Why? Very good question. Did I want to serve my country? Defend freedom and "the American way"? Kick Afghan ass? And any other patriotic reason?
Short answer: No.
None of that mattered. What did matter is I'm 20 with no job and the best college I could go to is Trident Technical College. The best job would be minimum wage. I'd like to move out, get a car, and have a decent paying job that could lead to a good paying civilian job.
So I made the only choice possible. Why the Navy instead of some other military like the Army or Air Force? Probably cause both my parents were also Navy. I was born in a Navy hospital.. so I suppose I'm naturally just biased towards the USN.
I leave for bootcamp in Great Lakes, IL on March 12th for 9 weeks. After that I go to Pensacola, FL for 32 weeks of school at NTTC (Navy Technical Training Center) Corry Station. What I'll be doing is Electronics Warfare Technician (EW). Requires a security clearance and very classified... (the symbol for EW below)
It's a 5 year enlistment (with $7,000 sign on bonus). I'm gonna go for advanced promotion so I'm an E-2 before even bootcamp, skipping E-1, and making $1,239.30 a month.
[ January 24, 2002, 19:16: Message edited by: Hobbes ]
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Congrats, Hobbes! I gave the Navy and Marine Corps serious consideration when I graduated high school. Wish you the best, and while I'm sure we won't hear from you when you're in bootcamp, looking forward to hearing from you when you're training as an Electronic Warfare Tech. A friend of mine enlisted over the summer (she's about my age), and the lucky girl left for her 2-year station in Italy.
(BTW: if you ever bump into a Daniel Singer -- he'll either be an ensign, maybe a lieutenant -- tell him you know Jeff Benson from Atholton High, and that I say 'hi!')
Oh, yeah ... good luck with those Marine Drill Sergeants -- !
[ January 23, 2002: Message edited by: Malnurtured Snay ]
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
Yeah...if you get assigned to USS Higgins, I went to HS with her Surface Warfare Officer, Jerry Pilewski. He's probably a JG if not a full LT by now.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
I'll be far from an officer. You need college to be one. Officers are people who want to make a career out the military. I'm just looking to do a few years for job experience.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
Well, hello sailor. Thought I'd get that one in before Mike T had a chance. 8)
Higgins? Not named after the guy in Magnum, PI, is it?
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Yes, Hobbes, we know you're not going to be an officer, but we do know that you're going to have to interact with them at some point
And, er, some enlisted men stay in the service for a career. A cop up in this area put in 20 years with the Marines, retired, got his military pension, and is about two years away from being able to retire from the Baltimore County police and get his police pension, too.
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
Twenty + years later, I wish I had done the same thing. Good Luck Hobbes! Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
*makes the obligatory "seaman" reference*
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
Elint. Cool.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
Oh good, we all know military acronyms. That twit Clancy has a lot to answer for.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Apparently, it's "electronic intelligence" or "electromagnetic intelligence".
'Til I looked it up, I'd assumed it was just a really bad typo for "intel"...
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
"Um...excuse me...excuse me, sir? Shouldn't we keep the VP's PC on the QT, cause if it leaks to the VC, he could end up being listed as MIA & then we'd all be put on KP."
Posted by Michael_T (Member # 144) on :
Well good luck Hobbes, I think that you will find the US Navy boot camp isn't that bad. I have a cousin who is in the navy right now and he told me that boot camp is somewhat tolerable. At least it's not as bad as the army.
Posted by Veers (Member # 661) on :
OMG soldier, WTF did you just say? Now haul your sorry self back to bed, ASAP, or I'll KO' your SOB self! LOL, you are so stupid!
OK, that's not military talk, but... *salutes Hobbes* Congratulations!
Posted by CaptainMike (Member # 709) on :
I'm picturing a hard-ass drill sgt yelling 'L- O - L, Priii-vate!!!'
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Good luck.
My mother's friend's husband is the commanding officer of the Bremerton naval base, but I don't know if I've ever met the guy. Could have toured his boat, though, back when he had one. Damn me and my not getting a neat tour of a submarine!
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Go to Baltimore. Visit the Tursk.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Sounds awesome.
But this would have been a tour of whatever boat it was my mother's friend's husband was recieving command of, and would have been awesome in a different, or at least more modern way.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
They still wouldn't have let you see the whole sub, you know. Even Tom Clancy doesn't get to see the missile room or engineering room.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
That's true. I took two Tiger Cruises on a Spruance-class Destroyer, USS Fletcher DD-992, the tour didn't cover many areas of the ship needless to say.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Um, duh?
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
"Um, duh?" Brilliant. The guy is a comic genius. 8)
Posted by OnToMars (Member # 621) on :
Congrats, Hobbes! Wish I could say that we might meet up one day, but unfortunately I've turned over to the dark side. But who knows...I may yet find a way into the Navy yet. But good luck and fair winds!
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
The "Dark Side"? What, the Air Force?
Make whatever gay sailor reference you want, truth is I'd rather be safe on a ship in the Navy than out in front lines of combat in the Army. I didn't join the military so I could fight some war and kill people or get killed, I joined because I need a good job and am looking for something more than anything here in South Carolina.
It's crossed my mind to take college classes while in the Navy, they even get professors to come out on the ship. By the time I get out I can have a college diploma. And if I for some reason decide to stay in the Navy, with that diploma I can be an officer and become a F-14 or F-18 pilot. Flying a Tomcat seems like the ultimate thrill, something I've wanted to do since seeing Top Gun.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
How old are you? I think there's a cut-off on the age that you can train to be a pilot. I could be wrong Posted by OnToMars (Member # 621) on :
There is. I believe its 25 or 27 or thereabouts. And they're retiring the Tomcat, any Tomcat pilot doesn't have much of a future as a Tomcat pilot - I doubt they're even training them anymore.
And supposedly Tomcats are bitches to fly, or at least to land. It takes one crafty motherfucking pilot to land one of those on a carrier.
And yeah, I'm over here with the big bad guys in blue that don't like to get dirty or PT a whole lot. Or really anything that involves touching 'icky' things. No matter my future, though, my allegiance will always lie with the Navy. Nobody gives a rat's ass about the Army-Air Force game.
Ever think about the Silent Service? Or the Seabees? Seabees are hardcore, they can build a particle accelerator out of bamboo and chewing gum faster than you can say, "McGuiver sucks." And they'll do it while being shot at.
But I digress, good luck, Mr. Hobbes.
::tries to think of a Horatio Hornblower joke::
::fails::
And remember, if Homer Simpson ever becomes captain of your ship, just set a course for Rigel 7.
Posted by Obese Penguin (Member # 271) on :
quote:There is. I believe its 25 or 27 or thereabouts. And they're retiring the Tomcat, any Tomcat pilot doesn't have much of a future as a Tomcat pilot - I doubt they're even training them anymore.
The F-14 is far from obsolete, it is still the main fleet defence fighter and with the retirment of the A-6 intruder F-14's have found a new life as bombers to supplement the F-18's.
F-14s are also used in the fleet recon role, in association with the E-2 Hawkeye's to provide the fleet with its own recon. The F-18 is crowding into the F-14 job description but the F-18 is no where near an all out fighter.
Hobbes : I dont know if the navy has Warrant Officers but I know a friend who is an Army Apache pilot, he went from working on them as a PFC to piloting them after getting his associates degree through the army and has already been sent to OCS after he got his BS on his way to his butter bars.
He enlisted in hopes of getting some job training and just took the army for a ride all the way to a college degree, no one ever expected to see this guy with a degree but with the oppertunities in the military it would be a shame not to follow up.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Actually I know the F-14 is being replaced by the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.
The Navy has Warrant Officers, W-2 through W-4. W-1 was discontinued.
I don't have all the facts yet, but with a college diploma I ought to become an ensign and take flight school in Maryland. I'm 20 now, I'd be 25 by then. I haven't decided either way though. I just thought it was an interesting idea.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
I thought the Navy's flight school was in Pensacola?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"The Navy has Warrant Officers, W-2 through W-4. W-1 was discontinued."
Sounds like they took their cue from the fast-food industry.
"I'd like a small soda." "We don't have small. We have medium, large, and super-size." "How can you have a 'medium' if there's nothing smaller?" "Get out."
Posted by OnToMars (Member # 621) on :
It's main flight school is in Pensacola. Then it has more advanced training in other places, such as Texas (Corpus Christi and others I believe). The Navy's Test Pilot School and facilities are located in Patuxent River, Maryland.
F-14s are still around, but the Navy is planning on pretty much retiring everything but the F-18s in its various forms and the JSF. There will be a period in the not too distant future where the only carrier based plane (save the Hawkeyes, helicopters, and similar breed) will be the Hornet.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
The F-14 has been around since December 1970. It's lasted 31 years so far. Become an icon to Navy aviation (thanks in part to 'Top Gun'). I guess due to continued military cut backs, the government feels it's cheaper to operate one type of fighter. The F/A-18 and F/A-18E/F, a larger, more heavily armed version of the regular Hornet.
F/A-18 Wingspan: 37.5 ft Length: 56 ft. Height: 15 ft, 3.5 in Speed: Mach 1.8 Armament: 20mm MK-61 Vulcan cannon; Sparrow III and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles; laser-guided and general purpose bombs, Harpoon and HARM. Crew: 1 or 2
F/A-18E/F Wingspan: 44 ft, 8.5 in Length: 60 ft, 1.25 in Height: 16 ft Weight: 66,000 lbs maximum takeoff Speed: Mach 1.8 Ceiling: 50,000 ft Range: 462 nm Armament: 20mm MK-61 Vulcan cannon; Sidewinder, Sparrow, and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; Maverick, Harpoon, Shrike, HARM, SLAM-ER and Joint Dirrect Attack Munition (JDAM); Walleye and other bombs and rockets. Crew: 1 or 2
[ February 03, 2002, 05:20: Message edited by: Hobbes ]
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
You know, Hobbes, the *age* of the plane might have a little something to do with it, too. You don't see the Army still driving WWII-era designed tanks into combat, now do you?
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
Yeah, but they do fly WWII era bombers. Just ask the various chunks of sauteed Taliban that happened to be under a B-52.
I imagine the JSF will do everything the F-14 does and more, anyway.
Posted by Ultra Magnus (Member # 239) on :
And look like like a pregnant blowfish after eating something very bloated and big and stuff, while it's at it.
[ February 02, 2002, 23:41: Message edited by: Ultra Magnus ]
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
JSF? What is that?
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Joint Strike Fighter. F-22.
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
The F-22 is NOT the JSF.
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
JSF = F-35. Once it enters service, I think pretty much every fighter in the various branches of the armed services will be a variant on eitehr the F-22 or it. (No more Harriers, F-16s or F-18s, in all likelihood.) I know Canada's attempting to put together the cash so we can phase out our F-18s and replace them with F-35s when they debut. Considering we're only getting around to getting a replacement for our Sea King helicopters now, I imagine it could be some decades before that happens.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Replace the old F/A-18... maybe. But not the F/A-18E/F which has a scheduled lifespan of 20 years.
I still think the F-14 is a better jet than today's modern and concept aircraft.
[ February 03, 2002, 09:36: Message edited by: Hobbes ]
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
"better" because it was in a movie with Tom Cruise?
Judging by that site, the newer 18s (including the E and F variants) will remain in service alongside the 35 onboard carriers, but the older ones, including those operated by the Marines, will go the way of the Dodo. Keep in mind we won't see F-35s in service for another decade, so what are merely thirty-year-old aircraft today will be forty by the time F-35s become widespread.
Posted by OnToMars (Member # 621) on :
The roadmap for the Navy any way is F/A-18s (both new and old) while phasing out pretty much everything else out. Then phasing out the old F/A-18s and phasing in JSFs. After that, phasing out the F/A-18s altogether and replacing them with X-Wings.
Oh, and a bit of possible good news...there may still be salvation for me yet. Rumor has it Navy ROTC is coming to a theater near me next fall. Though right now, its just a rumor from a moderately reliable source, I'm going to talk to the Colonel tommorrow. Cross your fingers for me boys!
[ February 03, 2002, 12:32: Message edited by: OnToMars ]
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
quote:Originally posted by Hobbes: The Navy has Warrant Officers, W-2 through W-4. W-1 was discontinued.
Ah ha! Warrent Officers! Anyone got any info on stuff like what they do, how much they get paid and why W-1 was discontinued?
F-This and F-That . . . could the fighter numbering system get anymore confusing?
Say Hobbes, when you join and start serving would it be possible that you could become my informant for information on the Navy? Nothing major, just little bits like ranks, protocols etc - nothing that would threaten National security - God forbid! Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
quote:Originally posted by akb1979: Ah ha! Warrent Officers! Anyone got any info on stuff like what they do, how much they get paid and why W-1 was discontinued?
Say Hobbes, when you join and start serving would it be possible that you could become my informant for information on the Navy? Nothing major, just little bits like ranks, protocols etc - nothing that would threaten National security - God forbid!
Pay is determined by rate and years of services. Here's last year's pay chart for CWO for 2 years service. However the Navy had a pay increase this year. I don't have the chart with me though. W-1 $2,043.90 (a month) W-2 $2,315.10 W-3 $2,649.90 W-4 $2,891.70 As for what CWO do specifically... I don't know. Nor do I know why W-1 was discontinued.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
My job is highly classified requiring a security clearance. If I came home, got online and told you about my day I'd have to shoot everyone who read it.
Here's a scan of the enlisted and officer ranks from a magazine they gave me. The rank of Fleet Admiral (O-11 5 stars) is reserved for war time only. The last Fleet Admirals were in World War II. Fleet Admirals during that war were Chester W. Nimitz, William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King, and William F. Halsey.
[ February 03, 2002, 16:12: Message edited by: Hobbes ]
Posted by Obese Penguin (Member # 271) on :
Warrent Officers are trained experts in one feild as opposed to commissioned officers who are trained in all feilds and leadership styles. For example a helicopter pilot is usually a warrent officer because they specialize in one feild.
In order to become a warrent officer you must have an associates degree or a degree from a technical school.
There are 3 levels of service in the armed forces.
Enlisted/NCO - E-1 through E-9
NCO/enlisted soldiers are required to have either a High school diploma or a GED and are usually trained by the army to specialize in one job/feild.
Warrent Officers are required to have an associates degree or some other type of 2 year degree. WOs are experts in their feilds.
Commissioned Officers - in order to become an officer you must meet one of the following criteria
- Direct Appointment - Military Academy ie. West Point, Annapolis, Air Force Academy etc. - OCS or OTS - College ROTC
In either case you must have a 4 year degree.
Posted by Obese Penguin (Member # 271) on :
I just noticed the countless spelling mistakes in that post. I'll blame it on the Super Bowl.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
YES! YES! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Please! Send more information - all of this is extremely useful! I've been searching for over a year now to find such stuff, but keep falling short of the mark.
Any more such info for the navy/army/air force would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!
Is this place and its members kewl or what?
Obese Penguin - like anyone gives a damn about spelling and grammer mistakes! I know I don't! Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Well I talk to my recuiter today, it is possible to take college courses while out to sea. I'm trying to have my 5th year EW enlistment dropped. This way I finish a 4 year college diploma and my contract at the same time when I'm 24. If I actually decide I like the Navy, at least I can become an officer and the chance to fly.
Posted by OnToMars (Member # 621) on :
SALVATION! SALVATION!
Word now has it from a Captain (that's an Air Force Captain, not a Navy one) that Navy ROTC will be sailing into Daytona Beach next semester! Though I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high just yet, I'm excited enough to warrant a some Caplocks and a litle UBB Code.
Keep your fingers crossed!
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
That's cool. Unfortunately both of my high schools, Pensacola High School and Fort Dorchester High School had Air Force JROTC.
Posted by OnToMars (Member # 621) on :
Um, I'm in college, Hobbes. I'm talking about real ROTC, not that 'junior make believe get a ribbon for starting a fire with nothing but some sticks and a match Junior ROTC.' No, if all goes well, in four or five years or so, I'll be your boss. Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Oh right, um... ok...
If all goes well, in four or five years I too will be an officer, hopefully an F/A-18 pilot.
[ February 12, 2002, 05:23: Message edited by: Hobbes ]
Posted by Da_bang80 (Member # 528) on :
quote:Originally posted by OnToMars: There is. I believe its 25 or 27 or thereabouts. And they're retiring the Tomcat, any Tomcat pilot doesn't have much of a future as a Tomcat pilot - I doubt they're even training them anymore.
And supposedly Tomcats are bitches to fly, or at least to land. It takes one crafty motherfucking pilot to land one of those on a carrier.
7.
I do not believe they are training very many more Tomcat pilots anymore, I think they are replacing it with the JSF. And yes they are hard to land. They are the fastest and heaviest interceptors in service right now. And they have to be the coolest looking planes since World War II.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
I recently read that the older Tomcats are being retired. However the F-14D Super Tomcat will remain in service until about 2008 to 2010.
I made a logo for myself, EW Hobbes. Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
That 2008-10 for the Tomcat sounds about right: tht's when the F-35 JSF is coming into service, which should fill up anything that hasn't been taken by the F/A-18. Good luck.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
Say, what do those diagonal white bars on the uniform sleeves represent? I saw a flim a few weeks ago and two army guys had a whole forearm of them.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Rank.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
No, years of services. For every 4 full years of services it's 1 stripe.
Posted by CaptainMike (Member # 709) on :
For the real world impaired: remember in ST:II how they had the stripe on their left sleeve with pins on it?
*realization dawns*
Well, my work here is done..
*but you didnt do anything*
Didn't I...?
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Here's what my BMR (Basic Military Rights) book says...
quote:Service Stripes Service stripes (called hash marks) indicate length of service. One stripe is worn on the left sleeve of jumpers for each full 4 years of active or Reserve service in any of the armed forces, or any combination thereof, such as 2 years in the Army and 2 years in the Navy. Scarlet hash marks and rating badges are worn on blue uniforms; blue hash marks on white uniforms.
Gold rating badges and service stripes are worn when good conduct in the naval service totals 12 years. This 12 years may be active or drilling reserve time in the Navy, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps, or Marine Corps Reserve. For more information about authority to wear gold rating badges and service stripes, refer to the U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, NAVPERS 15665
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
Cheers guys!
CaptainMike - there where pips and slightly longer ones in Star Trek - gold and silver. What did each different one represent. In other words:
Gold long thingy = Gold pip thingy = Silver long thingy = Silver pip thingy =
Oh, and why are they in different orders for all the different character? Is there a specific sequence per division/department?
Cheers!
Posted by CaptainMike (Member # 709) on :
long thingies are officially called 'squeaks'
1 pip = 1 year starleet service 1 squeak = 5 year Starfleet service.
I'm not sure, gold and silver might have been officer/non-com distinction, its not specified on the page i got it from
Posted by OnToMars (Member # 621) on :
I remember the BMR...
The things on the forearms are hashmarks indicating service. But on Hobbe's little pic there (which is neat by the way), those are the first three ranks; Seaman Recruit, Seaman Apprentice, and Seaman. However, you would see those on the shoulder and they would have their little picture thing indicating their job.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
I was going to join the Navy. I was going nuke. 8 years. I'd be coming out around now. I found out that there was a point system for recruiting. I guess I was worth a lot. It made me kind of sick. 8 years: 4 years of school; 4 years in a Sub. I wanted to be the guy who made sure the reactor on the mission to Mars was working. 6'5", 275. They were never going to send me to Mars. I often wonder how my life would have been different.
[ February 27, 2002, 01:28: Message edited by: Balaam Xumucane ]
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Thanks for the idea. I added two stripes to represent E-2 what will be my rate if I finish this DEP stuff before going to boot camp.
If this board allowed avatars I'd use that, updating it to reflect my rate. And hopefully in 4 years my rank. Although as much as I hope to go to AOCS I'm not holding my breath.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
quote:Originally posted by CaptainMike: long thingies are officially called 'squeaks'
1 pip = 1 year starleet service 1 squeak = 5 year Starfleet service.
I'm not sure, gold and silver might have been officer/non-com distinction, its not specified on the page i got it from
They bother with 1 year pips?
Oh and the encyclopedia say that gold are years of service and silver are commendations (page 211 of the updated and expanded edition). Given this info, what would the pips and squeaks represent for the commendations? Pip - OK performance, squeak - outstanding performance?
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Since we pretty much know though how long Starfleet people have been in Starfleet, didn't someone actually look at the bars they had on in the movie, use the 1-year/5-year thing, and scientifically deduce that it was "bollocks"?
Posted by CaptainMike (Member # 709) on :
I considered doing this, but when i realized that Scotty's rank fluctuated between three movies, that the smaller pins were probably less accurate. Plus it makes my eyes hurt. And my brother saw me kneeling with my face an inch from the TV with my finger on the slow-mo button, and issued a string of invectives about the nature of fandom that made me question my own actions.
But the nature of the pins is clearly documented in Fletcher's notes on the designs.. but we all know that any idea of chronology that was supposed to exist in 1982, 1984, and 1986 in the trek universe was repeatedly sodomized by Okuda with the publication of The Official and Intentionally Inaccurate Chronology. Hasn't seen Khan in 15 years my ass...
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
OK, so those service stripes represent 4 years in the army - is that the same for the other armed forces like the navy and air force? Oh and what about the police? I ask about the police because Channel 5 has started to show T. J. Hooker and he's been in the police force for almost 20 years and only has 3 stripes - buy by my count he should have 5. Is the time period different in the police force?
Cheers!
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
Another question about T. J. Hooker - what do the different codes mean? Code 2, Code 3, Code 6?
Oh and is anyone gonna answer my other question too? Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
Does nobody love me??!
Its been a day and not one person has posted an answer to either of my questions. Surely someone here knows! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Did you read what I posted from the BMR??
No clue on police though.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
quote:Originally posted by Hobbes: Did you read what I posted from the BMR??
Huh? What?
quote:Originally posted by Hobbes: No clue on police though.
Oh, OK.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Well this is it. My last post at Flare for 10+ weeks. I don't know exactly how long it'll be before I can get back on... before my PC can be sent to me at Corry, and find an ISP.
Besides, I see Capp's giving me the evil eye regarding my Babylon 5 sig, so at least any more new posts with it. And soon this and others I've posted in will be out of the way.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Have fun! We'll look for the resurrection of this thread, I guess, to welcome you back.
Don't let those big, bad-ass Marine Drill Instructors scare you!!!
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
quote:Originally posted by Hobbes, 12 February, 2002 08:20: If all goes well, in four or five years I too will be an officer, hopefully an F/A-18 pilot.
It's been six years, 2 months. You an officer yet?
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
What did I tell y'all? USE THE DAMN PICTURE.
Posted by Toadkiller (Member # 425) on :
Speaking of the Navy, I've been out for over a year now. Halfway tempted to play around with the reserves. They made me a LCDR after I got out so the money would be good.
Anyway....
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Are you kidding me... you resurrected this thread to ask that? You know there's PM's right?
And no, I'm not an officer flying Hornets like I wished. In fact I'm not even in the military anymore. I wish I were, but unfortunately I got injured bad. Although I've recovered for the most part, with a few minor exceptions, nothing to major but it prevents me from further service.
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
I will resurrect as I FEEL like it!!
You have failed in your mission. Execute Order 2 immediately.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Which one is that? Self whipping with a latex chicken or the other one?
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
Nope, being whipped by someone else's "latex chicken". Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Yeah well I failed because of two broken legs in a car accident thanks to some fucker in a SUV. Kind of hard to be on a ship ... much less a pilot ... when your right leg is being held together with a metal rod going from the knee to the ankle, and multiple screws keeping my left ankle in one piece.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
Did you even get into the NAVY? Or did this accident occur after they accepted you, and you got medically discharged?
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Nonsense! We've had plenty of stumpy naval types!
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Yes, I was Sean. I did my time, at least what years the government allowed me to. I went to boot camp, I went to A-School, then I went to the Persian Gulf on the USS Fitzgerald DDG-62 for a shit load of time. Followed by shore duty at NSGA San Diego after the accident.
In the beginning I may have joined the military for the wrong reasons. But after all these years it was the right thing to do and I don't regret it. I only regret not being being able to continue to serve.
Posted by Pensive's Wetness (Member # 1203) on :
quote:Originally posted by Hobbes: Yes, I was Sean. I did my time, at least what years the government allowed me to. I went to boot camp, I went to A-School, then I went to the Persian Gulf on the USS Fitzgerald DDG-62 for a shit load of time. Followed by shore duty at NSGA San Diego after the accident.
In the beginning I may have joined the military for the wrong reasons. But after all these years it was the right thing to do and I don't regret it. I only regret not being being able to continue to serve.
/me salutes and huggles...
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Watching my brother in laws retirement package become a postcard led me to get out half way to retirement.
It was a steady pay check though.
What does an EW tech translate to here on the outside?
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
"Meinen dispatcher sent me to fix einen cahble."
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
Wow, 7 pages. TL;DR. But, Hobbes, congrats on that choice. I seriously considered the Air Force until I decided it conflicted with my morals a bit too much. Much more importantly, I was 30 pounds too fat and I didn't want to diet. So congrats on being in shape too Posted by Zefram (Member # 1568) on :
While a submariner, one of my manager's duties was to make sure that all loose items were secured during angles and dangles (when a submarine dives and climbs repeatedly to see what shakes loose). While coming down some steps, a large encyclopedia feel from a shelf, he stepped on it, and broke his ankle and tore every ligament in it except for his Achilles tendon. With less than a year left in the Navy, he was given a medical discharge. He's still a bit upset about that.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
The RIF strikes.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
God, all those years ago. I remember when H joined the Navy, and when he had his accident. I didn't realise though that the latter had put such a kibosh on the former. So what are you doing now?
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
Just to provide proof of service, it's also the source of my sig quote.
As for now, I work for Best Buy doing what's called corporate field deployment. Basically travel around doing big redesign projects, remodel old stores, open new stores, etc... Right now we just finished doing an extensive redesign to a store, the oldest in fact in the whole company, in Minnesota. About to fly back to Denver. Then in a few weeks I have to spend about a month New Mexico doing some stores there. It's a decent job. I get to travel a lot. Done shit in Syracuse, NY, Orlando, FL, Washington DC, and so on.
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
BEST BUY! You fuckers sold me a computer that died in 5 months! Ok, that's really HP's fault but still. Fuckers. Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
Actually its your fault for buying an HP. You should know better.
Posted by bX (Member # 419) on :
Especially now that Best Buy sells Macs.
Anyway, good to hear you're doing well for yourself, Hobbes.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
At least you're still being deployed.
Syracuse is a nice place. Some good food joints around there.
I've heard of the best buy problems too. My dad remodeled our basement, and bought huge ass speakers for the stereo, a new dvd player, and a flat screen TV. The DVD player didn't work, and the speakers on the tv didn't work. He returned them, and the girl that worked there told him that he didn't know what he was talking about, so he just returned them, and went to circiut city. At least every thing from there worked. The girl got fired for mouthing off and being rude, so I cant really blame Best Buy for the whole thing. THey do stock an impressive library of games though, so I do go there for that.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
I have never been in a shortcut shity that had any service. Clerks walked right by me when I was looking for a game system for my son.
I left there and went to best buy, paid a bit more, but was far happier. On another occasion though the stupid policy in some stores of checking bags on the way out though pisses me off. The counter is right next to the door, the dumbass watched the entire transaction, and still wanted to search my stuff. I told,him if he had probable cause I would wait for the cops to show up and they could search, but my attorney would be informed. The manager thought it was a good idea not to waste my time. He watched me buy one stinking DVD.
Need to fix that Hobbes.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
I personally think FYE is the best electronics store. About the same price as BB or CC, but the service is overly helpful. I was browsing once, and this sales guy came up and asked if he could help, but I said I was just looking. 5 minutes later, he came up to me again, and engaged me in conversation, then 10 minutes later as I was checking out, He went through all my purchases and told me how cool they are and what they do, and how cool the graphics are, and he wouldn't shut up! It took me 8 minutes to ring up 3 things. Even worse, he seems to be there every time I go. His new name is Overly Helpfull Twit. I'm scared. I think he likes me.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Heheh was just reading on improveverywhere.com about one of their 'events' that involved a Best Buy. Hang on Hobbes - when were you discharged from the Navy!?! I thought you were still out there floating around... I was waiting for you to have a stop-over in Brisbane!!
I've been on this internet too long... every year just becomes one big blur. Especially when I'm like - oh yeah - that whatever-thing only happened in '99 - that was just... err... oh shit nearly 10 years ago. Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
Time flies. We now have 426 members.
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
I lived with my very old aunt and uncle for a few months last year in New Jersey. It was weird how they actually made me feel older, not younger. I mean, my aunt would ask about things that had flown through pop or cyberculture like 5 or 10 years ago and she was just now catching up to them. It made me think of how much has blown through my life like a freight train. I don't know if things move faster these days or if old people slow down but I think it's both...
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
I've noticed this time speed up too. I remember when a school year felt like forever, and summer break felt like an eternity. Now, the year flies, which is strange, because I'm doing less things than I was a few years ago,and summer break feels so short. I still think of the 1990's as a few years ago. I realized last night that First Contact is 12 years old already!
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Double, or triple, your age, then come can talk to me.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Is the phenomenon of time 'speeding up' as you get older something that has always happened or is it a product of a world with increasing technology?
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
I always figured it would speed up a bit at least as you got older. I mean when you've only *seen* 7 or 8 years, each year is a 7th or 8th of your *entire life.* If you're 80 it's a negligible fraction. Except, I'm sure, when you're contemplating how many you've got left...then it's not so negligible...
Edit: I take that back. It's probably more negligible.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
I think it has a lot to do with the rate that things change in your life. In grade school, you're in different classes with different teachers every year. College is mostly the same situation. But once you get a full-time job, things don't change very often, and therefore the things you associate with being in that situation just seem to happen a lot closer together.
Posted by Zefram (Member # 1568) on :
I think that when you're young there are so many milestones and events for which you are eager that time seems to pass slowly. In school you can't wait for summer vacation, you can't wait to move up a grade, you can't wait to go from elementary school to middle school or junior high, etc. By the time you get older, the milestones aren't so pleasant. In college you have midterms and finals. By the time you're working, everything runs together and the only thing to look forward to are deadlines. That doesn't stop each individual day from seeming like an eternity, though.
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
Wow. You make me look so forward to finishing uni. Thanks. Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
When you are young, you live at a faster rate, you are full of energy, but as you age, your body slows down, you get tired a little faster, things begin to hurt, and time blows by you. I can remember when i was little, and thinking how long it would be before the year 2000, and my turning 40. Now it's seven and a half years gone by and each day seems a little shorter then the last.
My wrists sprain easily, knees sometimes bother me, the back started in on me a couple of years ago, and that's on and off. Oh yeah, and just wait till the first time you pull a mussle when you sneeze!! Joy
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Amen brother!
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
That's a really hearty advertisement for telling college kids to booze, drug, and sex it up while they still the fuck can. Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
...And telloing teens to walk up the stairs pain free while they have the chance. Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Sean, you need to use the elevator to have more energy for fucking.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
I thought people just stopped that after 40. Don't want to chance breaking a hip. Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
Plus, it's like...*16-year-old-girl style derisive noise* ew.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
Watch it, kiddies. Quite a few of us here are a lot closer to 40 than 20, if not already past 40.
And get off my lawn!
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
I'm within 20' of the centreline of the road, so its not your lawn! Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
33' in some places.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :
26 myself past the original 20 when I first made this topic.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
I'm not even old enough to be on the road...
Posted by Da_bang80 (Member # 528) on :
And I'm glad I'll be nowhere around you when you do. No offense but I've just about had my fill of bad/inexperienced drivers.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
Oh, no worries, I don't want to drive anyway. If my expirence with Grand Theft Auto is any indication,I should be expected to kill about 5 people per city block. Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Like most people of my generation, I learned to drive at an earlier age by playing Pole Position.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
Did it have that horrible farting sound as the "motor"?
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Yes. Also, 2 gears (High & Low), a gas pedal, & no brake. Best car design ever.
Posted by Da_bang80 (Member # 528) on :
quote:Originally posted by Shik: Like most people of my generation, I learned to drive at an earlier age by playing Pole Position.
That was the first video game I was ever truly addicted to. I miss that old Atari, I even had a handheld version of the game. I can't remember what it was called because I haven't seen it in almost a decade.
Anyone play Alpiner?
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
The first video game I ever played was Road Rash II for the Sega Genesis.
Posted by The Ginger Beacon (Member # 1585) on :
I think i had a hand held Donky Kong thing as my first ever game, a hand me down that my uncle got when he worked at Rumbelows.
I think the first ever racing game I had (other than Scalextric - we had real toys in my house) was a TomyTronic (see http://www.modojo.com/features/20060724/95/ ). I was the envy of the whole playground, lauding it over all the other 6 year olds and then not letting them have a go. Oh, the memories!
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
First game I ever played? Mario Bros. baby. The one with Duckhunt.
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
Yeah, I loved Duckhunt. Though if you must know, Starfox 64 was the first game I ever beat. Do a barrel roll! Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
Aw, man, the memories with that game... we sat around one day and played it for 14 hours straight, beat it a dozen times.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
I have actually never played Mario before. The first game I had for playstation was the original Medal Of Honor. Good game.
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
quote:Originally posted by Daniel Butler: Aw, man, the memories with that game... we sat around one day and played it for 14 hours straight, beat it a dozen times.
I remember I beat it on both the Easy and Hard paths in one setting. Then there was MarioKart 64, pure fun. I think it's best version of them all.
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
We had decided to play it on a fresh, deleted data set and keep playing until we'd medalled on every single planet. At the end of 14 hours I think we still didn't have a medal on one, I think Aquas.
Dammit. Now I'll have to go to my parent's garage and dig through piles of crap until I find that game and an N64.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
Or you could just find an emulator and a ROM....
Speaking of which, I only recently began playing NES/SNES/N64 games since my parents couldn't afford any such system when I was growing up. It's kinda fun to be able to play some of these games with my son now.
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
I haven't played Mario since it was in a stand alone machine outside the department store, along side the Space Invaders game. Gorf, loved that game.
Posted by Daniel Butler (Member # 1689) on :
quote:Originally posted by B.J.: Or you could just find an emulator and a ROM....
Speaking of which, I only recently began playing NES/SNES/N64 games since my parents couldn't afford any such system when I was growing up. It's kinda fun to be able to play some of these games with my son now.
Bwahahah. Not on this pile of shit I couldn't. It'd melt. Maybe once I get my decent machine's motherboard replaced.
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Oh right, um... ok... ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
