What's the one thing you learned during your time in the service that's stuck with you. Mine was how to listen and follow directions if you don't it could get you killed always stuck with me. Another is how to pack I can get my whole closet in one suitcase my wife hates it when we go on trips I tell her get out the way I can get all that in one suitcase then I get in boot camp mode and will have the kids 45 corners on their beds ready for inspection they absolutely hate it.

That after 10 weeks, even the ugliest woman on the planet will look REEAAAAAAAAAAAL good!

One our Drill Sergeants was a female. Ugliest damn woman you've ever seen but had some tig ole bitties. Here is a timeline of events

Week 1: Damn, she's ugly

Week 2: She's got some bigguns

Week 3: For an older gal, she's not horrible

Week 4: She's in good shape and has a decent body

Week 5: Her arse ain't half bad

Week 6: My god them tig ole bitties look nice

Week 7; Oh my god, I so hope she does PT with us this morning

Week 8: Holy Schit, she is the hottest thing ever!


True Story

I'll never forget what someone wrote, on a Porta toilet, at AL Asad air base.
It said, "hey girls, what are you gonna do, when you get home, and find out you're ugly again?"

a.k.a. "A Desert Fox"

Fire, Ready, Aim really does work sometimes.

Weapons. Gear. Self. Always, in that order...

Haha I bet.

Attention to detail and how to push beyond mental barriers.

I went in at 17 so I was a punk that needed the Army way more than it needed me. We still got issued woodland camo and combat boots back then (90s). The quicker you learned to embrace the suck the better off you were.

I know a guy (not me) that leaned the importance of personal hygiene.
I learned that cheap beer can taste really good in the right circumstances.
I learned that some DI's know very little about marksmanship/ballistics.
I learned that RF can burn the crap out of you.
I learned that $3 in a field barber shop in Korea just might be the best money you ever spent!

Discipline, responsibilities and teamwork. Bad food taste damn good when you are hungry.

Which way the toilet paper rolls goes on the wall.

How to fold t-shirts and underwear. I can also properly make a bed. It's been over 33-years since I was in BMT and I still fold my t-shirts and underwear exactly the same. And much like OP stated - I can pack a suitcase with the best of them.

First 6 weeks in how to kill.

Don't fold em. Roll em.

Mrs. Irish calls me the "Chinese Puzzle Master" when we go to pack on trips.



There is nothing I have done since graduating from Parris Island that really felt like was a challenge that I couldn't handle. Seriously. Parris Island helped reveal a mental toughness in me that I feel is extremely lacking in a large percentage of average people.



Yes, Yes and Yes. And some of the best food I have ever eaten was at the mess hall at Camp Geiger and Camp Lejune. Marine and Navy cooks are some of the best.

I learned to be a better marksman using iron sights than I ever thought I would be. 9 out of 10 bulls eyes at 500 yards on the KD range at Parris Island. I was 3rd award expert by the time I got out. I wish my eyesight was as good now as it was then.

I learned in a fight to be aggressive. I got the $h!t kicked out of me in a boxing match once (Knocked out cold) and that was enough for a young Irish guy to learn his lesson. I haven't lost a fight since... Of course I haven't picked any either.

I learned to keep my mouth shut and do what needs to be done and never volunteer for anything. (Of course if you know me you know I'm still working on those. )

I have long since thought that every young person should have to endure some type of crucible after graduating from high school and before college or a career. They should be forced to live and work and be teammates with people of all different walks of life, different cultures, different religions and different races. And not necessarily the military either, there's forestry service, medical service, inner cities, etc... but everyone needs to go through some type of mental and physical character building process, some type of boot camp regardless of what kind of service they decide to render to our country. I'm all in favor of some type of semi-mandatory service to our country. It would build citizenship, physical strength and mental character.

I also learned that I don’t give a crap if you are in the best breakfast joint in France, you won’t find a better omelette than in the chowhall, true to this day.

I also learned not to eat the old “Pork Patty” MRE and bail out at 34,000 feet. It’s unnatural!

I learned that Morphine and Jack Daniel’s works Mo-Betta!

I learned that 40Mike, handgrenades, and a tag on your helmet can keep you from getting killed by the enemy and the aircraft lighting the enemy up.

Don’t lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do.

I learned to NEVER make a deal with God saying you’ll “give your right nut” unless you dang well mean it. When he collects, he doesn’t listen to reason.

I learned that when you snatch a stupid butter bar down by his web belt whilst everyone else standing died, he is all of a sudden smarter and will send you Christmas cards.

Attention to detail.
How to take a bath in a canteen cup.
To eat my food really fast.
Sometimes it's best to not speak.

I learned its ok to cry and not ok to give people chit for crying.

Sad but true.

I learned when a troop of monkeys come on ya and the lead monkey comes down to you chattering like hell but they don’t chew your face off...He’s trying to tell you something VERY important!

I learned to “Never get outta da boat” unless there ain’t nomore boat.

I wasnt in the military, but I went to a military school with a bunch of teachers that were. I learned it’s easier to just do what your told, and how to make a quarter bounce off my sheets.

I learned the Army has so many pictures in their field manuals because they have no reading comprehension. This info really saved me!

I learned I’m still trying to figure whats worse, deploying from a torpedo tube or staying on the sub?

I learned a Fulton S.T.A.R.S is for emergencies only.

I learned and “advise” on my evasion technique I call “Pie-R-Squared” that I and my troops can spend a whole weekend on Panama City Beach whilst The Apaches at Rucker look for us on the range.

I learned to make notes on my calendar every single day and keep those calendars for twenty years.

I learned very few women can hump a can of 20mm Ammo off a pallet in each hand and swing it up onto a loading table. (200lbs per can).

I’ve learned there are indeed task that women excel at...Demolition, snipers, dog handlers, pilots, and more. This really needs to be looked at much more.

I have seen the gravel in the guts of friendly, enemy, and bystander women.

I’ve learned that leading from the front is a form of insanity

I’ve learned that Mr. Murphy has a whole subset of laws and a host of relatives.

I’ve learned that old saying “what don’t kill you makes you stronger” is BS.

I learned if you pop smoke in a dry field, you better be standing down wind, cause there will be a fire.

I learned there are many situations that you wish you were alone but glad you weren’t.

I learned that tanks don’t mix well with toyotas

I learned that hooch grog will make you wish you were sober

I learned a hellochopper fuel leak can be plugged with a finger.

I learned nomatter how good the actors, they’ll never replicate the look on soldiers faces when an RPG lands inside their hummer and doesn’t go off.

I learned that ripstop holds heat in like a trash bag

When I was a pup working in Mobile Infirmary there was a guy named Jessie Taylor who worked nights in the electric shop. This guy scetched combat scenes on the back of hospital wall paper. Folk would say “don’t sneak up on crazy jessie”. I don’t think they knew the truth of their words.

Those scetches ended up in some of the darndest places on this planet belonging to some of the baddest of the bad that ever walked the face of it. Every time I ran across one it was literally a WTHeck moment.

I learned, you never know who you know.

JohnnyLoco you had quite an education...

Because I got some loose screws and scars. Its ok though, I gots grandbabies now and my pecker still works.

The Nero Surgeons say the ONLY reason my trigger finger still works must be “muscle memory”. As I took a round in the web of my shooting hand and it came out just before my elbow. They took out the artery and radial nerve and the ONLY thing that responds to their electricle do-dad is my booger finger.

I still remember my youngest son when I changed my bandages in front of him, he trembled, I felt so bad.

JohnnyLoco Thank you for your service. How many years where you in?

Twenty plus brother. No need for thanks even though it’s appreciated, thanks to all Vets...Salute!

I tell this story once in a while about an old man that lived across the street from me in Texas.

I’ll shorten it:

So this Army fella got on a cargo type ship in Puerto Rico with his unit. They were being trailed by German subs so they went way up into the North Atlantic to evade. Men were freezing to death. He was an NCO by then so he had a bunk down below (I’m cryin now). He gave his bunk up every night to a youngin so they hopefully wouldn’t have to freeze. The ship latrine was sloshing with waste because they couldn’t release it for the subs to track. Mr. Bayer slept in that filth every night and never told the boys where he was sleeping when he gave up his bunk.

When they got off the coast of the United kingdom they were taking torpedoes. His immediate unit jumped overboard and regrouped then fought for five years.

Mr. Adolph Bayer lived a good long life and when he went to the hospital the last time for a surgery, they found pictures under his pillow that he brought with him, memories if you will. They meant something to him, He knew his number was up.

After that Saving Private Ryan movie Tom Hanks and Co initiated this WWII memorial thing and were soliciting ideas. I asked Mr. Bayer what he thought was appropriate and his answer did not disappoint...

He said “ the ONLY memorial we need is for the United States and the World to keep what we fought for”

Here's to you Johnny

Hey, I’m just having some Joe Dirt fun here, its like therapy without the biofeedback and breathing exercises.

Johnny Loco thread takeover alert!!!!!!!

PAD son PAD
Pay attention to detail. It will save you every time

I was thinking the same thing.

Hey, besides Winchester Powermax 30-30 you fellas have stumbled on a subject thats just my game.

I learned a few of other things:

1. The allure of battle last just over 14 seconds

2. Never hurry, just do what you normally do, only faster!

I learned that if you tell a troop number 2 at the 15 second mark it causes enough mental and physical hesitation to get them killed.

There ain’t an Air Force Joke you can think up I haven’t been subjected too. I’ve been punked by every elite special unit in every service, in every one of the world’s militaries, even the enemy. But, the US Military’s most Elite units are in the Air Force. Just know the Air Force is the “First There” in EVERY battle since the late seventies with ABSOLUTELY no exception.

And beyond the elite units, the Air Force Munitions, Red Horse, Dog Handlers, Counter Snipers, EOD, and Security Forces, are a force to rekon with. The scenerio for these troops is bare base operations. Thats where enemy bases are bombed and the Air Force conducts sorties from in-country. One crew emptying CBU containers whilst the others are filling them with sand whilst the other forces are suppressing the enemy.

Those in the pic look more like intel troops or medical personnel.

Johnny were in Air Force Special Tactics ? BTW thank you for your service. I respect and admire all combat veterans.

"Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) squadrons are the United States Air Force's heavy-construction units. Their capabilities are similar to those of the U.S. Navy Seabees and U.S. Army heavy-construction organizations.[1]"

They sent Red Horse airmen to us, for training.

Here’s the deal...“I’m so much cooler on line”

The truth is some years ago I determined this non existent ones & zeros (computer) to be better therapy than real so called shrinks. I don’t do meds, don’t need to know how to breath, nor every other stupid thing they can throw at me to include a emotional support animal that I’d have to feed and take out for a dump.

I know I develop an online hatred but thats ok with me because If you knew me, you’d never know it was me. I have my retirement flag displayed and everything else is locked away including conversation. My grandaughter did stumble on my uniform hanging in my closet which I will be buried in with my 21 gun salute for my wife.

Eventhough its all fun and games on the Internet, I cringe with every “thankyou” because so many have given so much.

God Bless

My nephew just graduated about 3 weeks ago. His wife is also Airforce, my BNL is on his 18 year in the Army he's a EOD Bomb Tech, and My Grandfather was a drill sergeant in the Airforce back in the 70s (may have been 60s)

Hey, I tell you what, any of you folk have someone graduating, let me know. Nice lookin family!

I went in after my wife graduated from Murphy, I still have her 36 years later.

Salute!

Any of you folk live by Repton? I tell ya, the Lord led me through there a few years back and off the beaten path as if it ain’t already, I stumble on a flag pole with a tattered flag of a makeshift memorial in a little yard. The memorial was for Sgt. Troy Jenkins. I went up to Walmart (a huge walmart?) in Monroeville to get a replacement flag and left it on the front porch. My understanding after talking with the Postal worker was the mom couldn’t afford much. Well, you might not think the Lord led me through there but I’ll be dang if there ain’t paint on the side of some old building that says “ refresh yourself in Jesus”. Huh?

Troy threw himself on an explosive in 2003 to save others.

Maybe someone can bring a flag.

You know.... honestly I don’t even compare the two. I start transition leave in February and will be a civilian again and could not be happier. I have enjoyed my 20 years in the Army and have meet some life long brothers and friends and others that I’ll never give a phuck if I see or hear from again.

I learned much needed discipline, respect for others and that the color of a man doesn’t define him, what’s inside does.

Also, if I’d never enlisted I might never have discovered Alabama and met my wife who led me to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

Ready to retire gentlemen

Congratulations big country!

I learned we are all the same color underneath a thin layer of pigmented epidermis.

Congrats BigCountry, but you will leave a piece of you behind that you will long for once in a while.

Don’t be surprised if one of your recurring nightmares is Stop-Loss

Salute!

Never served. Thank you guys that did. I really enjoy reading what you learned.

Never, ever volunteer!

I swore once out, I'd never wear anything green again. That was 75. In 90 I started deer hunting. That fell to the wayside fast.

No matter what hand your dealt keep on keeping on.

One day in KP I learned that even if you are hungry, don't eat one of those green salads from the cooler. I think it was a Scotch Bonnet pepper with some crap all over it.

I learned the only time you have too much gas onboard is when you are on fire.

Never pass up the opportunity to refuel, eat, or use the bathroom.

The chow hall has the best breakfast.

The only time the LZ is too hot is when it is on fire

There is literally nothing that will stop a DUSTOFF pilot from getting to his patient.

Thanks Leroy!

Thanks to all of you who served/serve in any capacity!

Whoa whoa... we don’t use the S-L word lol

Of the many lessons I learned, I think one that has served me well was the constant emphasis on safety. I spent many years in aviation and we were constantly reminded of safety because of the potential for a catastrophic accident. Things like seatbelts, personal protective gear like safety glasses and ear plugs are second nature to me and more importantly my kids.

I think another valuable lesson was financial responsibility. As a young lieutenant, my commander put the fear of God into us about keeping your finances in order. That has served me and my family well over the years.

Curious, no one mentioned learning how to slit a man's throat from ear to ear without allowing him to make a noise? Death and survival were main things being taught during the Vietnam war.

Heres to safety

The rush of air from the esophagus is not only horrible, it gives away your position. But my nightmares still come from Stop-Loss.

Stop using the S-L word dam it lol

This country is the best damn country in the world.

Ok Big Country, my lips are buttoned