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I've often noticed that a large chunk of gamers here in Texas have military experience, was just wondering about the rest of the nation / world...

Still serving.

USAF.

The USA has a high number of vets in part, I would think, because of military scholarships for universities. Certainly a lot of people seem to cite that as a reason for joining up. You also have a fairly large armed forces and reserves compared to most other nations.

Nope, and never will.

Nope, haven't served, but I've thought about it plenty...but only to learn a trade. If something fell through with my current employment, it would be a possibility for sure.

Only one in my circle of players in Houston. We had a second, but he moved away recently.

Yes.
I served 15 years in the RAF.
I'm now a military contractor in the Middle East.

I have never served...

...I've always wanted to. I wanted to be in the USMC. I'm too old now. There's still the Army though...

Definitely not, way too dangerous.

I'm only a sophmore in high school, so I haven't yet had a chance to serve. But when I graduate I'd like to join the army or the marines.

I was pretty much raised by my uncles for a life in the Army (they were both special forces). Was in middle of the enlistment process when I found out I was going to be a dad. After my son was born I met my wife who would divorce me in a hurry if I enlisted.

Still think about if I had though.

EDIT: Spelling derp

Nope, I'm too much of a contrary bastard...

Still in, Army and currently with the "Screaming Eagles"






(but I'm not a Rakkasan, for those who know)

 Cheesecat wrote:
Definitely not, way too dangerous.

11 years, and the closest I've come to harms way is being in a country going through a relatively peaceful revolution (Kyrgyzstan, 2005). For many in the military, the job is really no more dangerous then every day living. I have a 1 mile commute to work, inside a closed road system that has speed limits no higher then 30mph. You probably subject yourself to more daily danger in your drive to work then I'll experience in my whole career.

For statistics though, 11 years USAF, currently with the 618th AOC(TACC).

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Still in, Army and currently with the "Screaming Eagles"

LOL.... you mean "Puking Buzzards"

I was proud to serve in the US Army 2nd Armored Division. Hell on Wheels!!

Slight side note: What's some derogatory (clean) terms youve heard for Units/divisions (as above)?

Such as Cav: The Horse they never rode, the line they never crossed, the yellow down their backs. (describes patch)
Attack Helicopter Division: Flying A#@holes. (describes badge of a blue dot surrounded by 3 wings)

U.S. Army veteran.

 SilverMK2 wrote:
The USA has a high number of vets in part, I would think, because of military scholarships for universities. Certainly a lot of people seem to cite that as a reason for joining up. You also have a fairly large armed forces and reserves compared to most other nations.

.45% of the population roughly is on active duty at present. I'd guess you can double that to get the veteran population roughly.

So no we really don't have that many vets or that large a force as a percentage of population.

Any way, Marine checking in here. 3rd MAW out of MCAS Yuma AZ, been out for around two years now.

The VA believes there are currently 22 million living veterans in the US, or .7% of the population.

Doesn't seem all the high to me. I can't find anything regarding British numbers, but I'd imagine that it might be higher.

I've watched Saving Private Ryan a few times and I'm pretty good at CoD.

Military doesn't seem that hard, really.

Not yet, but I am hopping to get an ROTC scholarship in College. If that fails I will just sign up of my own accord.

U.S. Army vet here.

US Army vet. 54B. In right after Gulf War 1 and out 11 days before 9/11. Joined when my life seemed to have hit a rut, wanted to go back to school, thought the military would be a good way to help facilitate that while being part of something bigger as well as life experience. Really learned that I was capable of putting up with a lot of stuff and also learned to really appreciate a lot of stuff more. Overall my life has been richer for the experience.

I am a father now, and have told my son (and daughter) that they should consider serving. Aside of what they can learn in the military and what they can learn about themselves, good educational benefits and the VA home loan is awesome. As mentioned the things you experience is really unparalleled (not saying it is the best or better than other things one might experience in life, just saying that there really is nothing like serving in the military).

If I had a chance to choose all over again, would still have chosen to enlist though I would have done a different MOS.

FYI, was a 40K player up until a year before I joined. Started playing again a couple of years before I got out. I don't think my 40K interest was affected my interest in enlisting or vice versa.

Kiwidru wrote:
I've often noticed that a large chunk of gamers here in Texas have military experience, was just wondering about the rest of the nation / world...

There was a preppy type guy that came into my FLGS once with his girlfriend and started going on about nerdy gamers without really looking at anyone. Just about everyone in there had either just come back from Iraq or Afganastan, were getting ready to go, or had been prior service not long before. The guys there had too much class to call him on it or kick his ass though, they were just as happy for him tomake an ass out himself.

Was in the Army 1999 to 2003. Got out around the time Bush had his "Mission Accomplished" moment on that aircraft carrier. My bro was wounded in Afghanistan and a few of his troops died, and I didn't feel either war was worth partcipating in. I grew up wanting to serve for as long as I could remember and I enjoyed my time in, but certain small things wore my patience out. I got out like a month before a good deal of the Army was stop-lossed, and felt kind of bad and almost guilt-reenlisted because I felt like I was leaving some folks I loved. In the end, I'm glad I didn't reupp.

Did my four in the Army, '02 to '06. Antenna jockey, but by god someone had to make sure the generals got their phone calls and the troops got their porn. Wasn't the life for me - mass punishment for someone else screwing up and having no way to do anything about it killed my interest pretty quick. Plus I hate the desert.

On the plus side I was stationed in Germany while not deployed, and that was the bees knees. Made a lot of really good friends, got to hang out with European girls and legally drink from 18 on.

Currently enlisted and deployed.11B(Infantry) in the Arizona Army National Guard. Done over 8 years, and I'm out this October.

 gregor_xenos wrote:

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Still in, Army and currently with the "Screaming Eagles"

LOL.... you mean "Puking Buzzards"

I was proud to serve in the US Army 2nd Armored Division. Hell on Wheels!!

Slight side note: What's some derogatory (clean) terms youve heard for Units/divisions (as above)?

Such as Cav: The Horse they never rode, the line they never crossed, the yellow down their backs. (describes patch)
Attack Helicopter Division: Flying A#@holes. (describes badge of a blue dot surrounded by 3 wings)

18th ABN Corps: Gaggin' Dragon
25th ID: Electric Raspberry
4ID: the 4 Lieutenants pointing north

4 years Royal Engineers for me. I was a wargamer before I joined though I did meet plenty of like minded souls while I was in.

Interesting, over half of Americans have served, but only a fifth of foreigners...

Civie 4 Life, yo!

In College I took a few history courses on Naval history that was open to all, but only Navy ROTC people ever seemed to sign up for them. In a class of about 45, I was the only Civilian.

The class was taught by a Captain, so everyone else had to stand up and salute when he entered. It was a bit awkward just sitting there during this process.