What is your top 10 list of cool/unique things you've done in your military career?

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 19 May 2014 15:26:49 -0400

list 10 things you've done that you think are way cool and/or unique that you probably wouldn't have gotten to do as a civilian.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 19 at 2014 3:48 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 19 May 2014 15:48:14 -0400

Not in any particular order:

12. Finally making it to Germany on a few occasions for pre deployment exercises.

11. Meeting US Senator Jack Reed from RI in 2 separate combat zones

10. Meeting President George Bush in Somalia 1991.

9. Riding in Blackhawks on several occasions.

8. Going to Pan Mun Jom and North Korea (inside the building of course) while stationed on the DMZ in Korea.

7. Deploying as Brigade S-6 to Iraq covering 6 units in an 800KM COMZ.

6. Being the S6 for 1/506 IN (2nd IN DIV).

5. Eating a traditional dinner with a Japanese officer and his family at their house while at Yama Sakura.

4. Visiting Inchon and other Korean War battle sites as an ROTC cadet while on CTLT after Advanced Camp.

3. Being part of a 2 joint task forces, working side-by-side with officers NCOs and enlisted from all 5 branches of the military.

2. Finally making Field Grade after 10 years as a Captain - my own choosing/fault but loved every minute of it.

1. Having the honor and blessing of working with some of the best people in the world especially all the Senior Section NCOs that always stood by me and taught me the ways of the world.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 19 at 2014 4:12 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 19 May 2014 16:12:38 -0400

NOT IN ORDER

10. The Golden Shellback ceremony.

9. Living in Germany and Korea.

8. Visiting Israel.

7. Touring the Babylon ruins.

6.Building schools and wells for impoverished neighborhoods/children.

5.Hitting Australia, Singapore, Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Afghanistan, Kenya and Hawaii within 12 months.

4.Traveling from state to state accrediting and assessing institutions, giving classes on the latest instructional methodologies.

3. Working to make changes/improvements for entire Proponents/ MOS's.

2. Getting to network with Senators, Congressmen, Generals and Senior Executive Service personnel.

1. Recieving countless hours of schooling, certifications, qualifications, and training, all the while deploying and performing missions to place all that information into use and context.

In case you can't tell, I absolutely LOVE the military.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 19 at 2014 6:49 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Mon, 19 May 2014 18:49:36 -0400

1) Serving my country.
2) Following in my fathers footsteps.
3) I got to see the Northern Lights while stationed in Fort Drum.
4) Seeing the Vulcan weapon system fire live at night, the tracers going down range was awesome.
5) Traveling to Korea.
6) Taking leave while in Korea and going to Australia.
7) Being able to go back to the Philippines to see the country where I was born.
8) Making friends that have been life altering, especially while attached to the 4th BN. 31st Infantry Regiment at Fort Drum.
9) Taking the river cruise of the 1000 Islands area while stationed at Fort Drum.
10) Taking the longest plane flights I have ever taken and I did it twice going and twice coming. Korea

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2014 7:47 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 May 2014 19:47:51 -0400

I maintained a very high speed hair cut. Much easier as I lose more hair.

Response by Sgt Arthur Went made May 19 at 2014 8:24 PM

Sgt Arthur Went — Mon, 19 May 2014 20:24:03 -0400

Not in any order:
1. Operation Cobra Gold Pataya Beach Thailand

2. Northern Training Area (NTA) Okinawa Japan, Jungle warfare training.

3. Fast roped & repelled out of black hawks, 46's and 53 super stallions

4.Marine Combat Swim Instructor

5 Marine Boot Camp of course.

6.Comm School Pole Climbing week.

7. Flew in a Black Hawk for hours along the coastal and Mountain sides of Thailand. Absolutely beautiful!

8. Being Stationed in Iwakuni Japan. Love it there. x2 tour

9.Making it through Combat Swim Instructor school. They try to Damm near drown you. lol...

9.Traveling and seeing different cultures

10. Live fire exercises and night fires Shooting M-16, Squad Automatic Weapon (S.A.W.), M-60's and 50 cals.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made May 19 at 2014 9:45 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Mon, 19 May 2014 21:45:11 -0400

1. Serve my country
2. Continue the family tradition
3. Become a NCO and worked my way up to SSG(P)
4. Graduate OCS
5. Deploy 3x and also complete one tour to S. Korea
6. Live and visit places I would never go on my own
7. USAREC
8. PL,AS3,XO,S4,and Troop Commander
9. Meet patriotic brothers-in-arms
10. Shop at the PX ;)

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made May 19 at 2014 9:53 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Mon, 19 May 2014 21:53:47 -0400

These are some of my fondest and most memorable moments so they are all pretty well number 1

1.Call me a sentimentalist, But viewing some of the most awesome sunsets thousands of miles from nowhere.
2. Mountain warfare training, California and South Korea
3. Setting in a hooch as an interpreters radio operator listening to the Korean Marine commander giving a speech to his men, I have no clue what they were saying, but thought it was really cool. They actually came in unannounced and without prior notice, so at first I thought I had been overrun.
4. Australian repel in South Korea.
5. Driving around Hong Kong for hours because of a communication gap between us and the cab driver, but I think the driver had as much fun as we did.
6. Living in Hawaii for three and a half years.
Traveling to different countries and exploring off the beaten path.
7. Night FPF in 29 Palms
8. Living in LA-X for three days because of the United Airlines strike. Glad the First Sargent was understanding.
9. Living on ship (USS DENVER) for six months. PT on a the flight deck presented new terrain everyday.
10. Seeing Ray Charles perform in Hawaii.
11 NFL Pro Bowl.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2014 10:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 May 2014 22:14:01 -0400

My top 10 in no real order would have to be:
1. Had the chance to get stationed in Germany
2. Had the ability to see the Reserves side and the Active side of things.
3. Became family with people who started out as complete strangers to me at every station I have been to.
4.Been deployed 4 times and each time I learned something new.
5.Linked up with a lost contact friend at SLC half way around the world from where we last saw each other. (8 years since last saw each other)
6. Got the chance to assist in training America's Force while stationed at NTC.
7. Completed a Spur Ride and earned my Silver Spurs also deployed with them and earned my Gold Spurs.
8. Trained Soldiers!
9.Had the ability to work with some amazing people who will forever be mentors to me.
10. This one is really my number one, but had the ability to watch my Soldiers grow, some promoted to the ranks of NCOs and some transition to officers. Had some Soldiers that no one wanted to work with (screw ups) so they gave them to me (I was training room NCO at the time) and turned them into Soldiers that excelled and got promoted.

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made May 20 at 2014 12:53 AM

Maj Walter Kilar — Tue, 20 May 2014 00:53:29 -0400

Here is my top 10, pretty much chronologically:
1. I learned in basic training how to "mop" a floor...with a toothbrush.
2. I learned in technical training how to sleep...standing up while carrying textbooks.
3. I learned how to blow up a million dollars of aircraft support equipment, and just blame it on lack of experience.
4. I learned how to blow up another million dollars of aircraft support equipment, and just blame it on the poorly written technical manual.
5. I learned how to piss off an entire fighter wing by not fixing a critical piece of equipment fast enough. I had about 50 fighter pilots waiting on me to fix some piece of gear that I cannot recall at this moment.
6. I learned that no matter how hard you try, you really cannot suck ramen noodles through the drinking tube of an MCU-2A/P gas mask, but that hot broth certainly shoots up the nostrils pretty quickly.
7. I learned how to control my temper when my troop was caught underage drinking and driving two states away, causing me to get called in from leave early so I could do the Elephant Walk in service dress blues on Monday morning.
8. I learned that technically your other troop does not have to be gone for 30 days before being declared AWOL, especially if he is found a) to be hiding a meth lab in his apartment b) was caught after getting stuck in a McDonald's drive through window...naked and c) avoided prison because the crystal meth clotted his blood and nearly killed him.
9. I learned how much fun it can be to take the same college class three times, because each time I PCS the new school refuses to accept transfer credits.
10. I learned that the only way out of a desk job is to volunteer for deployments with special operations units...and the Air Force refuses to acknowledge that as a deployment, since the orders were data masked and not part of a standard deployment tasking.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made May 20 at 2014 1:35 AM

SFC Stephen P. — Tue, 20 May 2014 01:35:59 -0400

10. Bradley table 12, Mech Infantry platoon live fire
9. Range 19 at Ft. Riley. Night familiarization with the M203. Targets were M114s. 2 firing orders on line, one engaging with HEDP, the other illuminating.
8. Seeing expert coordination between 2 M249 SAWs. One picked up a burst right as the other finished. It was Armageddon in stereo.
7. Cooking an MRE for a stray dog in Srebrenica.
6. Facilitating reenlistments. Seriously, it's awesome. Even more so when when I get to give away bonus money.
5. Calling cadence.
4. Participating in the dedication of a 16th Infantry monument in Arlington.
3. Seeing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown
2. Leading troops
1. Leading troops

Response by SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh made May 20 at 2014 1:53 AM

SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh — Tue, 20 May 2014 01:53:28 -0400

Skiing in the Alps
Visiting France
Driving on the German Autobaun
Scuba Diving in the Red Sea
Seeing the Pyramids and Luxor
Seeing Jerusalem
Visiting Petra
Swimming in the Dead Sea
Hiking Mount Rainer
Completing an Off-Road Triathlon

Response by SGT Shon D. Hill made May 20 at 2014 2:28 AM

SGT Shon D. Hill — Tue, 20 May 2014 02:28:14 -0400

Awesome question Sir! (Or you prefer Robert now, I like sir, and still like SGT sometimes :). Hmm...not so much in order but here goes!
1). Stationed in an awesome foreign country, Bad Kreuznach, Germany! Just living there 3 years made my life an awesome story.
2). Serving in combat, doing EXACTLY what I trained 12 yrs for, and coming home alive as well, maybe somewhat broken, but Ty GOD and my buddies :)
3). Earning rank of SERGEANT/E5, it was great to be part of the "backbone" of the Army! Oddly I had no desire to climb up beyond that though :/ Comment on that if you'd like with thoughts anyone :).
4). Being honor graduate of my PLDC class of 316 in Graffenwoer, I guess it's WLC now, yes? The Dist honor grad only best me in Pt score, but we were both nerds so academics was our forte, lol. Sorry folks, can't have it all most of the time, brains or Braun, few have both lol
5). Being in 2 military marriages, well me in class A anyway, it's kind of nice to know that 2 women loved me enough to marry me, right? They were both darn great, PTSD and my lack to deal ruined the 2nd run :( still grateful they were part of my life.
6). Utilized leave and long weekends well to explore over 20 European countries, instead of buying German Schrunks n such, great memories!
7). Taking charge of an entire Troop Medical Clinic/ small base hospital as a new E5 and only 21 yrs old, about 15 soldiers to supervise! It was an E7 slot, downgraded to E6 that I filled as a new E5 :/. Weird huh? Earned great leadership skills quickly, and my soldiers all kicked butt! Most credit goes to my NCO's that raised me! Ty ladies n Gents!
8). Ooh, here's one! I get privelege to be a Rally Point member and an honorably discharged Combat Vet with good benefits from VA (once process was done, lol). I'm very grateful to VA and Army for GI BILL/VOCREHAB, Etc. Iraqi soldier vets don't get anything......I'm assuming :(.
9). Great Rehab center in Oregon (white city, OR) helped me get sober! Twice! Civilians pay tens of thousands of $!
10). Va home loan guarantee, so we can have a piece of the American dream :). Thanks for reading guys n gals! Can someone tell me how to rate up the MAJOR for this as a superior question? Doc Hill, gratefully alive disabled but improving medic and vet :)

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 20 at 2014 4:10 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Tue, 20 May 2014 04:10:51 -0400

MAJ Petrarca, I was the NCOIC of two flag details very recently. It was a privilege and the soldiers who were given to me by my PSG said he selected soldiers who would most likely not be late, who would show up in good and clean uniforms, and who would represent our unit in the most honorable way.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2014 4:54 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 May 2014 04:54:27 -0400

SIR

1. Meeting my wife, we were both stationed in Germany at the time.
2.Going through an IED attack with my oldest son on FOB Shank.
3. Jumping with my oldest son with the Italian Army at a drop zone just outside of Pisa.
4. Jumping with my youngest son at Fort Bragg, I was the PJ and he was my #1 Jumper.
5. Jumping with my oldest son on his last jump at Airborne School.

Response by SGT Shon D. Hill made May 20 at 2014 8:41 AM

SGT Shon D. Hill — Tue, 20 May 2014 08:41:28 -0400

Ok guys n gals, I must add an 11th....learned to fix wounded people expertly and fire most weapons that create work in said first occupation, also expertly! What a yin yang crazy black/white contrast huh? Only Medics n Corpsmen can truly relate, but y'all agree yes? Hope I didn't break a reg, order, or tradition here, lol, and if I did...por favor no me votan bajo! (I love languages, so fun to use! If u didn't get that, google and translate, you learned some Spanish! Useful EVERYWHERE SOUTH OF HERE TO ANTARCTICA, lol ;). Plus it's fun to surprise Latin/Hispanic people after their bashing you being such a guerro(white boy), lol! I'm shutting up now, didn't sleep well, now goofy!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2014 8:43 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 May 2014 08:43:46 -0400

A few of these were the greatest honors that I am proud to have done:

1) CNO/CAO
2) Present flag to the wife of one of my Soldiers after he died
3) Pallbearer for a fallen hero
4) Jump out of airplane and get paid to do it
5) Travel to some nice, but mostly middle of nowhere locations
6) Wear some "outfit" everyday without needing to decide what to wear the next day
7) Blow up a pile of dirt a few times
8) Throw a grenade a few times
9) Met GEN Petraeus, Anna Kournikova, Billy Ray Cyrus, Andy Reid, and a few other football coaches, MN GOV Tim Pawlenty
10) Got to ride in a tank

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2014 9:01 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 May 2014 09:01:13 -0400

Not in any order

1. Meeting my wife at Ft Bliss. She was a holdover and I was a MOS-T back in January 2000 I married her 2 weeks later, been married ever since lol.

2. Being blown up in Iraq. Nothing like near death experience and being in my first fire fight in Dec 2007

3. Being promoted to SGT

4. Being promoted to SFC

5. PCSing to FT Lewis I met most of my closest friends while up there in 702/202d BSB

Response by SGT Shon D. Hill made May 20 at 2014 9:08 AM

SGT Shon D. Hill — Tue, 20 May 2014 09:08:10 -0400

Because I'm not a moderator or Blue Ribbon yet I need counsel on this, but I believe Major Bob who posted this thread should receive a really HUGE PERK like awesome Question badge! My favorite thread ever online period! Ty and let's enjoy many more :). (Feels like I'm not so isolated anymore :), sincere thanks to u all!

Response by SFC Rich Carey made May 20 at 2014 9:17 AM

SFC Rich Carey — Tue, 20 May 2014 09:17:43 -0400

1. Fire Lance missiles
2. Fire MLRS rockets
3. Attend munition shows
4. Rappel from medicine bluff
5. In a commercial - Superbowl, MLRS
6. Travel to 28 countries
7. Living in Seoul Korea with my family
8. Awarded a submarine license for a M151 Willey jeep
9. Being part of history - Desert Storm, 3 champaigns
10. Military camaraderie

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2014 11:25 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 May 2014 11:25:30 -0400

I would have to say the best things so far are:
1) Sailed to the Antarctic
2) Sailed to the Arctic
3) Stationed in Seattle
4) Stationed in Boston
5) The Six Line Crossing Certificates I have received. (Red Nosed Emperor Penguin, Blue Nose Polar Bear, Golden Shellback, Golden Dragon, Shellback, and Spanish Maine)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2014 1:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 May 2014 13:08:42 -0400

1.Live in Germany
2.Live in Hawai'i
3.Live 5 miles from the Pentagon on 9-11
4.Visit France
5.Visit Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and see a large statue of Joseph Stalin in the square.
6.Going to the Pro Bowl in Honolulu.
7.Traveling across Honduras while stationed at Soto Cano AB.
8.Visiting all of the museums and monuments in D.C. while stationed at Ft. Belvoir.
9.Numerous cities visited (NYC, Philly,Baltimore, Boston, Providence, Atlanta, Chicago) and many more.
10.Many great experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq, though not as a civilian.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made May 20 at 2014 2:50 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 20 May 2014 14:50:46 -0400

1. Parachute from a plane.
2. Helocast from a helicopter.
3. Rappel from a helicopter.
4. Fly in a helicopter.
5. Watch the sun rise over the Top Hat Mountains in the high desert of New Mexico.
6. Step on an ROTC cadet's head and have her thank me (long story but one of my highlights).
7. Ski from Switzerland to Italy and back to Switzerland and across the Matterhorn.
8. Contract a Medal of Honor recipient.
9. Watch Bundeswehr paratroopers dropping like flies from formation after a night of drinking ‘weak’ American beer.
10. Get the chance to serve my Nation and meet some of the most interesting people from across our Country.

Response by TSgt Scott Hurley made May 20 at 2014 5:01 PM

TSgt Scott Hurley — Tue, 20 May 2014 17:01:58 -0400

10. Worked on the oldest combat aircraft, the B-52 Stratofortress.

9. Went to England for a month TDY and got to see the sites.

8. Went to Italy for 3 months.

7. While in Italy Saw both Verona and Venice on the same weekend. Coped a feel of Juliet in Verona.

6. Went to Salzburg, Austria for a day.

5. Went to the city state of Trieste.

4. Spent a Year in Korea. Did not see the country.

3. Sent planes to the boneyard after their service. Good ridence to the F-111. Sad to send the B-52 to the boneyard.

2. Being able to get on other branches service stations.

1. Knowing that you are part of the greatest military in the WORLD.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2014 5:17 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 May 2014 17:17:08 -0400

10) Kaiserslautern (Near Ramstein) - Saw a biker with a broken bike and took him to the local Hell's Angels. He was also an Air Force Veteran. They treated me with respect being a service member. They invited me back any time.

9) K-Town- At a dance club and bar in a strip mall, I saw a fellow veteran being threatened by punkers, so I stepped in between the combatants and the antagonists left. His punker friends and I became friends of a kind.

8) Bad Durkheim Winefest. Very cool, hundreds of people from around the world were dancing to Ooompah music, hand to shoulder and I was not the only veteran.

7) Ramstein - A friend of mine was date-raped. I supported her as a friend and eventually the baby was adopted by a mixed couple. All were blessed and I am thankful to be able to help.

6) Rhein Mein - Went to a football game against Mildenhall in which we won like 6-3 or something. Loved the trip to London and got to see some of the old school buildings.

5) Went to Paris with a girl friend and went up on the Eiffel Tower. It got stuck and I commented this was like a real life disaster movie. And when we got at the top I said it was going to tip over. My ladyfriend told me to be quiet. ha.

4) Ramstein AB. - As a Meteorologist issued a Severe Icing Warning and all flying ceased for awhile. The power went to my head.

3) Saarbrucken (Near Trier) - I told my friends to watch as I was going to walk through a bunch of dangerous looking punk rockers.

2) Chanute AFB - The instructors challenged us future forecasters to a softball game. We destroyed them and I went 5 for 5 and played errorless third base.

1) Sheppard AFB - A Colonel told the NCOIC of my training unit to send me to Student Leadership School because of my work in the dorm. I ended up as a Squadron leader (Red Rope). Crazy how I never dreamed cleaning up some old barracks would impress somebody so much.

Response by SPC Christopher Morehouse made May 20 at 2014 7:03 PM

SPC Christopher Morehouse — Tue, 20 May 2014 19:03:21 -0400

1)Made a hand puppet from C4
2)Blew up a hand puppet made from C4
3)M2 50 cal. Nuff said
4)Almost blow myself up
5)Almost get blown up by some one else
6)Occupy a hostile nation
7)Thermite Grenades. Nuff Said
8)Play a week long game of laser tag with guns. And tanks. And Helicopters. And APCs. And a couple thousand buddies. In Germany.
9)Cross both the Tigris and Euphrates.
10)See what happens when you put 200 lbs of high explposives in a 15 foot hole. (Spoiler alert, it makes a much much bigger hole).

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made May 20 at 2014 9:42 PM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Tue, 20 May 2014 21:42:37 -0400

In no particular order:

1. Wrote my name on one of the first bombs dropped from an aircraft during OEF

2. Brought my daughter on a Tiger Cruise

3. Designed a new squadron logo for the transition to the F/a-18 Super Hornet

4. Had (then) VP George Bush as a VIP in one of my airplanes that I was a PC for in '86

5. Coached Little League Baseball for the last ten years of Active Duty

6. Seven deployments over a ten year period

7. Zero discrepancies through seven AMI inspections

8. Helping two squadrons of Marines transition from F-4's to F/A-18's

9. Made some of the best friends with the best people I've ever known

10. Kept my family together, despite seven deployments over the last 10 years of active duty

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made May 20 at 2014 10:07 PM

SSG Kevin McCulley — Tue, 20 May 2014 22:07:12 -0400

In no order:
1. Be responsible for multiple human beings still drawing breath.
2. Serve as the DoD Presidential Reviewing Stand Announcer for an Inaugural Parade
3. Hold the still beating heart of a goat still attached to said goat
4. Had blackhawk helicopters at my disposal
5. Get to BS with Kid Rock
6. Get to hang out with the Zac Brown Band for 3 days (and get a guitar signed by them thank you very much)
7. Read a chapter in a history book about my company and a battle we were in that arguably prevented a civil war.
8. Got to experience what the real world was outside the American kumbya bubble.
9. Met the future queen of England's high school sweetheart.
10. The realization that by age 26, if I died, my life had meaning.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Dec 21 at 2014 1:43 AM

Cpl Dennis F. — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 01:43:03 -0500

One:
Being solely responsible for 54 tons of rompin', stompin' hell fire and destruction Patton tank and three other Marines in a free fire zone full of NVA, with one other tank and a Company of Korean Marines that didn't care about f'n nothin', as an 18 year old Corporal.

Two:
Surviving all that sh*t to come home and be a winning 66 year old racecar driver.

That's my list. It's all down hill from there.
Dam, what else can God and life give you?

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2014 3:48 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 15:48:43 -0500

I've gotten to travel to over 50 countries within a 2 and a half year time span. I've spent some time on Midway Atoll and saw tiger sharks eat young albatross when they were learning to fly. I got to provide protection to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers and was coined for excellence in my duties and spent two hours talking to him on the plane ride. I've climbed Mt. Fuji twice and spent 6 weeks in Puerto Rico where I got an opportunity to explore the rainforest and the local islands of Culebra and Vallecas. I was at Ramstein Germany and flew my sister out for two weeks and went to Perris to see the Luv and Euro Disney. I can go on and on...

Response by SSG Steve Walters made Dec 21 at 2014 3:54 PM

SSG Steve Walters — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 15:54:49 -0500

Not in order,
1. Conducted joint patrols in Kosovo with Ukranian and Polish MPs.
2. Guarded Panamanian EPWs during Just Cause.
3. Assisted with Force pro in Haiti after earthquake.
4. Presidential security during Clintons visit to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo ( and met him personally)
5. In a Blackhawk, flew over an active volcano in Guatemala.
6. Basic training at Ft. McClellan, AL
7. Worked with civilian police in New Orleans after Katrina.
8. Flood duty in St. Louis 1993.
9. Military Police Ball
10. Visited a concentration camp memorial in Germany.

Those are my proud accomplishments. I could also make a list of things memorable that would of, or did get me in trouble, haha!

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Dec 21 at 2014 4:12 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 16:12:53 -0500

In no particular order:

1) was one of the first Brigade Nurses in the inventory. My experiences helped to shape doctrine.
2) turned over Chemical Ali to GOI for his execution
3) getting my spurs
4) living in Seoul
5) saw the DMZ/JSA
6) going to grad school in Denver on teh Army's dime
7) taking R&R in Europe
8) "experiencing" NTC
9) MEDEVACing patients from Korea to Hawaii
10) getting to do things that a normal nurse doesn't get to do

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 6:19 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:19:05 -0500

In no particular order:
1. Jump out of airplanes.
2. Visit Germany
3. volunteer at the USO and a Charter school and help educate children.
4. Saw Saddam's castles.
5. Deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan.
6. Train with and alongside America's Best.
7. Cross country trip from Colorado to North Carolina.
8. Serving my country and living my childhood dream.
9. Earning my Bachelor's Degree.
10. Battle buddies I have kept, and new ones I have added along the way.

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Jun 11 at 2015 2:43 PM

LTC Ed Ross — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 14:43:09 -0400

1. Met my wife
2. Served my country
3. Associated with America's finest men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces
4. Flew 1,000 hours in combat and came home alive.
5. Went to Tibet for lunch (didn't stay the night)
6. Traveled to every province in China
7. Traveled to every country in Asia
8. Flew on United States of America Boeing 707 special mission aircraft as the only passenger
9. Climbed Yu Shan in Taiwan, 4000 meters, highest mountain in former Japanese Empire
10. Lived in Hawaii, China and Taiwan

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 11 at 2015 2:47 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 14:47:01 -0400

I have nothing to say :-)

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 11 at 2015 3:50 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 15:50:23 -0400

1. I had fun in JRTC with my aviation unit. 2. I took my tank flying twice in the desert. 3. I was OIC of Single Soldiers day 2000 at Ft Hood, TX. 4. I wrote a DFAS wide SOP pertaining to disaster preparedness and response. 5. I took a week to write a DTS Cheat Sheet. 6. I got visibility of Homeland Security's mission and down trace units, agencies, and cabinets. 7. I helped a few soldiers who had PTSD. 8. I chaptered a few soldiers, but I built up their confidence. I worked with an Alabama National Guard unit that had both state and federal funds.

Response by CPT Earl George made Jul 19 at 2016 9:35 PM

CPT Earl George — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 21:35:02 -0400

Tradition has it that a newly commissioned 2LT gives a dollar to first enlisted person he returns a salute. I was very proud of the enlisted ROTC cadre at my college. I gave each of them a silver dollar after returning their salutes. they all looked forward to saluting me after I got commissioned and I wanted it to be memorable.

Response by David Pitt made Sep 29 at 2016 6:50 PM

David Pitt — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 18:50:54 -0400

Used to low crawl under the humvee during pmc mondays and wait for people to walk by then I would either grab there leg or make rattle snake noises then jab them in the leg with a stick scared a lot of people doing that

Response by SGT Mathew Husen made Sep 29 at 2016 7:15 PM

SGT Mathew Husen — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 19:15:10 -0400

Drive through an IP checkpoint with HMMV. Made the IP jump for his life and destroyed his Jersey Barrier

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2016 12:25 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 00:25:06 -0400

1) gunning tank table VIII
1) rappelling a 40 ft tower face first
3) learning Korean from actual Koreans
4) getting into a fire fight in Iraq
5) becoming a drill sergeant
6) traveling the world
7) nap of the earth flight at night in Iraq
8) trading new soldiers
9) witnessing an A10 strafing run
10) saving a comrades life after an ied attack

Response by 1SG Doug Slusher made May 19 at 2017 1:08 PM

1SG Doug Slusher — Fri, 19 May 2017 13:08:33 -0400

Be the 1SG of Proud Airborne troopers. 319th AFAR. Best Regiment in the Army...,

Response by PO1 Don Hand made May 20 at 2017 9:22 AM

PO1 Don Hand — Sat, 20 May 2017 09:22:39 -0400

6.2gs in an FA18, drive my own patrol boat, subic bay and that one time I fought a non compliant green beret and took him down with the "thumb in the ass" trick... I'm a Sailor, fill in blanks for the rest...

Response by CPO Dave Berube made May 20 at 2017 4:38 PM

CPO Dave Berube — Sat, 20 May 2017 16:38:44 -0400

1. Classified
2. Classified
3. Classified
4. Working alongside people of the highest caliber in the world.
5. Spending time above the artic circle
6. Playing rugby in USA and other countries
7. Traveling a Norwegian fjord
8. Swim call in the Puerto Rican trench
9. Visiting WW II historical sites overseas
10. Waking up to a smoke filled compartment, groggy, disoriented, and scared shitless on my first deployment.

Response by CPO Michael Bechen made May 20 at 2017 7:29 PM

CPO Michael Bechen — Sat, 20 May 2017 19:29:52 -0400

1. Rode in a Helo
2. Stationed in Boston for a ships overhaul
3.Controlled Fighter aircraft

Response by PO1 Giovanni Bellomo made May 21 at 2017 9:19 AM

PO1 Giovanni Bellomo — Sun, 21 May 2017 09:19:59 -0400

1. Serving
2. Being a Doc on board the USS John Young DD973
3. Seeing the sunrise and sunset over the southwest Pacific.
4. Steaming wit the BB63 on deployment.
5. Seeing full broadside fire of the USS Missouri while steaming with her.
6. Port Calls in Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Abu Dahbi and Saudi Arabia.
7. Birth of my Daughter
8. Making hooch in sickbay with brewers yeast and grape juice concentrate.
9. Laying under the stars in the safety nets on the O-5 level and staring into space.
10. Being able to retire with full benefits.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2017 11:50 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 May 2017 11:50:09 -0400

My top 10 experiences (so far):
1. Getting gassed in basic with tear gas
2. Learn how to plug holes for 16 weeks at sam houston
3. Hip fire a .50 cal (long story, got a coin out of it)
4. Playing with claymores
5. Firing two M4 carbines at once on full auto
6. Surprisingly, i really liked JRTC
7. Meeting new people
8. The comraderie (is that how you spell it?) Of the people you work with and the shenanigans that go with that
9. Firing a shoulder mounted rocket launcher
10. Getting to be a medic in the army, and playing with stuff i shouldn't.

Response by SFC Forrest Parks made May 24 at 2017 12:00 PM

SFC Forrest Parks — Wed, 24 May 2017 12:00:29 -0400

1. One of four soldiers in US Army to earn Belarusian Airborne wings.
2. Had a conversation with the Minister of Defense for Belarus, while taking a leak.
3. Traveled most of Europe (some for fun, some for missions)
4. Worked in an US Embassy.
5. Burning a mound of cheese charges after a week's worth of 4.2" live firing.
6. Held meetings with local Mayors, and met Ambassadors, Charge d'affairs, and Defense Attaches from numerous countries.
7. Ate horse meat.
8. Met several Heroes of the Soviet Union, the Russian LT who was the first to link up with the Americans at the Elbe, several of the Russian "sniper ladies" from WW2, a Russian naval officer who survived two sinking ships, a Russian pilot who shot down Germans in WW2 and an American during Korea (so he claimed), and the President of Belarus.
9. Fired mortars, machine guns, rifles, pistols, an artillery cannon, a Bradley gunnery table, an Abrams main round, anti-tank rockets, a claymore mine, grenade launchers, and thrown hand grenades.
10. Follow in my mother and father's footsteps and served my country.

Response by SGT Eric Hawkins made May 24 at 2017 6:26 PM

SGT Eric Hawkins — Wed, 24 May 2017 18:26:56 -0400

1: Air Assault School
2: ate lunch at some sort of monastery in Korea in 1998
3: sat on a pallet of $4 Million in Iraq in 2003
4: got to train with a bunch of guys named "Bill" in Djibouti in 2002
5: Shot an RAG
6: Met the SECDEF
7: went to Africa
8: met a bunch of life long friends.
9: shooting automatic weapons
10: was honored to wear the uniform of the greatest Army to ever exist on the face of this planet.

Response by SSG John Jensen made May 25 at 2017 2:01 AM

SSG John Jensen — Thu, 25 May 2017 02:01:09 -0400

dragged parachutist ('bout a 1/10 sec 'til the string broke, but seemed like forever)
my parents and youngest brother watched me jump (Sat fun jump, C-7 Caribou)
as range medic qualified 'door gunner'
" fired Cobra chain gun
" fired 4.2" mortar
Drove a great big truck all through Iraq

Response by SPC Kevin Turf made Jul 10 at 2017 12:31 AM

SPC Kevin Turf — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 00:31:08 -0400

Live in a foreign country, earn a foreign award, fire a belt fed grenade launcher (M19), teach people from another nation how to use weapon systems.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Nov 28 at 2017 11:24 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 11:24:18 -0500

The chance to give back to the Country I was so privileged to be born in.
Being Infantry and the brother hood of arms.
Attending LRRP School.
Battle Staff rides to Normandy / Battle of the Bulge
Giving courses to the Ministry of Defense General staff in Kiev, Ukraine
Working with soldiers from so many different NATO countries.
Traveling to so many different countries.
Driving a BTR 80
Driving a M113
Burning up lots of M60 ammo I didn't (directly) have to buy.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2017 12:14 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 12:14:57 -0500

Seeing the world

Meeting the best people in the world

Shooting some very awesome weapons especially MAMA Deuce.

Seeing Flight Ops on a Carrier up close in person.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Dec 1 at 2017 12:20 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 12:20:35 -0500

First this, then other Army stuff.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Dec 1 at 2017 1:47 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 13:47:16 -0500

W O W ! Totally Awesome !

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Dec 1 at 2017 1:49 PM

SFC Greg Bruorton — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 13:49:03 -0500

Top Ten Items During Military Service

1. Surviving Basic Training at Ft Knox during field exercises in dead of winter-1960

2. Serving in an Honor Guard at President Truman's home town-1961

3. Appreciating the various dishes in Korea--all hot--getting promoted to Sergeant E5--1962

4. Attending the 3rd USA NCO Academy at Ft Jackson, SC and feeling the shock of President Kennedy's assassination in November while on the drill pad-1963

5. First trip to the Dominican Republic during the presidential takeover--1965. Second trip in 1966 and traveling close to Haiti--hearing Voodoo drums at night

6. Only trip to Salt Lake City's General Conference in a C-130 from Ft Bragg carrying all LDS Service-members. Pilots, navigator, crewmen, and occupants all Latter-day Saints--1966

7. PCS to Prum, Germany, and then to Stuttgart. Got to see Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, and other WWII places--1968

8. Vietnam tour--got to travel by Huey or OP-51s to inspect communications sites throughout South Vietnam.

9. Assigned as first Special Security Officer, 82nd Airborne Division--1976

10. Achieved goal at reaching MSG E8, but declined it to retire. Family in attendance--1980

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Dec 1 at 2017 2:08 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 14:08:20 -0500

Fired a 165MM Demolition gun off the CEV
Set and blew up Cratering Charges.
Dug an electric blasting cap out of a block of C4
Fired a Dragon Anti Tank Rocket
Drove both an M60 and M1 Tank
Launched a bridge on an AVLB.
Survived OCS (without strangling a TAC)
Got to see Adak, Alaska
Fired the Ma Deuce
Made it through Infantry OSUT and IOBC

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Feb 4 at 2018 2:16 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 14:16:53 -0500

Getting laid in a plethora of third world countries.

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Feb 4 at 2018 7:44 PM

SFC Greg Bruorton — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 19:44:29 -0500

From the earliest to the latest in my military career:

1. Performed KP in every mess hall in the South Eastern Signal School after my graduation from radio-teletype school. (1960)

2. Traveled by train from Fort Gordon to Fort Leavenworth--July 1960-- and reported to MPs that I needed a ride to the garrison as I had no idea where I was at the train depot. This was after popping numerous cans of beer along the rails. They grinned a lot after putting me in their '57 Chevrolet staff car.

3. Played several characters in Andy Griffith's, "No Time for Sergeants" at the Fort Leavenworth Playhouse with the opening number as Country guitar picker and singer, b. navigator, and drunken Infantryman starting a fight with the main character (my best performance). (1961)

4. Winning Instrumentalist Competition at Fort Leavenworth playing and singing "Ghost Riders in the Sky." (1961)

5. Promoted to buck sergeant for simply performing several facing movements at the promotion board in Camp Casey, Korea. (Oct 1962)

6. Winning Fort Gordon's Entertainment Contest in the instrumentalist category with a PFC from another unit. Went to finals at Fort Bragg, but didn't win. Had loads of fun though. (1963)

7. Attended Third Army NCO Academy (1963) Had a half-day off when JFK was assassinated.

8. Called in off leave to attend E6 promotion board having only one slot in battalion.-- I got it. (1966)

9. Jumped from C-130s, C-141s, UH-1H helicopters, CH-47 Chinook, and C7 Caribou (1973-1979)

10. Assigned as first Special Security Officer (Enlisted E7) to the 82d Airborne Division
(Oct 1976-Aug 1979) Most prestigious and rigorous assignment.

Response by CW5 John M. made Feb 4 at 2018 10:35 PM

CW5 John M. — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 22:35:07 -0500

Memorable experiences in my Military career:
1. Sworn in to the Army by my dad while living in the Republic of China (ROC)
2. Staged off of Phu Quoc Island approx. 80 miles West of IV Corps, S.Vietnam in order to operate off of LPD-7, USS Cleveland which was located in the Gulf of Siam. Our mission was to fly cover for large truck resupply convoys coming out of Sihanoukville, Cambodia up the Western highway to Phnom Penh, Capitol of Cambodia (until low fuel forced return to ship).
3. Flew cover for Riverine fuel/resupply convoys up the Mekong river as far as Phnom Penh.
4. Flew into Laos out of Khe Sanh during Lam Sanh 71-9, an operation in which the US lost hundreds of helicopters in a two-month period.
5. Mountain qualified to land on some of the highest peaks in Colorado. Flew MAST missions in CO.
6. Deployed radio relay teams to the top of rock spires in Monument Valley, Utah during the oil spill in Lake Meade, AZ in early ‘70s.
7. Herded stray cattle from the inside the impact area with an OH-58A at Ft Carson in the early ‘70s.
8. Korean DMZ route qualified in OH-58 while stationed at Camp Casey, ROK in ‘74/75.
9. Test pilot on the experimental “proof of concept” Blackhawk Medevac test-bed designated the YUH-60Q which later developed into the UH-60M.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 22 at 2018 11:24 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:24:59 -0500

Fly high performance jet aircraft
Write/edit magazine
Live in Alaska
Visit Somalia, Turkey, Korea, Japan, Guam, New Zealand
Meet Congressman, Senators, Cabinet Members
Two free masters degrees
Three survival schools
Help invent an entirely new major business organization

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Nov 17 at 2018 10:59 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 22:59:09 -0500

Playing golf at Rheinblick golf course in weisbaden Germany 1967. Organizational day.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Nov 17 at 2018 11:00 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 23:00:59 -0500

Bowling in in XMAS tournament in Geissen Germany. The first sergeant bought a beer for every strike I got. I bowled 205, 199, 220, 186, 180 and 136. We won by 3000 pins.

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Jun 22 at 2021 12:40 PM

GySgt Kenneth Pepper — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 12:40:49 -0400

We were our way back from Al Asad in a C-5 full of spare parts, tools and 2 broke dick CH-53Ds. Fire warning light in the left wing went off and the crew declared emergency. Not able to maintain enough altitude to make it to Incerlik, the AC called Anakara for landing clearance, which was summarily denied.
The pilot made the call to land anyway on just the 2 starboard engines, which we were told had never been done before outside of a simulator. Every emergency vehicle in the city surrounded the plane. A very tense 30 minute standoff ensued.
Finally a few vans pulled up from the embassy and took us to a 5 star resort hotel, which we had to stay in because they had armed security. $700/night. Very nice 5 day stay.
It just so happens that we were there November 10th and were invited to the Embassy for the Marine Corps Ball, hosted by the American Ambassador and attended by numerous Turkish dignitaries. Of course all we had were desert MarPat cammies. VIP baby!!!
Broke down again in Rota, but that was not as nearly exciting.
At the end of the trip my government credit card was up to about $20G. The Fiscal Officer was mad as hell but I already had clearance from the Group CO to do whatever was needed.
Fun days indeed.

Response by SGT Jonathan Persons made Jun 23 at 2021 2:03 AM

SGT Jonathan Persons — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 02:03:23 -0400

I scuba dived in the Red Sea, walked the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, and climbed to the top of Mt Sinai during a 6 month tour with the MFO.

I got to see what true poverty and hunger are during a tour in Somalia in 1993, and have gained an appreciation for just how good we have it in the United States.

Response by Maj Larry Ortega made Sep 7 at 2021 4:19 PM

Maj Larry Ortega — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 16:19:38 -0400

It was the Cold War from 1978 to 1994, no combat. It was the time for space, test flying and Top Gun. I was blessed to have a lot of fun in the Air Force. Here's my top 10:
• Designed, built, tested and launched DSP missile warning satellites, the most complex satellite ever built by the DoD with over 40 sensors to detect rocket launches and nuclear weapon detonations underground, above ground and in space.
• Managed a project to launch and operate the Mid-Course Space Experiment, the FIRST true hyperspectral (1,400 colors) satellite for the DoD. Led build of mission control and sensor processing software, arranged for Russian ICBM with full suite of targets and decoys to launch for us. (We could tell if they were baby milk factories or chemical plants by looking at the exhaust from space.)
• Operations Director for the DC-X the FIRST reusable rocket for US (test data provided in 2002 to Space X and Blue Origin)
• Led the flight test operations of the X-29A, the FIRST forward swept, carbon fiber wing jet; flew chase in NASA F-104s
• USAF Test Pilot School (83A), flew over 40 fighter, bomber, tanker and transport aircraft
• Flew the FIRST GPS, Weather and Missile Warning satellites while stationed at Schreiver AFB, CO
• Flew over 1,000 Space Shuttle approaches at the Cape, Edwards, Vandenberg and White Sands training astronauts to land the Space Shuttle in the FIRST Shuttle Training Aircraft Airborne Simulator.
• Worked with Russian Military to launch FIRST US DoD satellite from Russia
• Led the integration of satellites, or launched, 9 different rockets: Shuttle, Titan/34D, Titan III, Delta II, Atlas, Molniya, Titan II, Conestoga and Pegasus
• Developed a series of Military Man in Space Experiments that were flown on the Space Shuttle

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2021 11:12 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 11:12:03 -0400

Ship to shore on an LCAC is fun. Shellback initiation was fun as well.