Thread: Braggin by Proxy

When I went in February of 1982, I commission in May of 1981, that was nine month I waited to go to the Air Force Pilot training after my commision. In the mean time I got a job milking cows for 8 month, I still remember does day with found memories. Yes, he will be better mentally and physically if he apply him self to an exercise routine. Best of luck Double O

Originally Posted by Double0757

When I went in February of 1982, I commission in May of 1981, that was nine month I waited to go to the Air Force Pilot training after my commision. In the mean time I got a job milking cows for 8 month, I still remember does day with found memories. Yes, he will be better mentally and physically if he apply him self to an exercise routine. Best of luck Double O

Thank you and I will be sure to pass it on to Trey. There is a Training Guide on the Navy website for DEPs to use or at least I think it is there for them to use if they are motivated enough to do so. The manual is dated 2009, which is a little dated but how much could the training have evolved in 3 years? I am confident that if he learns what is in that 478-page manual he will be about as mentally prepared for the classes as possible.
I have to be honest, I wish I were going with him. Deep down inside I'm jealous, I think or just excited or both.
What did you fly for the Air Force?

Originally Posted by OldSoldier

What did you fly for the Air Force?

I used to pass gas for living! KC-135, Strato tanker. 14 years, got cought on the draw down cuts after the cold war ended. Could not finish my 20, but again, best thing that ever happen. Got a good paying job with UPS and better quality of life. God is Good! Double O

Originally Posted by OldSoldier

Thank you for your service. Know that when I say that it isn't said as a catch phrase as it is by all those civilians who want be cool or think it's the least they can do to feel good about participating in the defense of this country.

I want to know, as a civilian who wants to show his appreciation, what then is the proper way to do so?

Please tell Trey that even though I don't know him, that I'm proud of his decision to serve.

Originally Posted by mackie

Strange that a straight would be considered a weapon. When I was in ( back in the days of iron men and wooden ships ) everyone on board was required to carry a sizeable knife. Just in case you steped into the bight of a line. But then, when I went to school, almost every boy carried a knife there too.
Many times I wish I had stayed in the Navy. My son is in now. A Master Chief with 17 years. You must be very proud of your grandson.

Mackie, Please convey my appreciation to your son.

There are times when I think I'd have done better to have stayed in. Things got pretty stupid in the USN in '73 after we pulled the plug on Nam. The "peacetime" Navy was not any fun. I was an Aviation Ordnanceman ( AO) and my rate was pretty much closed. They weren't rating anyone for advancement so I was looking at E-5 for a LONG time. Just couldn't see it happening. That along with the insult of the VRB ( variable re-enlistment bonus) that was giving the "tweets" ( Electronic techs ) $10K to ship over for 6 years and then they GENEROUSLY offered us AO's $500! $10K was a chunk of change in '73. $500 was an insult.

I got out.

Here's a pic of one of those knives the sailors carried back in the day.
It's 4 and 3/8ths inches closed. It's a hand full.

Maritime law in that era forbade sailors from carrying knives with points. Back then, the ships Master at Arms would inspect the sailor's knives and any knife found with a point would have the point snapped off and the knife would be returned to its owner. These knives were made to comply with the laws of the day.

I wish my Grandpa had gotten me into straights. I started shaving at about 13. I tired buying a straight. My mom and I walked into a knife store (she followed reluctantly), but she wasn't for it. The woman behind the counter was on my moms side. The strange thing is she convinced me a shavette would be better. How unfortunate for me. That shavette turned me away from straights for 11 years, but I am glad to be here now. Thank you for your service, and good luck to your Grandson. I have a Godson that I intend to pass on the glory of straight razor shaving.

It's one of the great disappointments in my life that I was never able to serve. I came from a long line of military men. One grandfather was in the 101st and the other served as a photographer for the Army Air Corps. My dad served in the Air Force in Germany. An uncle retired from the Air Force after 30+ years as a Senior Master Seargent. These among the many in my family.

Unfortunately, by the time I finished high school, I had two bad knees, a bum shoulder and enough concussions that I suffered migraines and slightly diminished vision.Even the Army wouldn't take me at that point.

Sorry for the somewhat rambling, off topic post.

Just as the Marines use the shortened version and say “Semper Fi”, those in the Navy who actually know it, use “Non sibi.” Now with that said, it’s also not really an “official” moto, but it works. As for giving advice to the younger generation, I’ve come to maintain that if they have some idea what they want to do when they get out, then they need to find out which service teaches that particular field to everyone else and that’s where they go. As an example, if you want to be a civilian first responder as a career, then Air Force Pararescue. I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys and a lot of it for personal first-hand reasons. I did 10 as a Navy Deep Diver, ’84 to ’94. Best compliment I ever got was when a Seal called us a bunch of crazy “M. F-ers”.
Now to stir the pot…
The odd ball to this logic is that the Army trains all of it’s own people, but that’s cuz they do things their own way… probably mostly cuz they can’t really comprehend how it’s supposed to be done. And somebody mentioned the Air Force resort trips being 90 days… that’s because they can’t be away from Mommy for longer than that.

The drawdown years were crazy, to say the least. I saw a lot of good men go voluntarily, a few good men get caught up in the regs and craziness who had their careers cut out from under them and unfortunately I saw way too many boot-lickers survive the cuts and end up in the senior ranks years later. I have a document prepared by one such person who became the division CSM for the 101st during my 1st tour in Iraq; the document reads like something written in chinese then run through a cheap computer translation program. Anyone who has ever actually read stereo manuals or clock radio manuals is familiar with the type of language. ANYWAY... he and far too many of the drawdown survivors made it to the top and virtually destroyed the NCO corps in the Army. It has taken many years to rebuild the corps of Noncommissioned Officers and get rid of the political correctness.
Sorry you got caught up in the cuts. It sounds like you aren't too unhappy about it though. I am happy for you that God took care of you. I knew too many that struggled for too long afterward when the rug got yanked out from under them.
I had a cousin who navigated BUFFs for the Air Force 15 years when he got the boot.
One of the worst rides I ever had was in a C-130 during a refueling. The draft behind a KC-135 inside a C-130 is a very hostile ride to say the least.

Originally Posted by roughkype

I want to know, as a civilian who wants to show his appreciation, what then is the proper way to do so?

Try to say it with feeling. I have had it said to me so many times I cannot count and out of the hundreds of times I have heard it I can always tell when it comes from a fellow veteran or someone who is family-connected to the military. There is a different tone in the voice, I guess if I had to put a word on it I would have to say it is said with honesty or compassion.
So many people say it just in passing because they may not know what else to say or because it is the phrase of the day. I hope I did not offend anyone with my statement, that was not my intent.
When I meet a Vietnam or Korean war veteran and only after we have engaged in a short conversation I make it a point to tell him welcome home. I don't use the thank you for your service phrase because for me it has become another over phrase. When I tell those fellow combat veterans welcome I do so with compassion in my voice so I hope they know it comes from the heart. To date I have yet to have my expression of thanks rejected by any of them, not even the warriors in the Dallas airport who were trying to welcome me home for doing my job.
I guess I don't have a simple answer to your question except to show compassion and honesty when expressing thanks. I have found after speaking with many of my fellow returning veterans that they feel the same way; we appreciate the sentiment but we can also tell when it is genuine and not. And believe it or not there are some of us who get embarassed by the attention, for me it was my upbringing for others it comes from a feeling of not completing the job yet.
I have rambled again. I apologize.