Military service

[chatpilot]

Thanks binny, I hope for nothing but the best for your son. The military is not for everyone although some people luck out and actually get what they want from it and manage to make a career out of it. I personally got tired of turning a blind eye and being threatened everytime people were needlessly killed during training exercises. I was in during peace time and although I was a rifleman in the infantry I never saw real combat. But during peace time people died in training accidents and we would be threatened with court martials etc. if we spoke of it to anyone off base such as reporters etc.

They tried to get me in when the Iraq war broke out on two separate occasions. I had recruiters show up at my job sites because they had seen that I was prior service on my resume which I posted on several job sites at the time. I told them that I had too many injuries and that my heart was no longer in it. They told me that once I was 40 then I could no longer enlist in the military to which I am grateful since I am forty now and will reach 41 in a few more months.

@ Xyster I know what you mean. Hollywood needs to exaggerate things to make it exciting so all of the extras on grenade explosions etc. are necessary. How about when they hold an M60 and just fire it off continuously at several attackers? Anyone who has ever handled an M60 can tell you that that is impossible since the muzzle of the weapon would start rising upward involuntarily. You are supposed to fire automatic weapons in short bursts lol. Once you know it is just a movie and you expect all the exaggerations then you can sit back and enjoy it. I don't watch movies for realism but rather as an escape from realism and to be entertained.

[Xyster]

He's 22 and still has 2 1/2 more years of active duty then 2, I think, of inactive. He spent 6 months in Iraq in '08 and this year he will be going to Afghanistan for 8 months. I too think being there is ridiculous. I just hope he comes home alive and in one piece.

While it is true he will have 2.5 years more of trial by fire, he still is forever part of the military and may be reactivated at any time.

Nope not true.... after your 8 years (2 inactive in this case) they cant recall you. Unless you retire from the military then they are able to recall you.

[Minimalist]

In his latest spcial Bill Maher spoke about the way the "Support Our Troops" crowd actually "supports" them.

His punchline: "They love our troops the way Michael Vick loves dogs."

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

You are supposed to fire automatic weapons in short bursts lol.

Yup. We were taught 4 round bursts for the M60.( air cooled,and can easily overheat.A round can get stuck in the breach and explode)

Our rifle was the 7.62 SLR 9, semi automatic,20 round mag. I carried an Armalite as it was lot lighter,and I had my med kit,which weighed several pounds.

I remember watching;"The Green Berets' with John Wayne, in a theatre full of Vietnam vets. The ones who were not falling on the floor laughing were throwing things at the screen.

Most Aussie Vietnam vets I knew were pretty contemptuous of US troops in Vietnam,due to their comparative lack of training,discipline and leadership.--and drugs were a huge problem. (Aussie troops had 23 weeks training before going overseas) .I can't comment about that. I only met US Vietnam vets in Singapore when they were on R&R. I thought they were great guys. --They bought a LOT of beers and a mate used to sell them kangaroo feathers (really).

[chatpilot]

Lmao Padraic that is funny as hell!! I can't lie I had many good times in the military. I was an infantry rifleman and I carried an M16 A2 with and M203 grenade launcher most of the time. Depending on the exercise sometimes they preferred to use me as a machine gunner so I have had to haul the M60 or the SAW (squad automatic weapon). One thing is true about Hollywood depictions of war in most cases, you have to check your common sense at the door and just enjoy the action.