Would you join???

[Dixter]

Been there, done that... Was drafted in the last draft... BTW, you get drafted
for 2 years active not 4 years. So by the time you get trained and all its not
like your standing out in front of someone shooting at you for 2 years solid.

Trained in electronics and asked for and got my own 2.5 ton truck to haul troops
around in, kept me from being board. Got to shoot up lots of ammo, I still like
to do that. Lots of test driving tanks and APC's and Hummers out in the boonies.
Ever chopped down a tree by running it over with a tank at 30 mph?

Probably best thing that happen'd to me. Lost my girl friend over it, lost my
car over it. But got both a new car and new girl after it was over. Uncle Sam
paid for my college because I went in. Got to see parts of the world I'd never
see if on my own. came back home a bit more mature, seemed to get me into jobs
a bit easier at the time.

I think every person in the USA should serve at least 2 years doing something.

[Bonkers]

If I were drafted I'd go, but there is no doubt my sorry azz would be thrown into the brig for insuborination. I refused to do cartwheels for school, work, or law enforcement so I can't imagine some drill sergent being on my good side.

Course I'd be there already if they didn't decommision the A-10 5 years ago when I wanted to join ....

[joe117]

I went to Vietnam on an aircraft carrier in 1967, USS Forrestal, we had a bad time. I was in the reserve while in school, active duty 66 to 68. I'm glad I did it. At the time being at sea was a drag.

Being in the service will put you in places doing things that you would never otherwise experience. Some of the things are good, some bad. It can for sure, good or bad, be an adventure you will always remember. Sometimes I think about the things that we did and it doesn't seem real. It was a long time ago.

When I turned 18 I was probably supposed to register with the draft board but I was already in the reserve. They are probably going to catch up with me some day.
I don't think there will ever be another draft in the USA.

[BACKNBLACK]

Bonkers, I also think you would be the first to get your sorry a$$ beaten up just like that guy in Full Metal Jacket. Recall the soap scene?? Since you would be the first to critisize the President...

[DEVILDOG]

I volunteered in the Marines in 1971 after my freshman year in college and last year of the draft. I'm proud of the young people today that volunteered for military service and are fighting for us in Iraq and elsewhere in the War against Terror. I don't think we need a draft due to the great young Americans today. God bless them and protect them!

[Ryan]

I did 6 1/2 years, Was in during Desert Shield / Desert Storm. Stayed stateside (comms specialist, I guess they did have to talk to someone at home). For the most part it wasn't bad, but like everywhere else there is A**holes. Just in the service you can't deal with them according to ones preferred method(s). All in all, I was a lucky one.
I was in the Coast Guard. After winter boot camp at Cape May, NJ. It was off to Miami Beach for a year, then N. California (Petaluma) for another year then Virginia Beach
at a radio station for 3 years and then a ship out of Portsmouth Va for the last 18 months.

My [******] belongs to me now, I'd have to pass on volunteering,
but if drafted I'd go.

[JetMec]

Course I'd be there already if they didn't decommision the A-10 5 years ago when I wanted to join

Somebody explain this to me. A10...decommisioned? What am I missing?

[DEVILDOG]

Somebody explain this to me. A10...decommisioned? What am I missing?

You're not missing anything. The Warthogs are very actively killing Iragi tanks and troops as we speak.

[Bonkers]

Somebody explain this to me. A10...decommisioned? What am I missing?

Sorry thats was from a post a long time ago. I had this azzhole recruiter bug me for almost six months after HS. I fell in love with the A10 after seeing one at the Dover Air Show so I agreed to join up IF I had some way of flying these planes (agreeing that I would have to pass the tests ect...) Anyway I was told that wouldn't be an option because in 1999-2000 all A10s (along with the B52s and F4s) would be decomissioned and replaced with the F16s and Apaches as close support aircraft. The only A10s flying in the new milliem were supposed to be reservice aircraft.

As we all know, as does anyone watching CNN, the Republic-Fairchild Thunderbolt II "Warthog" is still actively kicking in the gulf today and I'm not behind the wheel of one....

[BACKNBLACK]

Thank God your not..We would def lose!!!!!