Posted on May 19, 2014
What is your top 10 list of cool/unique things you've done in your military career?
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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.
Military Career
Fun
Experience
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 64
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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
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
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LTC (Join to see)
Casualty Notification Officer/Casualty Assistance Officer. I served as both on a case. That was also an honor to do to assist the family after the death of their loved one and a brother-in-arms of ours.
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SGT Shon D. Hill
Gotcha, Ty for clarifying that and thank you for performing that duty sir, arguably hardest job of all in most respects.
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SSgt Trisha Braga
I truly understand how hard #2 was for you. At my first assignment I was Honor Guard and never thought I would have to perform the duty....until I got to Germany and received an email from my mom telling me my uncle, who served in the AF in the 80's, had passed away. At his full honors funeral I presented the flag to my cousin since I was the only family member in the military . After that, I was finally able to break down and cry. We just never know what life has in store us.
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LTC (Join to see)
As I told my last honors crew this will affect everyone of you differently. Our job is to manintain composure while visible. Cry and let it all out the night before or pull the car over after and let it all out. It is hard even if you do not know the person. It is even rougher if you do. You can practice for years but it will never prepare you for the real deal. Once that family is there watching you and crying you will be filled with emotions that you knew you could have and you must muster up enough discipline to hold it in and perform your duties with honor and respect for that family as for many that will be the last contact with the military that they will ever see. And well for the rest they will know if you mess up.
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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.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
That's what its all about. Glad to see attention to detail is still a high priority
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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 :)
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 :)
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Tx, call me Bob, please. I run into my comrades all the time (RI is such a small state) and we all address each other by rank because of the respect we all have for each other whether retired or not. Love #2. I felt the same way - you train all those years and want to see if you got it when you get invited to the "big game"
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SGT Shon D. Hill
I really want to call you Bob but....argh, I feel better saying Sir Bob at least, LOL! Ty Bob for comment, I'm grateful I was able to suit up, Oscar Mike n Redcon 1, whatever say we on missions and know forever nobody can take that from me! I was an integral part of World History in 2004/2005 for sure, for that I feel awesome! I don't always feel this way, but when I do...it's RAD! Thank you Sir Bob ;).
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SGT Shon D. Hill
Hehe, I hear ya there! Except for last 5 months, I've been a bit of a "husky" civilian, lol. Imagine I'm not alone in that ;). Almost forgot how awesome MRE meals are, LMAO! (Much credit to post 9/11 MRE's though, pretty good! Ty to whomever improved them :)
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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.
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.
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SGT Shon D. Hill
Nice!!!! I snickered and laughed well several times, Ty Sir! Good to see things are still the same, wacky yet we all keep rolling along ;). Ty for Air Force specific experiences, different and scary expensive! Geez, and I thought I was going to hell for burying 1/4 million $ HUMVEE in mud, I'm good now, you beat us all I'm sure ;). I did lose my 9mm in combat though, ugh! How embarrassing lol, as a Sergeant no less! Back in Purgatory now, haha, where I belong.....
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SFC Greg Bruorton
Some of those items were real gassers! You had more fun than a major should have had.
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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
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
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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.
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.
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SSG Kevin McCulley
Oh, and seeing the Eternal Flame of Kirkuk and touching the walls of Nineva.. oh and seeing the golden mosque of Karbala... and seeing the battle plain where Alexander the Great defeated Persia.. learning what life was like for the Kurds under Saddam.. Seeing the leftovers from Gulf War I.. and so many many more... oh and lastly that some dude named Wagner loves the cock.
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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
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
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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
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
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SGT Shon D. Hill
Ah man, I should have listed skiing in Austria/Alps! My favorite week in Europe for sure! (Or Spain, or Italy, ugh...lol). Awesome, ty
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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.
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.
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Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn
1. Firing M198 155mm howitzers -- get some!
2. Driving 5-ton trucks while towing 8-ton howitzers + personnel & equipment; recognize the skill, people.
3. Live fire of, well everything -- M16, SAWs, 240G, .50cal, Mark 49...
4. Earning my Eagle, Globe, and Anchor after completing the Crucible, and the Warrior Feast -- very emotional.
5. Experiencing the brotherhood of the Marine Corps in training, garrison, and now as a veteran.
6. Becoming a better leader as a Non-Cmmissioned Officer.
7. My ability to connect with fellow veterans, like my roommate who served 12 years in the Air Force, in a way that no civilian will comprehend.
8. Travel
9. The interest in military history, especially naval history, that was nurtured by my service in the Marines and has helped me as a graduate student and museum specialist.
10. Rocking my dress blues back in the day -- best enlisted uniform in the Armed Forces!
2. Driving 5-ton trucks while towing 8-ton howitzers + personnel & equipment; recognize the skill, people.
3. Live fire of, well everything -- M16, SAWs, 240G, .50cal, Mark 49...
4. Earning my Eagle, Globe, and Anchor after completing the Crucible, and the Warrior Feast -- very emotional.
5. Experiencing the brotherhood of the Marine Corps in training, garrison, and now as a veteran.
6. Becoming a better leader as a Non-Cmmissioned Officer.
7. My ability to connect with fellow veterans, like my roommate who served 12 years in the Air Force, in a way that no civilian will comprehend.
8. Travel
9. The interest in military history, especially naval history, that was nurtured by my service in the Marines and has helped me as a graduate student and museum specialist.
10. Rocking my dress blues back in the day -- best enlisted uniform in the Armed Forces!
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
I also got to fire a 155 - awesome experience! Also did call for fire and got to "bring the rain"
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SGT Shon D. Hill
Awesome, thank you Sergeant, I always enjoy reading responses from Marine NCO's especially. I only briefly worked together with Marine infantry, and have witnessed firsthand why you are "Elite"!
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