Military Brewers

[Radarbrew]

!980-2001 USAF Raven

 

[Mirilis]

AUG 2001 - 2007 (18 months Iraq) A138 Sig.. I was NBC NCO

 

[nitrousjunkie]

USAF
2T251 Air Trans looking to cross train into either weather or eod. would much rather eod though....
April 2005-now
Pope AFB NC
Al Asad Iraq, and going to be headed back

 

[MikeFlynn74]

nitrousjunkie

Dont think you will have a problem with EOD. Have fun being deployed 90% of your career. I know a guy MSgt who was 4 years shy of retireing. He elected to not reenlist because he was going to be deployed 3 of that and didnt want to lose his wife and kids. Damn shame at that too.

As for that- I still dont know why anyone stays military once they have been deplyed and see the contractors making 10x what they make doing the same thing. EOD contractors are making a ton in Iraq and Afghanistan. Same with Comm Computers too, I dont know why I stay in when I see some unqualified idiot making $250K to do the same thing I am.

60% of all spending on the war has been contract work. Isnt that amazing

 

[Sherpa FE]

As for that- I still dont know why anyone stays military once they have been deplyed and see the contractors making 10x what they make doing the same thing. EOD contractors are making a ton in Iraq and Afghanistan. Same with Comm Computers too, I dont know why I stay in when I see some unqualified idiot making $250K to do the same thing I am.

60% of all spending on the war has been contract work. Isnt that amazing

Because I didnt join the Army for the money.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

Because I didnt join the Army for the money

thats a given- But I would like to think it could be better for us if we didnt pay "contractors" to run the war.

 

[Sherpa FE]

thats a given- But I would like to think it could be better for us if we didnt pay "contractors" to run the war.

Oh I definatly 1000% agree with that.
I like it when POS soldiers get out for DUI's or they dont know thier jobs, and then go work for contract companies...that really chaps my hide.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

I like it when POS soldiers get out for DUI's or they dont know thier jobs, and then go work for contract companies...that really chaps my hide

I personally know 2 one kicked out for 2 DUIs and one for Coke use. Both make $235K now working as contractors in Kuwait

 

[jtvinny]

I personally know 2 one kicked out for 2 DUIs and one for Coke use. Both make $235K now working as contractors in Kuwait

Just playing devil's advocate here but- If they were such POSs why would you trust them to tell the truth. I personally had stories told about me, in front of me that were so exaggerated that I just let fly. If the audience included someone that I actually knew and or liked I would set them straight later.
I know guys who got out chasing these jobs as well and the Army was no worse off for their leaving but I would bet anything that they aren't making all that much and the contracts are going to dry up soon, how soon depends on this election. If they are losers that couldn't make it in the military they need all the ego stroking they can get.

Just saying, anyone that's served knows firsthand the "Grass is greener..." syndrome or the best two places in the Army is the place I just left and the one I'm going to next (well at least before 9-11).

 

[MikeFlynn74]

If they were such POSs why would you trust them to tell the truth.

Because I know the Capt who over saw thier contracts. The Gov paid 300K per position and the contractor paid ther personnel about 65K less.

are losers that couldn't make it in the military

They were awesome at thier jobs- Just did stuff to get them axed.


I guess I am just in a bad mood right now, as I sit here in Afghanistan not allowed to do my job because its been contracted out to a civillian. I really dont understand why I am here.

 

[jtvinny]

Fair enough

 

[michael88n]

Army 91-98
Landstuhl, GE
Ft Stewart, GA
Camp Casey, ROK
Ft Campbell, KY
Deployed to: Egypt & Saudi

AF Reserves 98-01
March ARB, CA

USAF 01-Present
Scott AFB, IL
Dover, DE
Deployed to: Saudi, Kuwait, Macedonia, Kuwait (Where I'm sitting right now) & Iraq

My best "deployment" was to Biloxi right after Katrina for hurricane relief. Helping fellow Americans after a tragedy like that... Priceless.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

USN 81-88
Great Lakes
Norfolk
USS Yellowstone
Med Cruise (x2)
North Atlantic (Blue Nose)
GITMO

USNR 88-92

 

[WOP31]

USN 1999-2004 Mostly Whidbey Island WA, with some floats on the Stennis and Vinson.

2004-Present USN Civilian Working at a Navy Depot Facility fixing Aircraft electronics after the navy gets done breaking it so bad that they are unable to. I know both sides of the fence i used to be the squid who was screwing it all up and sending it to guys like me.

Still a squid through and through though, I do miss being out to sea.

Let's get a little tradition thrown into the mix here as well. I am also a Golden Shellback, you know what i am talking about lets hear from ya!

 

[Stratotankard]

2000-2007 Air Force

Columbus AFB, MS
Altus AFB, OK
Grand Forks AFB, ND - majority of my time here was actually spent orbiting over Afghanistan or Iraq.
NKAWTG! :rockin:
Now out, but stationed with the SWMBO at Little Rock AFB, AR

 

[MikeFlynn74]

Golden Shellback

I know what a shellback is but not a Golden.

 

[Seabee John]

Golden Shellback

I know what a shellback is but not a Golden.

doesn't that have something to do with a shower???

Not sure... I'm in the Dirt Navy... I walked across the equator in 94 (Colombia)

 

[WOP31]

I know what a shellback is but not a Golden.

The same thing but the equator and the dateline at the same time, Suppose i am in the order of the Dragon too but never got that one bestowed officially. Here you go:

Wiki-Wiki-Wiki

Another rare status is the Golden shellback, a person who has crossed the equator at the 180th meridian (international date line). When a ship must cross these lines, the ship's captain will usually intentionally plot a course across the Golden X so that the ship's crew can be initiated into the Golden Shellbacks.

Any Blue nose, Red nose, Order of the Ditch, Order of the Rock or any others out there, there has to be some other sailors out there who have been to sea.:cross:

 

[MikeFlynn74]

That IS awesome.

God my job sucks. Im a IT guy- I hate it

 

[DUCCCC]

...there has to be some other sailors out there who have been to sea.:cross:

4 years, 8 months in the USN, never stepped foot on a boat the whole time .

P-3 Orion Weapons Systems Tech, no tailhooks. Over 3 years "sea" duty. 2 tours to Diego Garcia, a couple to Kadena, and a few months in Al Masirah, Oman, during Bush I's reign.

(edited to correct service time)

 

[WOP31]

4 years, 8 months in the USN, never stepped foot on a boat the whole time .

P-3 Orion Weapons Systems Tech, no tailhooks. Over 3 years "sea" duty. 2 tours to Diego Garcia, a couple to Kadena, and a few months in Al Masirah, Oman, during Bush I's reign.

(edited to correct service time)

My first Chief in Whidbey Island Retired after twenty years with out ever stepping foot on a boat. He had about 19 years in when i got back from my first boat det (6 week work up) and I saw him in our shop and said "Hey Chief, I got more sea time then you now" His response "You'll never have more sea time than me", Me " No i mean REAL sea time chief!" He just walked away after that.

Where were you stationed out of? Jax?

 

[DUCCCC]

...
Where were you stationed out of? Jax?

Barber's Point NAS, HI.

 

[MULE]

1997 - 2005 Army

 

[DrunkenSailor]

Bue Nose
Also
ESWS

 

[Flyin' Lion]

2002-2006 USAF Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Spent most of enlistment in Dover AFB, been to nearly every country that ends in STAN.

I was stationed in Dover from 1996-200, C-5 crew chief. I went TDY three times, every one of them stateside.

SWMBO's friends' husband is EOD, lots of stories there.

 

[Mustangfreak]

USAF Active Duty 2004-2010
Job: 2F051 Fuels

Been stationed at
Grand Forks AFB ND
Kadena AB Okinawa Japan
Dyess AFB Abilene TX

Been TDY/Deployed to
Incirlik AB Turkey
Elemdorf AFB AK
Manas AB Kyrgyzstan (currently at)

1997-present, USAF, 33S Comm Officer

I see your in College Station, are there any ANG bases near there? When I get out in 2010 I'm planning on going to T A&M and would like to go ANG while I attend school.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

Mustangfreak

your at manas? Poor bastard

 

[Skins_Brew]

Any Blue nose, Red nose, Order of the Ditch, Order of the Rock or any others out there, there has to be some other sailors out there who have been to sea.

I did the ditch and the rock, several times, but i never really thought either event was cool enough to be considered an 'order.' On my first gulf cruise they handed out all these little fancy cards at the end that said "order of the rock", "order of the ditch" but i thought they were kind of cheesey. I got my shellback and they gave everyone a big certificate. I cherish that and i have it framed. They actually throw a page in your service record saying you earned your shellback.

I have been on my ship since 04 and i am a sea going SOB. Two 6 month gulf deployments, two 6 week mini deployments to the UK/ Scotland area and a TON of other trips to various CONUS ports. Off the top of my head, i would say i have been to about 20 different overseas ports spreadout over about 14 countries. Its been fun, but i am so ready to get off this ship. I have every qual possible, many of which are out of my paygrade and rate, done every type of inspection or evaluation multiple times, and been to Dubai and Jebal Ali enough times to navigate the streets without asking for directions or using a map. I have done pretty much everything there is to do here and I am SO READY to start doing something else!

 

[Great_Neck_Brewer]

USAF SGT. crew chief KC-135's 1978- 1982. Grissom AFB, IN. TDY everywhere. One of the most exciting times of my life

 

[Mustangfreak]

your at manas? Poor bastard

Yup. You still in Afganistan?