Firefighters, EMTs, Military Service Men/Women Conglomerate!

[LuFeng]

i figured i would post this so we can see the deversity in who served in what branches and did what jobs in the military since we ahave a few on the forums that once served and/or is currently serving.

also figured it would help some of the young whipper snappers thinkin of joining to form and opinion on wether they want to still go in and/or what job maybe they would like.so prior military post away.



RULES of this THREAD

NO SPAMMING.
NO POSTING UNLESS YOU CAN MAKE ATLEAST 1 FULL sentence or 2


if things get out of hand you WILL recieve a PM in your inbox from ME and it will not be a nice one....that is your warning.if you wanna spam something go to sony boards im sure they can handle some more.


thanks Lu :D

i will start with myself others feel free to add.....

Matthew Knight

served in the Air Force from 93 to 97.

i was a Senior Airman when i got out (3 stripes for those who dont know) in order to test for SSGT(which the test is a bytch) usually you will have to reinlist.in the Air Force you are tested for rank above Senior Airman and if you dont pass after so long you wont be able to reinlist if you are a Senior Airman.they do not want a lifer 3 striper.

i was a Security Policeman occupational code was 3PO51(which was basically the gaurding of aircraft and the base.about 1994/95 they merged Security Police and Law Enforcement together so we did both jobs) as Law Enforcement side that curtailed responding to domestic violence calls,giving tickets for various ofences, responding to the NCO club (non commissioned officer) for various fights,etc and being your everyday cop on and around the base.

my Basic Training was held at Lachland AFB,TX and after i graduated while others went off around the country to go to their jobs tech school i had to stay in lachland and get shipped across the base for cop training with the Marines there.(Lachland AFB was near San Antonio and the weather sucked BALLS!!!! cold as F**K in the mornings and HOT as piss in the evenings...glad i dont live there)

after basic training and my tech school it was off to New York for ABGD (Air Base Ground Defence) with the Army guys at FT.Dixx.this was in Jan. so ofcourse it was cold as HELL!!!!! but the training and simulations were great.

after almost 6 months of training before i could even start my job i was finally off to my first base....Keflavik,Iceland (funny story here, at the time Myrtle Beach,AFB was still open and me and a friend who joined together and lived close put all east coast bases for our choice of assigment the Air Force had the last laugh and sent us WAAAAAAAAAAAAY east.... ) in Iceland we gaurded a F-15 alert hanger that protected the air space around Iceland incase anything happened (mostly was there for russians from back in the fday but they kept going with it)

after my tour in Iceland (was a 1 year tour which is refered to as a Short Tour which you get a ribbon for) i was sent to Charelston AFB.i spent my last remaing years in Charelston which we had a F-16 alert site there and then patrolling the base and airfield which was very beefed up security wise since they were testing the now widely used C-17's out.we had to fly with them in and out to make sure nobody messed with them.

also i got to go to many places,Egypt,Germany,Etc i will add later with more time so keep checking back.this was the start to give ppl an idea of what all the services have to offer and some places you could get to go to.

ENJOY!
Lu

UPDATE- Heres some pics from when i was in, different places etc....

http://img264.echo.cx/img264/6374/military14rd.jpg

http://img264.echo.cx/img264/7589/military22gn.jpg

these were taken in Iceland as well at the aircaraft holding site for visiting aircraft.my flight sgt thought would be cool to get some photos in a visiting norwegion(sp?) plane i got in trouble though and was written up cause my dumb@ss left wet footprints in the cockpit seat

http://img264.echo.cx/img264/7630/military35ql.jpg

this was in Egypt at the pyramids...pretty d@mn HUUUUUGE if you ask me and YES that is a chicago cubs home jersey from back in the day

http://img264.echo.cx/img264/839/military58fw.jpg

this is also in Egypt while on patrol, we found an old bunker and were warming up a can of beef stew and thought the pic came out cool and evilish looking




http://img264.echo.cx/img264/1716/military40sk.jpg

http://img264.echo.cx/img264/5951/military66ro.jpg

this is in Iceland at the f-15 detatchment site we gaurded...as you can see we were...BORED!!!

---------------------------EDIT--------------------------

thanks to El's idea ive included fireman,emt etc into this since they to help serve our country and would be cool to see all aspects of their job(my brother is a fireman/emt her in myrtle beach and runs a firestation here so i know a lil...i damn sure know its a tough job and not for me :P but i can respect yall more)

so if your also in one of these fields post away.

props El for idea

[EyesofTexas]

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[EyesofTexas]

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[WET]

Take it to the PM system boys...

Bryan Doran
Technical Sergeant (E-6)
710th Combat Operations Squadron
Air Combat Command
United States Air Force Reserve

I joined the Air Force straight out of high school in the summer of '94. I served 7 years and 3 months on active duty and started my reserve career on Sep 8th, 2001. Don't tell me I was lucky to get off of active duty 3 days before 9/11 because I won't appreciate it.

I am a Ground Radio Communications Technician. My first couple of assignments dealt mostly with Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems Maintenance, which is the main part of the job. However Ground Rats do many other jobs besides fixed comm, like TACP.

I operate and maintain LHF - EHF radio and satellite communication equipment, giant voice and public address, Land Mobile handheld radios, routers, switches, and cryptographic devices.

I have been to Korea, Germany, and England on assignment beside several CONUS locations. Once my new unit is 100% manned we will be headed to the sandbox for our turn in the hotseat.

Air Force is very difficult to get into, especially now. If you are smart enough, score high enough on the ASVAB, and have a clean criminal record I would suggest this branch of service if you are looking for a military career. The other branches can say what they want about how easy it is, or how pampered we are, but you can't beat the training or the quality of life we have. Thanks to Air Force training I make 3 times as much money in my civilian career than I did on active duty as an E-5.

[P.O.T.U.S.]

Not to impeed but, I appreciate the time and service all of you put in protecting this country abroad.

I am not military but, do protect our country on the home front.

A little about me.


To date, I am a front line Captain for Shepherdsville Fire. National Certified Emergency Medical Technician, confined space technician, High Angle/Low Angle Rope Specialist, State certified EMS and Level Three Fire Instructor. OSHA competent person for Trench Rescue. National Certified as a Incident Safety Officer from National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

I serve as a SWAT EMT and Emergency Medical Care instructor, for the County. I follow entry teams in for medical care. I work as a Hazardous Materials Technician for Region 6 WMD/Terroism Team in Kentucky.

I am also a civilian fire arms instructor for the State.

My real job to pay the bills is a Health/Safety Coordinator for FORD Motor Company. I also work for Kentucky Speedway as a Extrication Specialist.


Sorry to go off the military track.

EL

[discombobulate]

Still a great service to the community, and the greater good kind of thing. I think it fit in fine. I'm only 16, so I don't have a whole lot to say. I did volenteer at the Town Clerk's Office around Presidential election time, I was working on some extra credits, since I'm a bit short.

[LuFeng]

Originally Posted by ~WETWORKS

Air Force is very difficult to get into, especially now. If you are smart enough, score high enough on the ASVAB, and have a clean criminal record I would suggest this branch of service if you are looking for a military career. The other branches can say what they want about how easy it is, or how pampered we are, but you can't beat the training or the quality of life we have..

yes thats exactly true although i got the shyt end of the stick.....recruiter never told me the cops were the grunt units of the air force basically and wed have to train with marines and army :? but it was all good, good experiences and way better food let me tell you this, since the base i was stationed at in Iceland was a navy base (we just had the f-15 attatchment there to watch with air force pilots, air force maintenance and us cops) the first 3 months we had to eat the navy food....YUCK but they flew in our own cook and it was all good after :D i do suggest ANY job but a cop if you wanna be coddled and pampered good though :P


and good idea El......this can be for military and any public (fireman,emt etc jobs ppl have to me they are all the same...we are serving to help others :D

[marble man]

I also think it's cool, to include Police/Fire/EMT people. They deserve all the kudos. Just look at 9/11. Don't need to say more than that.

I joined the Navy, in Dec of 1967. Went into Bootcamp, in Jan of 68, at the San Diego base. Also cold! Bootcamp, was, what bootcamp does. It makes you lonely. Found out, that what the recruter said I could be, was not what it turned out. I wanted to be a Seabee. But my eyesite wasn't good emough. The only good things, that I liked about Bootcamp were, I did pretty good, on the shooting range. We only got to shoot the M-1 Garand. Which was cool. I was doing real well with it, when something broke. I was told I would qualify as a Expert, because I was doing so well. But I wanted to keep shooting, using another rifle. They wouldn't let me. We got to see the 1911 .45, the BAR, and the .45 Thompson, shot. But were not allowed to shoot them. The other good thing I got, was a carrier. If I couldn't be a Seabee, then I wanted to serve on a carrier. Also, I lost a lot of weight. I was fat. Went in at 280lbs. Got out, as 240lbs.

The ship I served on, was the USS BON HOMME RICHARD CVA-31. Which was a attack aircraft carrier. It was a Essex class World War ll ship. It was all modern, as they could make it. While it was one of the biggest carriers durning WW ll and Korea, by the Vietnam war, it was small. Still a big ship, let me tell you. She had a great history. One of the things I thought was neat, is she was the carrier, with the most Mig killes. The ship itself, didn't shoot them. But the squadrons on her, shot them down. At one time, we were called, "The Biggest Deck in Westpac". Which ment, we out flew, out bombed, just about everything, better than any of the other carriers. That means ones like the Enterprise, etc. You can type Bon Homme Richard into your search engine, and see some of the stuff she did. We called her, Bonnie Dick.

I came on board, as a Fireman Apprentice or FA (E-2= two slash marks). Got out, as a BT-3. That's a Boiler Tender, petty officer third class (E-4= eagle or crow as we called it, with one chevron). Passed my E-5, but didn't want to stay in as long, to get it. A boiler tender, is just what it sounds like. I was down in the boiler room. #4 boiler room, to be exact. To say it was hot, is kind of a understatment. The average temp, was about 95. Lots of areas, were in the 100's. And some corners, that didn't get much air, were 140. Needless to say, we'd sweat alot! We'd sweat so much, that we looked like we were in wet T-shirt contest. Everything we wore, was soaked in sweat. Shoes, etc. If you goofed up, and got sent to the brig, the Marines would run you around. If a Marine goofed up, he got sent down to our fire room.LOL We'd come out of the fire room, and go to chow. You'd sit in one of those plastic chairs, and sweat into it. There'd be a puddle left, when we stood up. Had to use paper napkins, to soak it up, so the next guy could sit down. It did get better, as you got use to it. But still plenty of sweat. In one months time, I went from the 240lbs, I was in bootcamp, to 190lbs. Went down three whole pants sizes. Until my pay recored caught up with me, I had to wear my pants bunched up. I had Chiefs and Officers stop me, and give me a chewing out. Till I told them why I was like that. Then they told me congratulations.LOL
Enough about the heat. The best time I had, was as Smokewatch. The boiler division had to supply a smoke watcher, to make sure the stacks were clear. You didn't want any smoke blowing while pilots were trying to land. Or smoke while coming into port, or leaving. So for almost one whole cruise, my station was up in the island. Saw lots of interesting things. One was a F-8 fighter, break apart, as it landed. The pilot ejected. They don't have a very good chance, when they do that, if they come down, in front of the ship. They just get sucked under. This guy was lucky. He came down, on another planes canopy. Broke his leg doing it. But better than landing in the water. The other cool thing, as we pulled into Pearl Harbor one time, they were filming, Tora, Tora, Tora. They used our ship, to show when our carries came back, after the attack. So I guess you could say, I was in the movie.lol
I've been to Japan (a bunch times), Hong Kong (2 times), Singapore (2 times). And of course, PI (Philippines) and Hawaii a bunch of times. Went across the equator twice. First time, as a Pollywog. Second time, as a Shellback. If you go to some of the Bonn Homme sites, you'll see pictures of that.
We decommissioned her, in 1971. I got out, after 3 years, 6 months. and 22 days. Being a shorttimer, was a blast!
Would I do it again, knowing what I know now? In a heartbeat! But I would do a few thing different.

Steve Robinson

[EyesofTexas]

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[Angus]

I have allways wanted to be in the Air Force. Just the thought of flying those plains gives me butterflys. I do nto know that I ahve good enough grades. I want to be in the military but that is a lot of hard work to do. I want to tell all the ex military here and the ones still serving. I appreciate everything you have or done for our country.

[Scuba Steve]

Steven Roberts
Currently enrolled in ROTC.

I was going to Iraq once I finished in HS, but ROTC was the better way to go, in my opinion.

When I get out, I'll be starting as an officer, which is a hell of a lot better than a grunt.



Sounds pretty rough, Teknic. It'd be pretty weird not knowing if it was day or night for weeks, but then again, blind people go through that every day of their lives...

[OTTER]

If you feel I'm intruding on your thread, then ask me to delete it or someone else will.

I am probably going to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve when I'm 16, good way to get a start on all this, but I heard it interferes hugely with school, not like the Army or Navy reserves....I'll have to phone.


In the future I hope to get into RMC (Royal Military College, the best IMO), just have to keep my damned Math grade up.... :() and become a Helicopter Pilot, preferably SAR. We are in high demand for helicopter pilots, particularly SAR and combat from what I've heard, so hopefully I can pull it off :D


WET, or anyone else, what was it like being in the AF reserves? I know Canada's is probably, but...what do you basically do, and were there a lot of younger people there? If not that, what do you think I should join...there is an AF reserve in my town, an Artiller Reserve (w/e they called) In Guelph (20mins away) and an Army Reserve in Cambridge (20mins away also) but I heard from my mom's friend that the Army reserve is full of....crazy people, dunno what is right for me at 16/17. What do you guys think?


Sorry for bombarding you with questions but I know you guys know your stuff and can give me some guidane. Thanks

[marble man]

I was never in the reserves, so not really sure. But I think you guys, are doing a good thing. Do your best in school. Not only will it help, get what you want, in the service, but on the outside, also. One of my buddys son, is in the Navy. I don't know what you call his job, but he works with fiber optics. That's a job, that will have tons of jobs, on the outside. So look for a job, that will help, once you get out. Of course, you might want to stay in. And even if you end up, as a ground pounder, it's still a good deal to do the best you can.
Eyes, there's still few ships with boilers.LOL As a matter of fact, the new USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6 has boilers. But I bet it's all air conditioned down there. It's one of the new "Gator Navy" ships. I was onboard once. Boy, have things changed, from when I was in.LOL
As for going across the equator, as a Shellback, we didn't spare any of the Pollywogs. Marine, Officer, whatever. They all got smacked on the butt, just as hard.LOL I had one officer, blow the water out, of a padeye (anchor points for planes, in the flightdeck), three times. I kept having the hose guy, fill it up. It was all in good fun!
But what I ment, about doing things a bit different this time was, I'd do a bit more checking. I'd ask the recruiter more questions. And if I found something I really liked, and qualified for, I'd get it in writing. Maybe that wouldn't work.LOL But I'd go in, with my eyes open a bit more, that's for sure.

[LuFeng]

Originally Posted by øtter

If you feel I'm intruding on your thread, then ask me to delete it or someone else will.

I am probably going to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve when I'm 16, good way to get a start on all this, but I heard it interferes hugely with school, not like the Army or Navy reserves....I'll have to phone.


In the future I hope to get into RMC (Royal Military College, the best IMO), just have to keep my damned Math grade up.... :() and become a Helicopter Pilot, preferably SAR. We are in high demand for helicopter pilots, particularly SAR and combat from what I've heard, so hopefully I can pull it off :D


WET, or anyone else, what was it like being in the AF reserves? I know Canada's is probably, but...what do you basically do, and were there a lot of younger people there? If not that, what do you think I should join...there is an AF reserve in my town, an Artiller Reserve (w/e they called) In Guelph (20mins away) and an Army Reserve in Cambridge (20mins away also) but I heard from my mom's friend that the Army reserve is full of....crazy people, dunno what is right for me at 16/17. What do you guys think?


Sorry for bombarding you with questions but I know you guys know your stuff and can give me some guidane. Thanks

no probs Ott reason i put disclaimer at the beggining was incase Mr.SPENSER93 decided to come in here and spam it up.

i would def recommend the Air Force reserve if youd like to not go to war and die.the chances are less in the Air Force unless you try out for Combat Control (special forces like guys who set up landing strips in places) and/or Parrescue (special forces like medics who drop in to save ppl). any other thing is pretty safe.cops get the combat training but only time youll come under attack is if your doin a convoy (which most likely youll have marines and/or army with you anyways) but Air Force treats you WAAAAY better.hell before i got married while in the dorms where like 4 star appartments at the base i mean NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!!!! food is great and everything you could possibly think of is top notch.

[c0mmand3r]

I'm on my town's rescue squad. We basically do everything fire doesn't do. We deal with MVAs, Hazmat, some fire assistance, and basically everything else you can imagine(Technical Rope, confined space, Trench, Swift water?). Our squad runs about 10 calls a week and we have a nice portion of members. I just joined recently, though. I am currently training for extrication level 1 (all about MotorVehicleAccidents and Hurst (Jaws, spreaders, cutters, rams, and airbags) tools). I enjoy it very much. I always thought about joining the Navy and becomming a SEAL over time, however I don't think it will ever happen.


I edited your post so that people who do not understand the lingo will be able to understand what you are saying. By the way what Town do you live in. I will pay for a T-Shirt or trade one of ours. P-O-T-U-S