re: What motivated you to join the military?

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I guess this says a lot about you and more about me...Apologies for the way I came across.

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We're cool, Navy. I get taken aback when civilians think of guard/reserve service as it was back in Vietnam or pre-2001 - I was just floored by a fellow vet - Navy at that - taking that position. Now, I had a civilian job that had me traveling a bit during the aughts - but when I was getting ready to come home from Iraq in mid-2009 - I did the math - I had spent 1 night in 4 away from home since I joined in 1988. That's back down to about 1 in 5 now, after 26 years.

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When I got out and returned to La, I was very bitter..It seemed like people were complaining about things that were as mundane as "deploying" to Ft Polk, or something goofy like that. I spent/am spending my GI Bill plus some to go through school, and some weekend warrior gets a free ride.

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Nobody rides for free - and there are Regular Army/Navy/Air Force people who dodge deployments and bitch, too.

I hope you do better and feel better about things - if you're paying attention to recent and past events with veterans' affairs, we can only count on each other and our families - the powers that be have not/are not/will not take care of us unless we hold them accountable.

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You really need to join the guard dude

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I'd actually like to look into why we don't do something like Texas does where Active Duty Veterans get the same rides that the guard does..

I'd pick those other three before Airborne any day. Low level static line is probably the most obsolete form of insertion there is. The only thing it's good for is the cool jump wings on your chest.

I'm joining the guard dude. I seriously doubt I'm ever HALOing in anywhere with delta force.

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We're cool, Navy. I get taken aback when civilians think of guard/reserve service as it was back in Vietnam or pre-2001 - I was just floored by a fellow vet - Navy at that - taking that position.

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Can I get in on the group hug? I feel pretty much the same. I respect Navy as much as any of the others. I get a bit carried away when anyone is tough on us ... even when it is one of us. A very good friend of mine joined the reserves to get his tuition paid. After 2 tours in Afghanistan and a few years at LSU he is a mechanical engineer. Also the story about my buddy that is nearly a paraplegic due to an IED is true ... too true. He gobbles pain pills like they are candy and can't remember his grand kids name's.

Also, I was in N.O., N.O. East, Arabie, Chalmette, etc. less than a week after Katrina. I have sympathy for all that had to be in that hell hole. Many had to leave their on homes before the syorm and had that on their minds. I have to give some credit to those people ... but that's just me.

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I'm sure any branch considers members who died before they got to a particular duty station that they spent any time at consider those guys Shipmates, brothers, etc

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Negative, nobody claims they lost 17 shipmates well after it happens. You didn't know any of those guys. But whatever makes you feel superior to others after bashing all forms of deployments and forms of serving and you have never had a round come your way. I've got friends that were in the guard that saw more real combat in a year than most saw in a 20 year career. You haven't seen shite but a bunch of ports around the world and want to bitch about reservists and guardsmen and you don't have a clue what the entails. Good luck in school, I hope in broadens your mind a little.

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To get the hell out of Baton Rouge. Best decision I ever made.

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...for us.

That would would mean I'd have to go to Alabama once a month. My dedication to this country has it's limits.

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That would would mean I'd have to go to Alabama once a month. My dedication to this country has it's limits

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I believe that while the 20th SF Group is HQ'ed in Birmingham, AL, they have one battalion in Mississippi.

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And I completely got his point about hurricane duty, generally - somebody compares handing out ice, water and MREs for a week or 2 in Hammond or wherever to a real deployment,

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I live by all gave some, some gave all. I don't care how little one gives, they went through the training and doing what they were asked to do.

Another point to this is reserves get tuition money. That is part of their benefit package. If someone begrudges them this they should take it up with the g'ovt. The people aren't to blame.

I got a question, some guy said he RAd me. What da hell does that mean??