apparently, they call us "Livdragoner", and we will have horses. :balloon2:
SGT. USMC. leather neck an proud. Been out since 1997. I would not trade my hard earned bad knees and back for anything.
pantsukki
10-28-2007, 12:13
I served for 12 months in the Armoured brigade, as a leader/loader of Leopard 2. Here's a short clip from our shooting exercise in Niinisalo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXioSAFMokY
keravnos
10-28-2007, 13:33
Wow, I am impressed...I will be drafted in the Greek army when I finish my university studies. Couldn't enlist in the Airforce cause I wear glasses:furious3:
@Vorian, if I may give you a piece of advice on drafted service as I got it the hard way,
Well, I had thought being drafted in the Airforce would mean a tour in Athens or in a nearby airbase. It wasn't to be. Not much in the military service is as good or bad as it is cracked up to be. I have had some very serious back problems and part of that is attributed to all the lifting I did when placing/maintaining Rheinmetals. Those damned things weighed a ton, literally. With 3 people manhandling it, it was tough trying to hook it up to the carrying jeep. Imagine doing that 40 times over in an excercise, as (lucky me) I had been given the chore of joining the detachment of returning those damned things to their storage space.
When you join the army, take it in stride. Don't let any of the doom-sayers talk you into a "wasted time" mentality. Don't be depressed. Think of it as the last time of your life when you don't have any stress other than doing what you are told. I think the draft time is down to 12 months now, isn't it? You can't be friends with all the people in there even most. You will probably be made a Sargeant too, as Uni degree helps. Since there are a LOT of people joining the army who can't even read, let alone worthy of having a long conversation with stick with people of a TEI degree level or higher if possible, who also DON'T seek to take advantage of having a friend with some stripes.
And please, if you have a health problem, don't consider it "unmanly" to report it and thus be I-2 or I-3 or even I-4. (unperfect eyesight means I-2, I think). I wanted I-1 bad, and as a partial result, I damaged my back (which already was in trouble after a basketball injury). Don't play the hero, no reason.
You will hear all sort of stories about the service, good or bad. I found that working through it and calling things like you see them got me out it a-ok. Not bitching all the time about everything as a lot of my fellow airmen did, generally means that the officers will actually listen to you when you have something to say, or will ask you for your opinion in front of the enlisted men on something. Then and only then, you may not speak your mind. I did and it caused me all sorts of trouble.
Girlfriends and army don't mix, as in 9/10 cases, they find another man. Happened to yours truly, and it was after 6+1/2 years of a relationship and me wanting to marry her. I was lucky because it happened after my draft ended, still, my former g/f had found a "golden" replacement when I was in. There are cases of people making it through and keeping their g/f, but these are few and far between.
One final thing. When I mentioned in my earlier post that my CO "died" in a training excercise, I mean he was a "training fatality". I reported his death and was temporarily given a small part of his command Not that he was actually killed. I have seen some fatalities in training, and ALL of them were stupid, (driving into a plane etc), most bizarre and ugly of which was when a heavy door fell on an airman's foot mangling it badly causing its amputation.
Today it is October 28th, Greece's second greatest National celebration. It commemorates the defense of Epeiros against the Italian invasion which started at 28th October 1940. My first grade teacher had called it "Pyrrhos' revenge" and it kinda stuck in my brain :yes: Schools and Military parade and all. Saddly not many war veterans parading as not many are left.
Even if there is a family story related to the war, it was my military service that made me fully realise just what those men went through, fighting and dieing to defend their country. I took pride in watching army parading, and even more checking their moves and comparing them to my own, when I was parading in military uniform. It was this experience I tried to convey when doing the ancient greek voicemod, the pride in taking arms to defend your own. Besides, according to some women (my g/f included) that and carrying stuff around is all we men are good for. :laugh4:
Oh I see ,EB has many Army elit as its fans :laugh4:
BTW ,In Iran every male as soon as finishes 18 year old considered as concript and must spend 2 years of military service ! Myself have to go within 3-4 months:oops: 2 months of drill and then you will be assigned to a unit.
As I said ,This is a obligation :tongue: Do you have the same system in US/Europe ???
Of corse here ,those who have College/University degree would become officer (Sergeant I guess) after the drill.
BTW ,Wish you good luck for those of you are already in service ... Take care :smiely:
I was declared incapable at my medical and physical examination for the Austrian (not australia :smash: ) Army. :birthday2:
As I said ,This is a obligation :tongue: Do you have the same system in US/Europe ???
That is basicly the European system of conscription what most European countries have.
@ keravnos,
thanks for the advice, I truly appreciate it.
I think I am one of the few people in Greece eager to be drafted.:laugh4:
like babies
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1169053276
babies like to perform
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2AN7kBQOsw
I'd like to hear it from the guys that use it. Ultimately they have the best view on the subject, IMO.
@ Sarcasm you mean the Strykers?
Yep. I'd like to hear how the whole Stryker brigade concept, as well as the vehicle itself are doing.
Tomorrow is my first day in the Swedish military. The Kings guard, in Stockholm. Apparently, they call us "Livdragoner", and we will have horses. :balloon2:
Radier Good Luck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChaFcGhCBGE
The Celtic Viking
10-28-2007, 16:49
I was declared incapable at my medical and physical examination for the Austrian (not australia :smash: ) Army. :birthday2:
I was declared incapable of joining the Swedish army too. They blamed that little rash I had on my foot, said it was no good to have that when walking with boots or some such. Sent me a letter telling me that it had been ruled that I could not join the army, and the decision was final - it couldn't be appealed against. Bah! Lies, tricks and cheats, I say! That was just a convenient excuse. It's just because I'm a monkey, I know it is. They're speciests, all of them.
That's not saying that a little monkey like me would like to join a human's army in the first place... but who are they to reject ME and my services?!
We have a Finnlander here? Or is that Karelialander? I remember the Kareliaers from somewhere? A fight aginst all odds...where numbers count for nothing? But maybe that was the Guards?
It's Finns and Karelians, but no, I'm no Karelian. I'm a city boy. You probably remember Karelia from the Winter War. Majority of it took place there.
I served for 12 months in the Armoured brigade, as a leader/loader of Leopard 2. Here's a short clip from our shooting exercise in Niinisalo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXioSAFMokY
There are simply too many Finns out here.
Kurulham
10-29-2007, 01:33
Fire Controlman 2nd Class, United States Navy. Late of USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), now attached to SRF-JRMC Yokosuka.
For those of you who are wondering, a 2nd class is an E-5, and that's "weapons fire", not "flame". I'm a radar technician, CIC watchstander, and boarding team member, not a firefighter.
@cmacq: Oddly enough we don't really make that distinction in the Navy; perhaps it's because we work routinely with weapons of all calibers that there's no clear break. When you go from an M16 to an M14 to a .50 cal to a 25mm crew-served mount, where do you draw the line? Especially when you bring things like CIWS (the Phalanx point defense 20mm chaingun) into the picture. I know I'm more likely to call a 9mm a "weapon" and the 5.1" is obviously a "gun" but it's not as clear-cut as I've heard it is in other services.
And to clarify something for the non-Americans out there: the United States does not use any sort of conscription and has not since the Vietnam conflict.
@cmacq: Oddly enough we don't really make that distinction in the Navy; perhaps it's because we work routinely with weapons of all calibers that there's no clear break. When you go from an M16 to an M14 to a .50 cal to a 25mm crew-served mount, where do you draw the line? Especially when you bring things like CIWS (the Phalanx point defense 20mm chaingun) into the picture. I know I'm more likely to call a 9mm a "weapon" and the 5.1" is obviously a "gun" but it's not as clear-cut as I've heard it is in other services.
In the US Army, I think it's about the late 18th century shift from smooth-bore to rifled guns. Right, its been played up a bit. I think the lines are drawn as; personal defensive weapon, individual offensive weapon, and crew serv weapon.
There are simply too many Finns out here.
pantsukki were those modified Leopard 2s?
Yep. I'd like to hear how the whole Stryker brigade concept, as well as the vehicle itself are doing.
I know you may not believe, but have you ever seen an up-gunned BTR with a computer?
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May13/0,4670,IraqStrykersStruggle,00.html
Beowulfas
10-29-2007, 10:21
That is basicly the European system of conscription what most European countries have.
Well actually the majority of European countries no longer have obligatory (most have to go) type military service. Theres the Scandinavian nations, Germany, Austria and Greece that have the most conclusive military conscription systems in place. And I think at least in Sweden and Germany it is less then half of men that in the end go through the service. In Finland it is still about 80 per cent of all men so quite high.
And yes, I've gone through the Finnish military service in the Light Infantry Brigade of Sodankylä, I specialised as a medic. :nurse:
That is right. Since a lot of the European states have very much reduced their armies after the end of the Cold War, the exception has become the rule. For example, in Germany we have the "Zivildienst", that is a civil service that can be done instead of the military service, if you have religious or other reasons to refuse armed service.
Now, in the high time of the Cold War, the 70s and early 80s, it was very difficult to be accepted for this Zivildienst. It became much more easyer throughout the 80s, and I think today a simple letter to the authorities is sufficent to not be drafted to the army but to the civil service; since these men are desperatly needed as cheap workes in the health system.
Now, in the high time of the Cold War, the 70s and early 80s, it was very difficult to be accepted for this Zivildienst. It became much more easyer throughout the 80s, and I think today a simple letter to the authorities is sufficent to not be drafted to the army but to the civil service; since these men are desperatly needed as cheap workes in the health system.
Indeed. I had to go to this examination (where they touch your balls and other stuff like that :no: )..I said I didn't want to use weapons and no one asked why. So I didn't had to join the army. I even avoided civil service because I knew someone who worked at the office. In Germany, 50% of the men are considered as ineligible for military service in these years, but the selection is quite unfair. However, I didn't care and went to university instead (I will help my country by having finished university earlier and hence paying more taxes in my life :2thumbsup: ).
Timoleon
10-29-2007, 13:33
I have served for 12 months as a conscript soldier in the Greek Army. Most of the time, I was in the 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade. Military service is obligatory in Greece.
Actually, the emblem of the brigade is a light thracian peltast of the EB time frame, but the illustration is not as good as the ones in EB!
https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3810/7mkta3oi8.th.jpg (https://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?image=7mkta3oi8.jpg)
Kampfkrebs
10-29-2007, 15:18
I thought about joining the german artillery forces after I finished school, and study at one of the military academys (and make myself a fancy officer :2thumbsup: ), since my father was a radio specialist (the funny guys with the mobile phones on their back) back in the 60´s, so I am somewhat familiar with the military.
But if I look at my concurrent health status, I highly doubt that they will accept me (I have asthma, and some kind of a muscle disease. What exactly is unknown ATM). So I better stick with the german federal intelligence service (Bundesnachrichtendienst), they always look for skilled IT-people.
pantsukki
10-29-2007, 16:53
pantsukki were those modified Leopard 2s?
Modified how? I think that they were just ordinary Leo2A4's. Some of them were even old 2A2's, that had been modified into 4's.
Well actually the majority of European countries no longer have obligatory (most have to go) type military service. Theres the Scandinavian nations, Germany, Austria and Greece that have the most conclusive military conscription systems in place. And I think at least in Sweden and Germany it is less then half of men that in the end go through the service. In Finland it is still about 80 per cent of all men so quite high.
And yes, I've gone through the Finnish military service in the Light Infantry Brigade of Sodankylä, I specialised as a medic. :nurse:
That's true. In Denmark, the proportion of men that have to go through military service has been steadily reduced, while the service length has been cut dramatically; it's down to four months now.
Centurion Crastinus
10-29-2007, 18:34
For the people in the german armed forces, do you think of the G36 and do you like the MG3 better than the H&k21.
And yes, I've gone through the Finnish military service in the Light Infantry Brigade of Sodankylä, I specialised as a medic. :nurse:
Too many Finns, too many Finns. Although kudos to you for going to Sodankylä. Two facts about the place for you outsiders: It's in Lapland, so it's bleeping cold, and the name Sodankylä translates to "Village of War", which is possibly the best name for a town ever.
Krusader
10-29-2007, 19:05
Too many Finns, too many Finns. Although kudos to you for going to Sodankylä. Two facts about the place for you outsiders: It's in Lapland, so it's bleeping cold, and the name Sodankylä translates to "Village of War", which is possibly the best name for a town ever.
Been there many times. My Finnish grandparents live 150km away which is a short ride in Lapland terms.
Too many Finns, too many Finns. Although kudos to you for going to Sodankylä. Two facts about the place for you outsiders: It's in Lapland, so it's bleeping cold, and the name Sodankylä translates to "Village of War", which is possibly the best name for a town ever.
The fact that the name Sodankylä stands for "village of war" is a result of erroneus standardization. The original name is Sovankylä, which is derived from a Saami personal name Tsoavva which was Finnicized as Sova. Later on, some academic thought that it was supposed to mean the "village of war" and the form "Sovan" was simply the result of the local dialect sometimes having v as the weak grade of t. (actually the weak grade was null, but in suitable phonetic environment it could be v or j or whatever)
Kahju, don't ruin it. I imagine you're Finnish too?
Yes I am. It's quite surprising to see how many Finns there seem to be in the Internet these days. Finland might very well be the nerdiest country in the world - per capita, anyway.
For the people in the german armed forces, do you think of the G36 and do you like the MG3 better than the H&k21.
When I was at the army, you had to either watch SciFi movies or exercises of the French army to see weapons like the G36. The MG3 always caused some laugther when first shown to recruits "Is that grandpa's one?" "Did you plunder a museum?" But the model was Africa- and Russia-proofed, so that was probably the reason to keep it in use for about 70 years. I can at least say that it did its job in giving the bearer long arms, a stiff neck and a blue shoulder.
Marius Dynamite
10-29-2007, 20:59
Why do you guys join the army anyways? Whats the motivation and what makes you ignore the negatives?
sgsandor
10-29-2007, 22:05
@ Sarcasm, dude they are pretty awesome, I won't get techy but they are as we say here "all that and a bag of chips" I spent most of my time at the motor pool anyway cause I was my units' guy down there. It was like driving a ford F-250 pickup but with a machine gun on it. The best part about it, was we didnt have to march as much as we did before. The bad part, well really wasn't any. On a funny note our foward observer got his foot(more his big toe) crushed by the ramp when it was lowered, it wasn't as bad as you would think and I had to drive him the 150 miles back to base for medical attention. Lol i love that guy he was funny, and what his wife said was even funnier...but it was pretty much what our CO said "Are you retarded?"
@Marius...dude its a calling
pantsukki
10-29-2007, 22:12
@Marius...dude its a calling
Or an unwelcome obligation... :thumbsdown:
NeoSpartan
10-29-2007, 22:28
@Marius...dude its a calling
:yes:
Centurion Crastinus
10-30-2007, 01:19
I would love to own an MG3 or the MG42. MG3's aren't available as a tax transferable gun here in the U.S. An MG42 on the other hand is available and they run anywhere from 40K to 50K.
@ Sarcasm, dude they are pretty awesome, I won't get techy but they are as we say here "all that and a bag of chips" I spent most of my time at the motor pool anyway cause I was my units' guy down there. It was like driving a ford F-250 pickup but with a machine gun on it. The best part about it, was we didnt have to march as much as we did before. The bad part, well really wasn't any. On a funny note our foward observer got his foot(more his big toe) crushed by the ramp when it was lowered, it wasn't as bad as you would think and I had to drive him the 150 miles back to base for medical attention. Lol i love that guy he was funny, and what his wife said was even funnier...but it was pretty much what our CO said "Are you retarded?"
Oh by all means do get techy, I'm studying mechanical engineering so that's music to my ears.
I heard you fellas were having problems without some armour support in the rougher areas? Heard that shaped charges are becoming a real issue with deploying wheeled vehicles in urban scenarios?
Kurulham
10-30-2007, 01:46
...the service length has been cut dramatically; it's down to four months now.
:inquisitive:
My training cycle was fifteen months. "Doing more with less", I guess is the idea; and of course I'm a radar technician so that end of things sucked up about nine of those months.
But still. Four months? The mind reels. What can you do in four months?
I would love to own an MG3 or the MG42. MG3's aren't available as a tax transferable gun here in the U.S. An MG42 on the other hand is available and they run anywhere from 40K to 50K.
In case you get to fire one some day: The little notch (or whatever you call it) on the stock is there for a reason. You don't want to fire without holding onto that. Just a bit of advice the cruel sergeants sometimes "forget" to tell the conscripts. :whip:
:inquisitive:
My training cycle was fifteen months. "Doing more with less", I guess is the idea; and of course I'm a radar technician so that end of things sucked up about nine of those months.
But still. Four months? The mind reels. What can you do in four months?
I seriously have no idea. I guess they mostly just use it as a kind of recruitment campaign nowadays.
Eduorius
10-30-2007, 03:19
What do people who live in countries without army do when they want to become a soldier? They cant? :inquisitive:
Kurulham
10-30-2007, 03:43
What do people who live in countries without army do when they want to become a soldier? They cant? :inquisitive:
Many countries have provisions for foreigners joining their military services. I know in the US Navy there's a hugely disproportional representation of Filipinos, and more than a few Mexicans.
The most famous example is, of course, the French Foreign Legion, which was for a while (not sure if it still is) a refuge for soldiers without an army. A large number of German soldiers joined the Foreign Legion after WWII to escape war crimes prosecution; I seem to remember hearing something about so many British soldiers joining at one point that the 2ème REP was nicknamed 2ème Para.
That said, while I'm not exactly the most up-to-date on the internal politics of countries not my own, I'd be very surprised if there were more than a handful of countries in the world with absolutely no military force of any kind.
United States Army Infantry Seargant. Two tours in Iraq and another coming up soon(or invasion of Iran. A lot of dates just got changed and no one knows what the new dates are)
@Marius
As to why? Because it's all I've ever wanted to do. Since a child I've wanted nothing more than to serve as a soldier. To be the one actually out there doing something. Now that I've served some tours I can't imagine being a civilian again.
How can I type at a desk or build a house now? I've done dismounted patrols in the most dangerous areas of Iraq in the presence of an ever watchful enemy. I've felt the grit and shock of explosions blast my face. I've hugged the ground without protective cover waiting for the sounds of gunfire to end and I've stood tall and fearless listening to bullets fly by my head exulting in a simple state of being. And I've fallen to my knees in grief shattered and too weak to stand because of the one who will never stand again.
I've lived. But only so briefly and I yearn for when I can live again.
What can you offer me that could compare to that?
Snite
That said, while I'm not exactly the most up-to-date on the internal politics of countries not my own, I'd be very surprised if there were more than a handful of countries in the world with absolutely no military force of any kind.
Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, The Vatican (the Swiss guards aren't really an army), Nauru and Tuvalu. That's six sovereign countries without a military right there :beam:
I read once that Iceland has no military and there's a treaty with the US that we'll step in and defend them in the event of an invasion.
Don't know how true that is.
Kurulham
10-30-2007, 04:35
@Sakkura: Six out of a hundred and seventy-some-odd. I'd call that a handful. :beam:
@Snite: No offense, but this is why I'm getting out, actually - because while it's true my service years have been the most intense of my life, that intensity has not been enjoyable, and I think if I ever start to enjoy it I'll have lost something important. I'm not sure what.
I read once that Iceland has no military and there's a treaty with the US that we'll step in and defend them in the event of an invasion.
Don't know how true that is.
The US had troops in Iceland until just last year when the last were withdrawn for deployment in other parts of the world. I know they have their own coast guard but I'm not sure if that includes any real military force. I heard they've stepped up the cooperation with the navies of Denmark and Norway after the US left.
Eduorius
10-30-2007, 04:54
Panama does not have an army after 1989, and we only have a pseudo-navy and some police forces to protect the frontier.
We depend on the U.S. for protection, specially for the Canal.
Megas Methuselah
10-30-2007, 05:02
After reading the various posts in this thread considering conscription, I've realized what a privelege it truly is to live in Canada. Our army isn't all that large, and is composed of volounteers only. And then there's the reserve forces, too... But still, all volounteers.
I thank God I don't have to face the inevitability of conscription.
Krusader
10-30-2007, 05:19
The US had troops in Iceland until just last year when the last were withdrawn for deployment in other parts of the world. I know they have their own coast guard but I'm not sure if that includes any real military force. I heard they've stepped up the cooperation with the navies of Denmark and Norway after the US left.
Yeah, the Norwegian military outfitted Icelandic Coastguards-men when Iceland was in command of some airbase or something in Afghanistan.
And Iceland btw only has 5 Coast Guard ships as I recall or something.
After reading the various posts in this thread considering conscription, I've realized what a privelege it truly is to live in Canada. Our army isn't all that large, and is composed of volounteers only. And then there's the reserve forces, too... But still, all volounteers.
I thank God I don't have to face the inevitability of conscription.
I have to say, Finnish military service is more like the boy scouts. The hardest thing is to light a fire.
NightStar
10-30-2007, 11:03
Yeah, the Norwegian military outfitted Icelandic Coastguards-men when Iceland was in command of some airbase or something in Afghanistan.
And Iceland btw only has 5 Coast Guard ships as I recall or something.
Actually Iceland has no standing army, the coastguard is has no military training and have like one cannon on their ship and maybe a shotgun aboard :laugh4:
The U.S abandoned this godforsaken place last year, so right now all the soldiers here are ex-soldiers who have served in another countries (like me)
Iceland sends civilians into peacekeeping missions, they get 2 weeks training in Norway, handed a H&K G3, get slapped on some rank like captains and lieutenants and get shipped to places like afghanistan (I pity the men serving under them)
I was asked to go with them when I served in Norway, I said a snowballs chance in hell I'm going, if I go I want someone watching my back who knows what he's doing.
And what happened? Three years ago the Icelandic a group of peacekeepers got bombed in Kabul after standing outside a rug shop for an hour, waiting for the head of the icelandic peacekeeping forces, who was shopping some rugs.
IDIOTS!!!!!
A) A country that proclaims that it has no army should not send "soldiers" into peacekeeping missions
B) According to the Geneva convention, if a country gives arms to their citizens and dresses them in uniforms, that's called an army. So even though the Icelandic goverment claims it has no standing army then it isn't true, they have 20 amateurs in a uniform with a gun.
It's great to hear that most of you enjoy your current military services and some of you even wants to join the army.:)
But I live in Russia and now I'm at "war" with my local conscription center!(cause I don't like prisonlike places:))
sgsandor
10-31-2007, 00:15
@ Sarcasm
Dude I can't really talk about the techy parts of them, because some parts are well how can i say this "classified" but as for the brigade this is common knowledge check out the following link
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/brigade-ibct.htm
hope it helps you out
Booooooo....you suck :shame:
:clown:
sgsandor
10-31-2007, 04:29
Sorry....:embarassed:
Beowulfas
10-31-2007, 08:28
@Thaatu,
we had quite a lot of stuff we were supposed to know how to do based on a very brief 'education' although I still remember them saying that "you are not expected to know anything until you are individually told and shown how to do it". And the next thing some 17 year old NCO is shouting at your face for not knowing how to do some meaningless little thing correctly.
To be quite honest I really didn't like the place.
@Nightstar,
pretty funny, and terrible what you wrote about the bombing incident. Also Finns have died in Afghanistan, they were UN troops I think.
@Barigos,
hope you solve your situation well, I've heard some negative things about the military service in Russia.
we had quite a lot of stuff we were supposed to know how to do based on a very brief 'education' although I still remember them saying that "you are not expected to know anything until you are individually told and shown how to do it". And the next thing some 17 year old NCO is shouting at your face for not knowing how to do some meaningless little thing correctly.
I feel for you. I never got shouted at, I guess I'm too small to be bullied. I personally "shouted" only once, and I did it by saying "Now shut the f*** up, that's an order". That 17 year old NCO must've felt pretty insecure about his authority.
pretty funny, and terrible what you wrote about the bombing incident. Also Finns have died in Afghanistan, they were UN troops I think.
A Finn, more precisely. Plus one UN observer got whacked by the Israelis in Southern Lebanon.
Maksimus
11-03-2007, 03:21
The most famous example is, of course, the French Foreign Legion, which was for a while (not sure if it still is) a refuge for soldiers without an army. A large number of German soldiers joined the Foreign Legion after WWII to escape war crimes prosecution; I seem to remember hearing something about so many British soldiers joining at one point that the 2ème REP was nicknamed 2ème Para.
.
No, the only ones that are today in the legion are -no-expirience soldiers - and that is for the last 10 years..After IIWW - almost 60-80% in the Legon were ex SS soldiers - that did not want to stay in Germany under US-UK officers and a small paycheck (on the other hand SSSR pay was even smaller) --
They did most of their crimes in Algeria and Asia (for the 'global interest', even today - You can go to North Africa and say I am from the Legion -- and all will flee! and In Marsey(France) - if you say the same - Algerians kill you - I know that I was about to go and then said no) and we are talking about thousands times 10 and more of Nazi soldiers - many of them are alive and well still -
And 'after' the Cold War and the economic and social break in East Europe and Euroasia and still the case is today - almost 80% are Slavic origin,, mostly Russian, Ukrainen, Serb.. and African (ex criminals also)
i don't know why I typed this, forgive me
Horst Nordfink
11-03-2007, 03:38
That is basicly the European system of conscription what most European countries have.
Thankfully not Britain.
I was about a week away from joining the RAF. Then I got a job in a chemical factory and screwed it off. Then the Iraq thing happened, I was pleased with my decision.
In another life I would've joined up. Or joined the Navy. Definitely not the army though. No thanks.
How can I type at a desk or build a house now? I've done dismounted patrols in the most dangerous areas of Iraq in the presence of an ever watchful enemy. I've felt the grit and shock of explosions blast my face. I've hugged the ground without protective cover waiting for the sounds of gunfire to end and I've stood tall and fearless listening to bullets fly by my head exulting in a simple state of being. And I've fallen to my knees in grief shattered and too weak to stand because of the one who will never stand again.
I've lived. But only so briefly and I yearn for when I can live again.
What can you offer me that could compare to that?
Snite
I personally would've thought most of those things would be reason enough to get the hell out!
Patriote
11-03-2007, 07:49
Canadian Forces, Reserve Infantry(yep the nicest job of all...) Rank: Corporal (no responsibility, nice pay hehe:clown:)
In Canada too, having a degree is "mandatory" to apply as an officer, even if you are already a NCO or R&F. I can understand for trade like, dentist, pharmacist or physician but honestly, it can only "ruins" the worth of officers' ranks when you see someone 2 days after his enrollment with a 2nd Lieutenant rank and his unit's badge just because he applied as an officer and already a degree (he still has to do his courses of course but seeing someone like that walking around, having no idea what it is to be a soldier and having to salute him although he is still just a recruit pisses a lot of NCO and R&F)
What with we really need are people with, especially in the infantry and others combat trades, great personalities' strenght so I think like Sakkura.
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