Thread: Why did you join the Military?

Joined because being paid to dive underwater, shoot rifles, and blow stuff up seemed like a good time. Did that for a while, then decided to get my commission. Transferred to technical work as an officer, which isn't quite as exciting, but was a decent trade off for family life.

Originally Posted by bigross86

I was the first person in my family to serve in and complete army service. I joined cause it's mandatory, but I went to a combat unit even though I could have gotten out of it very easily by hiding a leg injury.

It's mandatory service, but I would have gone even if it wasn't for the very simple reason that if someone is willing to give up their life so I can live in peace, how much of a selfish bastard would I be if I wasn't willing to do the same?

Whoa! Nice to see your still around! Shabbat Shalom! (it's 1709 Friday here.) !

Originally Posted by sappersgt

To get out of a South African jail. I had a chance to go to South Africa for a wedding, a once in a lifetime trip. I had to pay only $400 for air fare from California, usually a two thousand dollar proposition. Wouldn't you know it our flight was late, the people we were staying with had gone to Durban for the surfing finals. The maid was waiting for us, let us in and started up the "braai" (BBQ). I opted to stay in Shannon while my friend went to Durban. I sent the maid home for the weekend and invited the waay too cute neighbor girls over for "beer and brai". Yeah baby!

Coming back from the store for beer I forgot that in South Africa they drive on "wrong" side of the road and pulled out right in front of a constable. Yep, you guessed it, on the "wrong "side! The local constabulary convinced themselves I was a squatter staying in someones house while they were on holiday. I had sent the maid home remember? No one to vouch for me until Monday. I was arraigned bright and early first thing Monday morning. No bail as I was a tourist and considered a flight risk. No such thing as a speedy trial. I was told my case would come up in seven or eight months "if I was lucky", a year if I was not.

Sitting in a South African jail for a year didn't sound so good. They told me the army would come by every week looking for volunteers. The war was on and they needed people. So I volunteered for the reserve. My plan was to get trained, get discharged into the reserve, take my pay and resume my interrupted tour of the country. That was the plan anyways...)

You, sir, have the best stories.

This thread reminds me of that scene from Stripes where everyone sat down in the barracks to tell the story of why they joined.

Perhaps we should call OoE "the big toe..."

Slightly reminds me a bit of this friend who almost got railroaded into the French Foreign Legion after a drunken night in southern France on a school trip... they were rather reluctant to let him go despite his signature on the contract not being legally binding (without parental consent) as he was only 16 at the time. He signed up as a volunteer with the Bundeswehr the next year.

Originally Posted by gunnut

You, sir, have the best stories.

This thread reminds me of that scene from Stripes where everyone sat down in the barracks to tell the story of why they joined.

Perhaps we should call OoE "the big toe..."

Well even I think it's funny now. At the time I was waaay less than amused, oh hell, I cant even begin...