Outdoors
Hunting
Fishing
Academics
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this question brings a smile to my face as I remember a question in the OCS Test in 1972. "Do you enjoy long hikes in the woods ?" lol
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
I enjoy the long hikes in the woods when they are My idea and its to enjoy the scenery and surroundings. Forced hikes in a Military setting doesn't appeal to Me very much but then being Air Force if I took them at all the route was short and had a destination which wasn't far away usually.
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I think it made me a better Soldier. I noticed things about the world around me that others didn't; I knew how to take care of myself in the field & could tolerate harsh weather better. Through all that, I was also able to help and teach my fellow Soldiers who didn't have such a fortunate past like I did.
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SPC Dane DeGrace
I have to agree with you there! I was used to running around in the woods, getting down and dirty so those types of activities within the military were a piece of cake.
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SPC Dane DeGrace
That very well could be the case with a majority of service members too! It is a possibility to be drawn to the military because one is used to those types of activities outdoors.
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Definitely. I once went to mt magazine st park. And didn't see anything on 4 legs for 3 weeks. One of the best times in my life.
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No. I was an outdoor guy before. However, what I do notice is country folks seem to fit in better with the military than city folks.
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SPC Dane DeGrace
I think it all depends on the service member. I've served would some great city folks. But it definitely helps having some outdoors experiences before serving in the military.
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SMSgt Thor Merich
SPC Dane DeGrace - I have nothing against city folks, its just that most of them (in my experience) don't do well in the woods. However, I have also met a few that grew to love the outdoors based on their exposure to it from the military.
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In my case one specific unit ruined my joy of backpacking. In my youth I had a huge Everest backpack that I originally bought to run a trap line for mink, beaver, muskrat a few other fur bearers. I really enjoyed that type on activity and I earned good pocket money doing it. Just before I entered the Army I did a backpacking trip to Western Europe again backpacking and hitchhiking most of the time. While in the Army I often hiked and backpacked doing my hobby gold panning and prospecting for gold. Fast forward 12 years and the Army sent me to Fort Drum, New York. 3/14th Inf Bn light. First field exercise in September was a shock. Load plans were messed up, many critical items were missing or nonexistent. No tents, no heaters just one single 2 seat cargo HMMWV loaded to the roof with commo support gear. Zero comfort or life support gear. All that was in my low ruck that weighed over 100 lbs in summer 120 lbs plus in winter. The only time we got a ride was if there was an emergency mission that needed us there faster than we could walk or if we were in trouble and going to get an ass chewing. Camping in winter at minus 20 with no tent or heater. That unit damn near froze me to death more times than I can count. Then when summer would come they would deploy us anywhere in the world so we couldn't enjoy the summer. Then send us back for winter so we could be there to freeze our asses off. Out of 48 months assigned , I only spent 18 months on Fort Drum, all in the winter. The other 30 months were Somalia, Haiti, Panama, or West Point. I don't enjoy backpacking at all anymore and only do it twice a year for prospecting trips.
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SPC Dane DeGrace
I can see how those experiences could have ruined your leisure activities. I was born, raised and eventually moved back to upstate New York after my time in the Army; so, I absolutely can relate to experiencing the harsh winters.
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