Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.
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.
Kiwidru wrote: Interesting, over half of Americans have served, but only a fifth of foreigners...
Well I had the choice of joining the Permanent Defence Force of a neutral country (Ireland) were I would have been less than well received because I came from the North, or joined the British Army were I would be equally less well received and have my family at risk of attack from terrorists. Now I live in the US I'm too old to sign up for the Select Service.
Easy E wrote: That was a long time ago, and now that I think about it, he was a Commander. So, not as high right?
Commander in the Navy's what we call a "light" or "half" Colonel in the rest of the armed forces. So one rank shy of Captain (naval) or Colonel.
Most military history classes are set up to round out ROTC cadet's military science courses with some social credits and are usually required for a military history minor if your school offer(s/ed) one. I'm taking a similar class now for fun.
I beg of you sarge let me lead the charge when the battle lines are drawn
Lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and long
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...
'02-'09 USAF... but you probably knew that.
“It was in lands of the Chi-An where she finally ran him to ground. There she kissed him deeply as he lay dying, and so stole from him his last, agonized breath.
On a delicate chain at her throat, she keeps it with her to this day.”
7 years in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Pretty sure I was the only wargamer in Sandhurst. It was very much a geek-free zone. I had one geek friend who quit, I think, largely out of irritation at the press-mould philosophy of the place.
Considered it, but I'm turned off by friend's experiences. One was on a training course last week and he was the only guy who could read a map... That the government think that the future British army should be mostly made up of volunteers puts me off the whole idea entirely (even though I doubt that such a thing would actually happen). =/
Wyrmalla wrote: Considered it, but I'm turned off by friend's experiences. One was on a training course last week and he was the only guy who could read a map... That the government think that the future British army should be mostly made up of volunteers puts me off the whole idea entirely (even though I doubt that such a thing would actually happen). =/
Wait, is the British army not all-volunteer? U.S. is (though as Kiwidru alluded to, you may take issue with how the circumstances that compel one to volunteer are established). The U.S. military likes to internally talk up their all-volunteer make-up in my experience.
“It was in lands of the Chi-An where she finally ran him to ground. There she kissed him deeply as he lay dying, and so stole from him his last, agonized breath.
On a delicate chain at her throat, she keeps it with her to this day.”
The British armed forces are entirely filled with volunteers.
The last of the National Service conscripts demobbed in 1962ish.
If the thought of something makes me giggle for longer than 15 seconds, I am to assume that I am not allowed to do it. item 87, skippys list
DC:70S+++G+++M+++B+++I++Pw40k86/f#-D+++++A++++/cWD86R+++++T(D)DM++
Wyrmalla wrote: Considered it, but I'm turned off by friend's experiences. One was on a training course last week and he was the only guy who could read a map... That the government think that the future British army should be mostly made up of volunteers puts me off the whole idea entirely (even though I doubt that such a thing would actually happen). =/
The British Armed forces are entirely composed of volunteers. Do you mean reservists? Either way, you're still wrong. The government is increasing the reservist component of our Armed forces - there's no suggestion that 'almost all' of the British army will be reservist. We don't need a large standing army any more. The cold war is over. What we need is a rapid-reaction type force, and that's pretty much what we have.
Albatross wrote: The government is increasing the reservist component of our Armed forces.
While decreasing the regular armed forces to the point where we will be reliant upon reservists; we already are to an extent, there is no way that we could have sustained operations in Iraq and Afghanistan without the TA (or significantly increasing tour length).
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/24 14:15:59
RegalPhantom wrote: If your fluff doesn't fit, change your fluff until it does
The prefect example of someone missing the point.
Do not underestimate the Squats. They survived for millenia cut off from the Imperium and assailed on all sides. Their determination and resilience is an example to us all.
-Leman Russ, Meditations on Imperial Command book XVI (AKA the RT era White Dwarf Commpendium).
Its just a shame that they couldn't fight off Andy Chambers.
Warzone Plog
Albatross wrote: The government is increasing the reservist component of our Armed forces.
While decreasing the regular armed forces to the point where we will be reliant upon reservists; we already are to an extent, there is no way that we could have sustained operations in Iraq and Afghanistan without the TA (or significantly increasing tour length).
I dunno, just seems like 'boots-on-the-ground' missions such as the policing action performed by by British troops in Afghanistan in recent years are more cost-effective, and no less operationally effective, when performed by reservists. There is no good reason that I can think of for our more specialised, highly-trained, and expensive spearhead regiments (I'm thinking of the Royal Marines and Paras here) to be patrolling Afghan villages keeping the peace. When speaking to marines that I know, that view seems to be shared. They'd rather be invading countries, not pacifying them.
But what do I know? I'm a civvie, after all.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/03/25 18:28:05
Albatross wrote: There is no good reason that I can think of for our more specialised, highly-trained, and expensive spearhead regiments (I'm thinking of the Royal Marines and Paras here) to be patrolling Afgfhan villages keeping the peace.
Those tasks require highly trained troops. Invasions are easy in this day and age (at least unless we pick on someone who can actually fight back) its the aftermath that has proven difficult. Paras don't cost anymore than similarly equipped regular troops, they don't get paid any different now that paras have lost their jump pay (although that may just be the P Coy guys). I'm not sure about the RM as they have their own pay scales but I don't suppose its that different.
I have nothing against the TA, I have deployed with them before and I will deploy with them again, but they are definately quite variable in training, professionalism and outlook.
This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2013/03/24 18:56:07
RegalPhantom wrote: If your fluff doesn't fit, change your fluff until it does
The prefect example of someone missing the point.
Do not underestimate the Squats. They survived for millenia cut off from the Imperium and assailed on all sides. Their determination and resilience is an example to us all.
-Leman Russ, Meditations on Imperial Command book XVI (AKA the RT era White Dwarf Commpendium).
Its just a shame that they couldn't fight off Andy Chambers.
Warzone Plog
The greatest reason to have your active duty RM and Paras patrolling is that your nation has paid for their training and for keeping them on active duty. By using them you take advantage of that AND give them real world operational experience that makes them better troops.
Or you can have your paras and RM guys sitting in garrison twidling their thumbs... I suspect they may prefer different ops, but any operational deployment is better than none, especially when all your TA folks would be able to point out lack of current experience to their active counterparts if the TA did all the deployments. (and getting your TA guys up to speed costs your nation money, both in direct costs and lost opportunity costs as these TA folks are not doing their civilian jobs.)
Every time a terrorist dies a Paratrooper gets his wings.
Joined the U.S. Army in '92. Got out in '97. Tried Army Guard, but that only lasted for 18 months because the unit was just well and truly screwed up. Got out, and thought it would be the last time I ever wore a uniform. That following September, I was burning the phones up trying to find a service to go back into. My physical issues restricted me from active duty Army or Marines, and the Air Force and Navy weren't taking prior service for some strange reason. The Air National Guard has been my home since 2002. I'm due to get my 20 year letter from the guard this September, and will decide if I can hack another few years.
I'd love to go to 30, but with the political situation and the economy basically running all the branches of the service through the grinder, I may just have to wave good bye to a great period of my life and head on down civvie street for good.
3 years in USAF ROTC. Unfortunately, the Cold War ended.
It didn't help that I was struggling in school at the time. I was stoopid and persued a math degree. (I could have coasted through school with a history major) A lot of slack I might have gotten was gone in 1990.
I'm not sure what I would have done. I wanted to go for a pilot/nav slot and scored very high in those categories in the AFOQT, but my color blindness caught up with me. Lack of color vision is a serious career inhibitor in USAF.
After I finally graduated I was flirting with the WI-ANG recruiter for awhile. I tried to find a career field where color vision didn't matter, and all they could finally come up with was plumber. I gave up at that point.
My son took up where I left off and enlisted after high school. He's USAF Security Forces at Minot AFB. He goes downtown to the local shop for 40K tournaments.
My second son is hoping to follow this summer as a USAF firefighter.
I am jealous and wish I would have taken a similar route instead of screwing with the ROTC thing. I was proud to be in while doing it, and I have never had closer friends, before or since. We used to take trips to the MN ANG base to watch the F-4s to remind ourselves why we were dealing the the BS at the time.
4000+
6000+ Order. Unity. Obedience.
Thousand Sons 4000+
Mordian Iron Guard - Major Overhaul in Progress 
5000(7 drop-pods)pts (15/10/4)
200pts(lol)
