Most memorable "training, exercise, or ops photos?"

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:02:11 -0500

When it comes to military training, exercises, and operations there are some interesting and unique scenarios and situations out there, and with this of course some truly outstanding photos that have amazing stories to tell. The idea here is to share those photos (and related stories) to facilitate inter-service discussion and understanding about various facets of military service culture, tradition, history, and the military experience as-a-whole. So, let's dust off the old photo album and break out those most cherished photos; please feel free to add descriptions, stories, or commentary to add to the experience, and of course please be mindful of OPSEC while doing so. I'm sure that this'll be fun and informative discussion, and we'll learn a thing-or-two in the process, now, pull-up a keyboard and let's get this thing started; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Jan 22 at 2014 8:10 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:10:06 -0500

Basic Training Ft. Sill OK 1976

This is the only pic I have my family has the rest if they can ever give them up LOL

Response by LT Jessica Kellogg made Jan 23 at 2014 9:08 PM

LT Jessica Kellogg — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:08:14 -0500

This is my OCS class at the USS Constitution listening to our chief talk about history and heritage.

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Apr 2 at 2014 5:40 PM

SGT Thomas Lucken — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 17:40:48 -0400

Hmmm, I don't have to many pictures left from when I was in. But this one was at FT Riley in 1985. My birth control glasses and a cup of coffee in my left hand, with my big Buck in right!

I still have that knife to this day! It has seen a couple more countries then I have. My son John took it with him to OEF in 2009. Also seen time in Saudi/Iraq in 91, besides my years in Korea and Reforgers in Germany. :-)

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2014 2:02 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 14:02:34 -0400

Airborne Ops is one of my favorite training activities…of course flying in support of these jumps are also fun.  This was taken of a CASA 212 jumping troops from USASOC at Fort Bragg, NC.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 5 at 2014 5:12 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:12:30 -0400

http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/military_service/Shock%20test.jpg

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 5 at 2014 5:15 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:15:46 -0400

Shock Test USS Arkansas CGN-41

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2014 1:49 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 01:49:40 -0400

As the idea here is to share and learn a bit about our history and culture, as well as about each other... here are just a few threads that you'll want to check-out; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 14 at 2014 8:24 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 08:24:32 -0400

This is a shot of my tank crew in Feb 2003, Cp Pennsylvania, Kuwait prior to OIF. A-14, "Animal Instinct", I was the PSG of 1st Plt, A/3/69 AR, 3rd ID. 

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 14 at 2014 8:25 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 08:25:32 -0400

This shot was taken from the TCs hatch of my tank as we crossed into Iraq, 20 March 2003.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 14 at 2014 8:28 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 08:28:05 -0400

This is a pic of the crew that operated the 1st BDE Assault Command Post out of Patrol Base Razor, Samarra, Iraq in 2005 OIF-III. I was the NCOIC and Day Battle Captain prior to closing the ACP down and me moving back to FOB Brassfield-Mora to serve as the BN S-2 NCOIC.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2014 6:27 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 18:27:28 -0400

USS Missouri.

Response by SGT John Schaphorst made May 10 at 2014 6:49 PM

SGT John Schaphorst — Sat, 10 May 2014 18:49:18 -0400

Participated in a high altitude research project on top of Pikes Peak at an Army research facility on the summit with R&D Command..

Response by PO2 Robert Hunter made May 17 at 2014 12:20 PM

PO2 Robert Hunter — Sat, 17 May 2014 12:20:10 -0400

For the brief time I was there, BUD/S was my most memorable training. I learned a LOT about myself during my brief time in Class 121. The Teams are no place for a man hampered by trust issues.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 4:30 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 16:30:35 -0400

This is a picture of SEAC SGM Battaglia on a tour of our Launch Facility trainer at Minot AFB, ND.

That silver cone on the left is the shroud of the Minuteman III ICBM.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 9:50 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 21:50:26 -0400

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made May 18 at 2014 1:54 AM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Sun, 18 May 2014 01:54:57 -0400

Sitting with my gear getting ready to fly to Kuwait 17May1998. Wasn't too happy because I had shaved my head and was trading one hot desert for another. This was the deployment where I ran into my recruiter.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2014 2:58 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 May 2014 14:58:30 -0400

Just one of my good memories. When I got to the FMF, I was placed in a MEU Engineer company in mid-workup for the 11th MEU (SOC). We were in our phases for SOTG certification and conducting "clandestine amphibious raids", launching from DelMar Boat Basin at Camp Pendleton, recovering on the USS Cleveland about 15 miles out in the water... then launching again for our raids on Red Beach. Some of the toughest, most exhausting exercises I've ever done. But what most people only see in the movies. (Thats me on the right, with Bart Cole, who went on to receive a Bronze Star with Valor for his actions in an ambush/rescue in Iraq).

A few months after this picture, we were deployed on 11th MEU, in the Pacific, when the 9/11 attacks occurred.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2014 5:08 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 May 2014 05:08:22 -0400

Not really training or ops, but this was our team at the combat support hospital in Kandahar.

Response by PO2 Michael Marie made May 19 at 2014 10:53 PM

PO2 Michael Marie — Mon, 19 May 2014 22:53:19 -0400

Dawn on the backside of the desert at Twentynine Palms. The AAVs were staging for days of exercises in our work up before deploying to Iraq.

Response by SSG Matt Murphy made May 20 at 2014 1:47 AM

SSG Matt Murphy — Tue, 20 May 2014 01:47:45 -0400

Yale IFEL (HARD duty :-) )

Response by Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn made May 20 at 2014 2:39 AM

Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn — Tue, 20 May 2014 02:39:39 -0400

My squad at Marine Combat Training / School of Infantry in NOV 1997. I got the picture signed by Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Lee in 1998.

Response by PO3 David Packham made May 21 at 2014 12:23 PM

PO3 David Packham — Wed, 21 May 2014 12:23:53 -0400

My most memorable operation was Operation Praying Mantis, 18 APR 1988, 3 Iranian oil platforms were demolished in retaliation for the mining of the USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) several days earlier.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2014 3:59 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 May 2014 15:59:11 -0400

After searching, I have found a CD that I had backed up my old computer on. I was afraid these pictures were lost.
Guns of the USS Missouri and the USS Arizona Memorial.

Response by PFC Dustin Atkins made Jul 13 at 2014 9:18 AM

PFC Dustin Atkins — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 09:18:25 -0400

that would be camp Mackall during joax the largest joint training operation help in the last 15 years. it included most of the 82nd airborne and my unit bravo company from 2-22 10th mountain. im the one in the middle front row

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Mar 18 at 2015 1:18 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 13:18:43 -0400

Col Private RallyPoint Member, I guess this exercise was memorable in that we were able to visit the Great Pyramid of Khufu in Giza, Egypt. I was in the 377th TAACOM (now Theater Sustainment Command), at Cairo West Air Base, west of Cairo, Egypt (and at the eastern edge of the Libyan Desert) for Operation Bright Star '87, a CENTCOM exercise. Photos were taken August, 1987. I'm in the middle.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Aug 10 at 2016 7:39 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 19:39:29 -0400

I was attached to 2nd Anglico, went thru jump school at Ft. Bragg in 1977. I did it , didn't love it or hate it, but the xtra jump pay was nice, and when others were out of money we still had beer money. That's it I did it for beer money.

TAD to Roosevelt Roads PR, to qualify the USS Garcia. Interisting enough, but the highlight was British Squids in port and an endless supply of 151 and cokes, and a ride back to Lejeune puking in my helmet. I thought we were experienced drinkers those Brits were second to none.

Response by SPC John Carson made Nov 27 at 2018 3:57 PM

SPC John Carson — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 15:57:17 -0500

The Metz at FT Jackson. Era 1977