Active duty army

[datant69]

wow

smack down does sound serious, i know back in the late 80's when we had recruiters in school and the marine recruiter got in my face i just looked at him like dude i'm not in uniform. now i do have respect for my elders and didn't say anything out of line and even considered enlisting several times. just didn't work out, i'd be a gulf war vet if i did enlist i can tell you that much. regardless it does suck when we see something we are so proud of go down the drain. regardless if it's smack's either active or not it's his opinion and he stated he kept his life personal. So respect the man's wishes and maybe you have different views on military life but that's you. I'm all for our vet's and active military, don't do enough for them i will admit but still i respect the uniform and thank them when i can for their service regardless if they turned wrenches outta harms way or pulled the trigger.

as for recruiters it's a sales pitch and those guys have a quota to make. so if you buy the pitch or think that's the life for you then go for it. leave your options open though never know what'll happen in the next few yrs. all i do know is i have enough to take care of my castle here on my street and will defend it to my last breath and if the fit hits the shan then i'm taking several with me. this is by far a threat to anyone but just a fact and my right.

 

[Flaco]

smack down does sound serious, i know back in the late 80's when we had recruiters in school and the marine recruiter got in my face i just looked at him like dude i'm not in uniform. now i do have respect for my elders and didn't say anything out of line and even considered enlisting several times. just didn't work out, i'd be a gulf war vet if i did enlist i can tell you that much. regardless it does suck when we see something we are so proud of go down the drain. regardless if it's smack's either active or not it's his opinion and he stated he kept his life personal. So respect the man's wishes and maybe you have different views on military life but that's you. I'm all for our vet's and active military, don't do enough for them i will admit but still i respect the uniform and thank them when i can for their service regardless if they turned wrenches outta harms way or pulled the trigger.

as for recruiters it's a sales pitch and those guys have a quota to make. so if you buy the pitch or think that's the life for you then go for it. leave your options open though never know what'll happen in the next few yrs. all i do know is i have enough to take care of my castle here on my street and will defend it to my last breath and if the fit hits the shan then i'm taking several with me. this is by far a threat to anyone but just a fact and my right.

Very true about the quota. They like to call it "making mission". There is a points system too. Thats how we got our gold badge/stars/ring. I spent 4 years in, (03-07) And I never saw that bad apples until I redepolyed back to the US. I almost forgot, I got paid 100 bucks for every CAT-A I put in boots. A CAT-A was anyone with a high school diploma and scored above a 51. In vegas though, good grief it was hard finding folks who could pass the test at all!

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Dr. Driveability, there's no knife edges no more. No starch either. No spit shining either. Today, everybodys stuff is velcroed on their uniforms. Want me to go around and count, how many guys name tapes and u.s. army tapes, are literally hanging off their velcro? Looks REEEL professional. How about how many soldiers I can count, walking around, with their bdu cargo pockets hanging wide open... YEA, THAT'S pride alright.
And I AM an NCO. And when I try to correct these fools, I get told I'm being too hard. So ****it, I quit. Screw these little kids. I'm out in 3 years, YOU take care of the faggots. I already tried. Apparently, too many soldiers feelings get hurt, when you raise your voice these days. That should go over REEEEEAL well in the battlefield...
If you want to know a little on my background, I'll throw you a bone. I came up in the LRRP's. We didn't play games. If you got out of line, there was no "counseling statements." It was 1 verbal warning, that went something like this; "If you do that one more time, I'm going to take your little ass out back, and beat the **** out of you. Do you understand me???" And that was usually it. If it happened again, it was straight to the woodline, for some 'counseling'. And believe it or not, morale was thru the roof. We were staunchly proud of that fact, and because of that, noone usually screwed up. Because we LOVED our jobs, and we LOVED each other. Like brothers. And noone screwed up, out of the upmost respect for each other. To screw up, meant to let your patrol leader, or assistant patrol leader down. And you didn't want to do that, because you looked up to him soo much, ya see? We were like a real family. And we were tight. We kept any infractions "in house". We never aired our dirty laundry, because we never had to. A few "right good kickings" would always solve the problem, and that was that. And it was back to business, no hard feelings.
Todays Army is SOOOO many light years away from that, it's not even funny.
I serve side by side, with MANY active duty and reserve component servicemembers, from EVERY branch. When you're on orders, you're on orders. You're active duty, and you know better. Period. I don't give a **** WHERE you come from, WHAT service you are, or WHAT component you're from. If the post policy, and ARMY policy, is that you are not to wear headphones, while walking around in uniform, on duty, THEN YOU DON'T DO IT. PERIOD! But EVERYONE did on post. EVERY DAY, ALL DAY. In front of Naval commanders, Marine gunnys, and Army captains. Nothin. Not a word. It went on for an entire year. Nice and professional like. I'm sure the civilian contractors on base, were getting GREAT impressions of our new military. Even some of the contractors, that were prior military, were laughing. I was talking to a prior Marine, and he said he could not believe what was going on, on this post. I agreed. Now I'm not saying I think the military should be like boot camp 24/7, but god darn. What's goin' on?

Hey, I tried. But I was repeatedly struck down. Saying things like, "You can't sware at a subordinate." "You can't drop them for more than 20 pushups at a time." "You can't call them a name." "You can't place your hands on them either." and the punishment can't be "Cruel and unusual." Well, apparently, ANY punishment now, is "cruel and unusal".... So, instead of NOT chaptering them, and keeping them in, to try and reform them, we just kick them out, and spend a whole new batch of tax payers money, to train up a new "potentially" good soldier? Try again maybe? HOPE it works THIS time? Keep kicking them out, till we run across some 'good ones.'? Wow, sounds like we're rich lol. I don't know about you, but I don't have the "throw it away, and buy another one" attitude. I keep my cars, shoes, guns, etc etc, my whole life, till they wear out. And then when they wear out, I take them to go get fixed. Like it USED to be. You USED to have your houses water heater, or stove, or car, or dress shoes, for your ENTIRE LIFE. Now, when you buy a replacement, and it goes tits up, in a FRACTION of the time your old school ones did, you just throw it away. Because not only is that just the general attitude now, but it's because they're not made to be repairable either. Just replaceable. Well I don't go for that. It's bull****. I just don't throw away something, because something happened to it. I fix it. Just as my father used to do. And his grandfather too.
How do we know, we're doing the right thing, when we discard these young soldiers? What if he was the next SOCOM commander? What if he was the next best jag officer to be had? What if we kept him, and reformed him? Naww... just boot 'em, and start all over. It used to be, your parents told you as a youngin, that when you sign a contract, that's it. It's binding. Whether you like it or not, you finish what you signed on to do. If you sign a 4 year contract, then that's it buddy, you're staying here for 4 years. You ain't getting to go home, because you screwed up 4 or 5 times. OHHHHH no junior. Now if you screw up really bad, and rob a corner store for example, then you're going to the brig, for the remainder of your contract. Period. Be a man, and finish what you start. It's your last name on the line buddy. If you cash out early, cuz you're a quitter, then you bring disgrace upon your self, your platoon, and your family name. But it isn't like that anymore. Throw it away, and buy another.

I guess I just don't fit in anymore... I should have been born 30 years earlier I guess..... Sorry for the rant lol.

 

[turbo39151]

Turbo6smackdown: I can feel your pain. I got out back in 97 and I would occasionally run into a "ragbag" here and there but in all of my units the 1sg's and CSM's were no joke. F" around and see what happens- Shiny boot in your arse was the standard for a screw up.

I know it seems like there's no point in trying anymore but as you stated you still have 3 years. Don't tell me you're gonna be R.O.A.D....

Take a look at the poster on the wall. You know, the one with Uncle Sam pointing... "If not you, then who?"

Best of luck to you.

 

[benoitthegr8]

Yeah I'm always saying to myself "this ain't the Army I joined in 91" I think that a combination of GWOT/OCO or whatever you want to call it, the OPTEMPO, working Joint with other services, and the lowering initial entry standards has taken it's toll on the Armed Forces. My guys get the mission done, but I occasionally hear the whining about ridiculous things (i.e. the internet is down). I have to give them the WTF??? your in a combat zone in uniform, quit being a pu$$y... what do you think those guys in Bastogne freezing their asses off getting IDF'd for weeks consecutive would think about your complaint? This usually shuts that non sense down. The mentality of todays Soldiers is different, their intellectually smarter, but they are not as good at executing with out question, and lack mental tenacity. I also attribute this to the years during the 90's of having PC bull$hit rammed down our throats from the lefties.

just an observation from an 18 year Senior NCO...

 

[Dr.drivability]

Well fella's I really appriciate all your comment's and advice! I do have a few more questions though. While I was in I went to night school on and off for 8 years and got my assoc. of applied science automotive degree and never used my GI bill, not even when I got out and lost it. I'm told that if I get back in I would be eligible for the new GI bill and my kids could use it. This would be an important consideration, as I have two teenagers. Next, he says that I have excellent line scores and my assoc. degree is enough to get me into warrant school. My point is this, If I do this, I'll be giving up my auto repair buisiness and I want make it worth while. Not to mention, I genuinely do miss the army!!!

 

[benoitthegr8]

Maintanince Warrant is a good gig, I have a buddy who is a shop Warrant, he works on Apache Choppers. If you have any questions I can forward you ti him...

 

[turbo39151]

I think you need to dig down deep and really think to yourself- If I don't do this now, will I regret the missed opportunity in the future? Or is it simply a change of scenery that you need? Maybe packing up and moving somewhere new where work is more plentiful might be all you need?

I, too, have actually been thinking about getting back into the Army - maybe even as NG or something like that. My issue has to do with having so much baggage to worry about in my daily routine. I can't uproot and head overseas. I'd go in a heartbeat but I don't travel light like in the old days...

If you still travel light and think this is the right choice for you, I say go for it. Just make sure you ask all the questions that you never asked the first time. Maybe ask them to send you to Ranger school. Hooah.

That GI bill stuff might be a nice incentive too...

Best of Luck in your decision.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Now, if you're going into it, with a REALLY flexible mindset, and a "this is what I signed up to do, and I'm going to do it no matter what." and you have enough mental discipline, to be able to let the crap roll off your shoulders, and 'play the game' then the military is still an awesome place to be. A paycheck each month no matter what, and peace of mind knowing that you'll always have a job, and your family will be taken care of. We have the best life insurance you could ever get too
And yes, the post 9/11 gi bill is indeed transferrable. Which is an outstanding option.
If you get to be a warrant officer, then that's ALWAYS a good gig. Warrants have decent jobs. Noone really screws with 'em, and for the most part, they're really cool, and down to earth. Never met a dickhead warrant in my life.
If you can go in to the warrant officer program, and do it for your kids college, then I think you're going to be alright. Not a bad gig whatsoever.
I wish I had the tenacity to do it myself. But I don't. I belong on ground, with the men. Doing things with my hands. Wish I had the mental discipline to make myself transfer over, and do the officer gig, but I'd be miserable. One of my shortcomings that I wish I knew how to change.
As for you, I think it would be a great job, and the travel is unbeatable. I've been ALL over the place, and I LOVED it. Met SOOO many fantastic people. You will too

 

[Dr.drivability]

Now, if you're going into it, with a REALLY flexible mindset, and a "this is what I signed up to do, and I'm going to do it no matter what." and you have enough mental discipline, to be able to let the crap roll off your shoulders, and 'play the game' then the military is still an awesome place to be. A paycheck each month no matter what, and peace of mind knowing that you'll always have a job, and your family will be taken care of. We have the best life insurance you could ever get too
And yes, the post 9/11 gi bill is indeed transferrable. Which is an outstanding option.
If you get to be a warrant officer, then that's ALWAYS a good gig. Warrants have decent jobs. Noone really screws with 'em, and for the most part, they're really cool, and down to earth. Never met a dickhead warrant in my life.
If you can go in to the warrant officer program, and do it for your kids college, then I think you're going to be alright. Not a bad gig whatsoever.
I wish I had the tenacity to do it myself. But I don't. I belong on ground, with the men. Doing things with my hands. Wish I had the mental discipline to make myself transfer over, and do the officer gig, but I'd be miserable. One of my shortcomings that I wish I knew how to change.
As for you, I think it would be a great job, and the travel is unbeatable. I've been ALL over the place, and I LOVED it. Met SOOO many fantastic people. You will too

Thanks for the info "Sgt Smackdown"!!! Just wanna make sure I don't get lied to!!, Dave

 

[GNBRETT]

Screw these little kids. I'm out in 3 years, YOU take care of the faggots. I already tried. Apparently, too many soldiers feelings get hurt, when you raise your voice these days.

Yea, the world is just full of a bunch of panzies these days. I see it all the time in my profession. That's liberal America for ya (Sotoma) giving these little whiny crybabies a shoulder to dry on when things get tough.

It's hard to believe that the Military is as concerned about Political correctness as it is these days with removing all the hard discipline in boot camp these days. Isn't that where people are tought to fight and possibly kill? I always thought so.

 

[gordyzx9r]

Any active duty buick guys on the board? What's it like these days? Kinda thinking of going back in. Economy in Michigan is tanked!!! Served 88-97. Kinda miss it!

On the 29th of DEC I reached my 18th year in the US Army, I'm a CW3 and fly the UH-60 Blackhawk. In JAN my packet goes to DA for a CW4 promotion board with promotion rates the way they are and my record I'm pretty confident I'll get picked up (but you never know). But, even if I do make the promotion list I'll probably turn it down and retire in two years. I love the Army, it's been great to me and my family and I've always been very thankful for the opportunities its provided me. But it's time to go, I wake up in pain most mornings and I'm really tired of moving every few years.

I originally enlisted and found out early on that the Army is what you make of it. I saw allot of E4s struggling to make E5 and because just after Desert Storm it was somewhat competitive in the Aviation branches. I learned from watching them that as a Private I should take advantage of every opportunity the Army offers and immediately enrolled in correspondence course and free tuition assistance to max out the civilian and military education so that when the time came for the promotion boards I was already ahead of the game. E5 was competitive for me as the points were maxed out but I eventually maxed out what I could and got picked up, that made making E6 allot easier since the points are essentially the same minus having to go back to the promotion board again. It also helped that my girlfriend and future wife was an extremely motivated hard charger soldier too and pushed me. After E6 though, I saw the writing on the wall...I was in a dead MOS that had to compete with about a dozen other aviation MOSs to make E7. So I applied for Warrant Officer Candidate School and got picked up for flight school.

Don't let the recruiter fool you.

Anyone, at anytime can apply to Warrant Officer Candidate School (though depending on your age you might need a waiver). So long as you have a GT score of 110 or higher and an AFAST score of 93 or more you can apply.

We have 18 year old kids straight out of high school applying for and getting selected for Warrant Officer Candidate school and flying helicopters. Take a look around and look at some 18 year olds you know and try to imagine them in an Apache with Hellfire missiles and a 30mm cannon. But we also have college graduates, tradesmen, what have you that just decide to apply.

Like someone else said, the Army is allot different now than when they first came in...but my experience is a little different being in Aviation. Sure we have our dirt bags too, but every walk of life does whether it's in the military or in the civilian work force.

Here's my advice, first look at what you're bring to the table. You mentioned you had maxed out your civilian education too...do you have a degree? How many semester hours of college do you have?

You've been out more than 10 years now, I'm 99% certain you're losing all your rank and you'll definitely have to go back to basic training and AIT again. But, depending on how much college you have you will come in at a higher rank.

If you have your 4 year degree, or are close to it...you should look at some of the Commissioning programs first, it's your age that's going to be a factor though and you'll need a waiver in most cases. Or, if you do enlist and come in I would immediately start looking at the 'new' Green to Gold programs. In the past, Green to Gold meant you got out and went to college and came back in while paying most of your own way. Nowadays, you keep your pay grade and go to college full time.

Alright, so if you don't have enough college for that...choose an MOS that will benefit you most for when you have to transition back to the civilian world. Try to find one that actually provides you with a technical skill that's in demand.

My first recommendation would be an Air Traffic Controller. At the end of the training you have an FAA rating...you get extra pay per month for it, and the bonuses are better than most of the other enlisted MOSs.

If not that, then look at either Blackhawk or Chinook mechanic. I'd recommend staying away from Apache or Kiowa...in a Blackhawk or Chinook you'll have the chance to be a full fledged Crew Chief that flies in the helicopter as part of the crew and receive flight pay.

After that, Pharmacists, Veterinarian, Dental, or Physical Therapy.

You might be a mechanic on the outside, but it's allot different nowadays in the Army...it's mostly just component replacement and not component repair. And if the economy is tanking in your line of work...why not try to get involved in something else?

Also, when you go to enlist, fight and haggle for rank. Recruiters are basically like used car salesmen (no offense to the recruiter that posted here). They usually have allot more to offer you than you realize. Besides your college credits helping to get you rank, there are programs wherein you could help the recruiter to recruit other people to get more rank before you leave for basic training (I did that in order to make it so I was an E3 instead of an E1 when I first enlisted). Also, get any promises made in writing and signed and then make copies that you take with you and copies that you leave with your family in safe keeping.

 

[gpadilla1071]

I have to agree with the statements from some of the ol' salts like me. This new generation of knuckleheads are a pain in the ass. The sad thing about it is that it's across all branches of the service. I've seen it when I was deployed on my IA tour and I continue to see it back at home too. The thing is to continue pushing for excellence and hopefully they will change their ways. But I still think the military spends to much time babysitting than doing what we need to do as service members... Just my opinion and I know is not like this everywhere. My last command was way much better than my current command... Anyhow, good luck on whatever decision you make.

 

[gordyzx9r]

I have to agree with the statements from some of the ol' salts like me. This new generation of knuckleheads are a pain in the ass.

And most likely the generation of service members when you first came in were saying the exact same thing about dealing with their latest batch of recruits.

I think 'quality' issues could be directly attributed to the fact that we're a nation at war. Having the harsh realities of war televised 24/7 as well as seeing IED detonations and full fledged gun battles play out on youtube and other internet sites is somewhat detrimental to recruiting and people with 'options' are going to put military service well at the bottom of the totem pole; especially when the economy was still rocking. Now, with the economy tanked...things might be a little different.

 

[gpadilla1071]

And most likely the generation of service members when you first came in were saying the exact same thing about dealing with their latest batch of recruits.

You have a point there, however things were handled a little different then. Today, you have to be politically correct and more gentle ( don't hurt their feelings) type of approach. But it is what it is, and today's problems are no different from the yesteryears except that we have a newer generation that requires extra attention and are less independent. Just my 2 cents... I'm sure everyone that has been in for awhile have their own opinion based on their experiences.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

That is true, and I thought about that stuff when I was typing. Every generation looks down on the newbies. BUT, back in older days, you could tune sombodys ass up back behind the barracks and it was over. If they seen the error of their ways, and realized that "If I do that again, I'll get another whoopin." and corrected themselves, with a good attitude, stuff worked. If they seen that this was not their cup of tea, they would get out. It was cut and dry. The old timers had more tools available to them, to either reform potentially good soldiers, or to weed them out, by making them not wanna be there any longer. Now, they've took a few tools away from us lol, and it makes managing and leading troops that much more difficult. Being an NCO in todays military, is very challenging, and makes you think outside the box for sure! lol.
But sometimes, it's just plain impossble. To try and discipline certain people in the military, that are 'protected', if you know what I mean, is just spinning your wheels..

 

[benoitthegr8]

The younger NCO's and Officers don't help either... they are promoting these guys way to young. I'm having whining by some of my troopies right now, I get we didn't do this during the last rotation... and my answer is" If your last Detachment NCOIC and OIC were to pu$$y to set you strait then they phucked you over, I'm here to rectify that issue" They think I'm such a dick, they call me Bipolar Ben.... no now I'm pissed...

 

[Flaco]

On the 29th of DEC I reached my 18th year in the US Army, I'm a CW3 and fly the UH-60 Blackhawk. In JAN my packet goes to DA for a CW4 promotion board with promotion rates the way they are and my record I'm pretty confident I'll get picked up (but you never know). But, even if I do make the promotion list I'll probably turn it down and retire in two years. I love the Army, it's been great to me and my family and I've always been very thankful for the opportunities its provided me. But it's time to go, I wake up in pain most mornings and I'm really tired of moving every few years.

I originally enlisted and found out early on that the Army is what you make of it. I saw allot of E4s struggling to make E5 and because just after Desert Storm it was somewhat competitive in the Aviation branches. I learned from watching them that as a Private I should take advantage of every opportunity the Army offers and immediately enrolled in correspondence course and free tuition assistance to max out the civilian and military education so that when the time came for the promotion boards I was already ahead of the game. E5 was competitive for me as the points were maxed out but I eventually maxed out what I could and got picked up, that made making E6 allot easier since the points are essentially the same minus having to go back to the promotion board again. It also helped that my girlfriend and future wife was an extremely motivated hard charger soldier too and pushed me. After E6 though, I saw the writing on the wall...I was in a dead MOS that had to compete with about a dozen other aviation MOSs to make E7. So I applied for Warrant Officer Candidate School and got picked up for flight school.

Don't let the recruiter fool you.

Anyone, at anytime can apply to Warrant Officer Candidate School (though depending on your age you might need a waiver). So long as you have a GT score of 110 or higher and an AFAST score of 93 or more you can apply.

We have 18 year old kids straight out of high school applying for and getting selected for Warrant Officer Candidate school and flying helicopters. Take a look around and look at some 18 year olds you know and try to imagine them in an Apache with Hellfire missiles and a 30mm cannon. But we also have college graduates, tradesmen, what have you that just decide to apply.

Like someone else said, the Army is allot different now than when they first came in...but my experience is a little different being in Aviation. Sure we have our dirt bags too, but every walk of life does whether it's in the military or in the civilian work force.

Here's my advice, first look at what you're bring to the table. You mentioned you had maxed out your civilian education too...do you have a degree? How many semester hours of college do you have?

You've been out more than 10 years now, I'm 99% certain you're losing all your rank and you'll definitely have to go back to basic training and AIT again. But, depending on how much college you have you will come in at a higher rank.

If you have your 4 year degree, or are close to it...you should look at some of the Commissioning programs first, it's your age that's going to be a factor though and you'll need a waiver in most cases. Or, if you do enlist and come in I would immediately start looking at the 'new' Green to Gold programs. In the past, Green to Gold meant you got out and went to college and came back in while paying most of your own way. Nowadays, you keep your pay grade and go to college full time.

Alright, so if you don't have enough college for that...choose an MOS that will benefit you most for when you have to transition back to the civilian world. Try to find one that actually provides you with a technical skill that's in demand.

My first recommendation would be an Air Traffic Controller. At the end of the training you have an FAA rating...you get extra pay per month for it, and the bonuses are better than most of the other enlisted MOSs.

If not that, then look at either Blackhawk or Chinook mechanic. I'd recommend staying away from Apache or Kiowa...in a Blackhawk or Chinook you'll have the chance to be a full fledged Crew Chief that flies in the helicopter as part of the crew and receive flight pay.

After that, Pharmacists, Veterinarian, Dental, or Physical Therapy.

You might be a mechanic on the outside, but it's allot different nowadays in the Army...it's mostly just component replacement and not component repair. And if the economy is tanking in your line of work...why not try to get involved in something else?

Also, when you go to enlist, fight and haggle for rank. Recruiters are basically like used car salesmen (no offense to the recruiter that posted here). They usually have allot more to offer you than you realize. Besides your college credits helping to get you rank, there are programs wherein you could help the recruiter to recruit other people to get more rank before you leave for basic training (I did that in order to make it so I was an E3 instead of an E1 when I first enlisted). Also, get any promises made in writing and signed and then make copies that you take with you and copies that you leave with your family in safe keeping.

Ha non taken. I hated that job I got UCMJ because of it Lost my temper with a SFC and got hemmed up for it. The bird man hooked it up and swept it under the table after reading my DD214.:biggrin: So I still got out with an honorable disharge with no mention of the article 15. I loved the Army but being a recruiter just made hate the politics side of it.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Bi polar ben lol HEHEHEHE. That's a good one. But you are right though. The promotions are WAYY too quick these days. E5 is old specialist. For sure. I've never seen soo many automatic E5 promotions in my life.

 

[datant69]

service

my bro in law went in in his late 30's, got callled grandpa but showed them when he beat then at PT, and all the stuff required to be in shape. he did 2 tours, one in bosnia ( i know i spelled it wrong but F it ) and another , he just returned about 4 months ago in iraq. my hats off to anyone who'd put there selves in harms way with a family to support. all i can say is thank you to those who have given their lives, or deal with it on a daily basis; takes someone with strong will and big balls to do that regardless of age. our vets past and present are way underappreciated for what they've done and all i can say is they have my up most respect. the service isn't for everyone and i just wanted to say THANK YOU for all you have done and what you did. if it wasn't for what your guys and girls did none of us would enjoy the freedom we have now. if there ever comes a time when we have to protect our country i'll do my best do be by you side as all and every true american should. again THANK YOU for service and hope we never have to take up arms against an enemy but if so i'm behind you 100%. i don't think we as a country do enough to show our appreciation to present and past servicemen. My best wishes always, your brother in arms.