The mega-meta Military family/friends thread

[Guest]

Congrats!!!
 

Got to go to our son’s promotion to Cpt.   Got to hear his boss make up all kinds of positive lies about his performance and leadership.😁. 

[Guest]

11 hours ago, BearSchlong said:

The boy got his promotion board heads up, he's gonna be a Captain soon.

Kicking this to the top of the page,

 

Congrats again!

[Gil Bang 25651]

22 hours ago, BearSchlong said:

The boy got his promotion board heads up, he's gonna be a Captain soon.

That's fucking awesome!

[BearSchlong 8003]

Deployment advance scouting trip. All I know is he just departed Dubai and that's all I am allowed to know. My life is boring.

[T-shirt Sip 2091]

My son who’s in the USAF was involuntarily extended.  He was due to ETS in November but was just told he’s not getting out until at least March for nothing other than the USAF is broke. He’s devastated. He wanted to take a month off and start school in January so that’s on hold now. 
 

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/10/politics/air-force-funding-personnel-moves-bonuses/index.html

[Gil Bang 25651]

The GF's son is Air National Guard, former active USAF. 

He's been in the Guard several years.  His unit got called up and he's headed to Okinawa for 3 months.  He's got a great job, and this is going to cost him a ton of dough. 

Meanwhile, my kid is heading to the sandbox at the end of the month.  

[BillyGoatHill 4267]

20 hours ago, T-shirt Sip said:

My son who’s in the USAF was involuntarily extended.  He was due to ETS in November but was just told he’s not getting out until at least March for nothing other than the USAF is broke. He’s devastated. He wanted to take a month off and start school in January so that’s on hold now. 
 

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/10/politics/air-force-funding-personnel-moves-bonuses/index.html

First, hats off those that are still signing up and continuing/willing to serve.

But this just shows you how fucked up the military currently is. When the AIR FORCE (other branches too) ARE NOT meeting their recruiting goals (again), maybe a re-evaluation of policies, priorities, and motto .....FLY, FIGHT, and WIN needs to be looked at. 

Curious as to what your son's career field is?

I was in a critical career field (with quite a bit of money and training invested) in the 80's, a time somewhat similar to now with a lot of sabre rattling going on and when I told them I was done, ....OK., See ya later.  

 

[Gil Bang 25651]

1 hour ago, BillyGoatHill said:

First, hats off those that are still signing up and continuing/willing to serve.

But this just shows you how fucked up the military currently is. When the AIR FORCE (other branches too) ARE NOT meeting their recruiting goals (again), maybe a re-evaluation of policies, priorities, and motto .....FLY, FIGHT, and WIN needs to be looked at. 

Curious as to what your son's career field is?

I was in a critical career field (with quite a bit of money and training invested) in the 80's, a time somewhat similar to now with a lot of sabre rattling going on and when I told them I was done, ....OK., See ya later.  

 

Counterpoint:  unemployment is very low in this country.   Lots of young folks, like my son, join because they want to serve their country.

 

But, lots also join because it's the best job that they have any hope of getting.    A couple grand a month, 3 meals a day, and a roof over your head looks pretty good to somebody from an economically depressed area.     And, as much complaining as there is about military housing, for some folks, military housing is the nicest house that they've ever lived in 

[BillyGoatHill 4267]

Counterpoint:  unemployment is very low in this country.   Lots of young folks, like my son, join because they want to serve their country.
 
But, lots also join because it's the best job that they have any hope of getting.    A couple grand a month, 3 meals a day, and a roof over your head looks pretty good to somebody from an economically depressed area.     And, as much complaining as there is about military housing, for some folks, military housing is the nicest house that they've ever lived in 

Not really sure how you thought or think I am disparaging ANYONE that chooses to join the military.
What you wrote above I experienced for 5 years and it was great. I’m Still reaping benefits from that brief period of my life.
My post had to do with military brass and the policies/politics in play that can deter those that would maybe otherwise join.

I responded to someone stating that their son being stop-lossed while in the Air Force. The AIR FORCE not meeting their recruitment goals (whether good unemployment or bad) for 2 years running is an issue that needs some correction.

[Gil Bang 25651]

ah...you're a Tubbervillian.   

 

 

[Gil Bang 25651]

• #209  

Posted 9 minutes ago

  3 

Not really sure how you thought or think I am disparaging ANYONE that chooses to join the military.

 

where the fuck did that come from?

[T-shirt Sip 2091]

6 hours ago, BillyGoatHill said:

First, hats off those that are still signing up and continuing/willing to serve.

But this just shows you how fucked up the military currently is. When the AIR FORCE (other branches too) ARE NOT meeting their recruiting goals (again), maybe a re-evaluation of policies, priorities, and motto .....FLY, FIGHT, and WIN needs to be looked at. 

Curious as to what your son's career field is?

I was in a critical career field (with quite a bit of money and training invested) in the 80's, a time somewhat similar to now with a lot of sabre rattling going on and when I told them I was done, ....OK., See ya later.  

 

My son is a jet engine mechanic. He repairs F-16 engines. The main reason why he chose to get out is that they have been working six (days a week) - 12 hours days for about 10 months. He’s just tired of it. He would rather get Overtime if he’s working long hours. 

Edited September 7, 2023 by T-shirt Sip
Clarifying the hours a week worked.

[CHAD BRISCOE 369]

my  freind Rudy was kill in the war in July

[UpperWestside 6026]

On 9/5/2023 at 8:59 PM, Gil Bang said:

The GF's son is Air National Guard, former active USAF. 

He's been in the Guard several years.  His unit got called up and he's headed to Okinawa for 3 months.  He's got a great job, and this is going to cost him a ton of dough. 

Meanwhile, my kid is heading to the sandbox at the end of the month.  

One of my good friends is in the Air Force and is stationed in Okinawa. He absolutely loves it there and has told me to come visit while he is there. His wife also is really enjoying the deployment as well. He works on one of the planes and there are only a few people who are specialists on the one he keeps running. I wish I could remember exactly which one, but it escapes my memory at the moment. Perhaps they will cross paths while he is there. I can give my friend a heads up if you want. He is a really good guy who does a lot of good for the people he is there with on base in Okinawa.

[Gil Bang 25651]

1 hour ago, UpperWestside said:

One of my good friends is in the Air Force and is stationed in Okinawa. He absolutely loves it there and has told me to come visit while he is there. His wife also is really enjoying the deployment as well. He works on one of the planes and there are only a few people who are specialists on the one he keeps running. I wish I could remember exactly which one, but it escapes my memory at the moment. Perhaps they will cross paths while he is there. I can give my friend a heads up if you want. He is a really good guy who does a lot of good for the people he is there with on base in Okinawa.

Tom was previously at Kadena for 4 years, so he's very familiar and has friends there.  He got married there, and we went to the wedding.  It's a nice spot. 

[atomheartbevo 89015]

For those of you worried about your moms being too old to serve, I came across this ad

 

[BearSchlong 8003]

I just got the call. “Well Dad, I'm going away for a while. I'll call when I can.”

Flat and lots of sand.

[Guest]

Stay strong Dad.  Godspeed to your son...

[Gil Bang 25651]

Mine got home yesterday for three weeks, as he's got a new baby coming tomorrow.  My DIL has a lot on her plate; alone for another 5 months with an newborn and a 4 year old.  I live on the opposite coast, so I'm not much help.    But, her folks are retired and live in TN now, so I'm sure that they will be with her quite a bit. 

Edited December 9, 2023 by Gil Bang

[RDCanecutter 25968]

UP in the mornin when the sun don't shine

Grab a bowl of grits and a pint of wine

EAT my breakfast

TOO SOON

Hungry as hell

FORE NOON

[BearSchlong 8003]

Mine got home yesterday for three weeks, as he's got a new baby coming tomorrow.  My DIL has a lot on her plate; alone for another 5 months with an newborn and a 4 year old.  I live on the opposite coast, so I'm not much help.    But, her folks are retired and live in TN now, so I'm sure that they will be with her quite a bit. 

Congratulations!

[Guest]

Counter to the tenor of  some of the other postings on here-  Monday will be my youngest son's last day in the Navy.  Given the situation around the globe, I am grateful for that.  It has been an experience for him and it is time to move on from it.  He is ready.  I wouldn't have said that 4 years ago.

[Gil Bang 25651]

A USMC Super Stallion Helo went down yesterday after leaving Nevada for Miramar.    

The wreckage was located in East San Diego this morning, WITH NO MARINES INSIDE!

So, there's a high probability that these guys survived.  There's a shitload of assets looking for them right now, but the weather really sucks. 

[orange dream 1215]

7 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

A USMC Super Stallion Helo went down yesterday after leaving Nevada for Miramar.    

The wreckage was located in East San Diego this morning, WITH NO MARINES INSIDE!

So, there's a high probability that these guys survived.  There's a shitload of assets looking for them right now, but the weather really sucks. 

What is the typical crew / capacity of one of those?

[Gil Bang 25651]

6 minutes ago, orange dream said:

What is the typical crew / capacity of one of those?

No idea on "typical" but this one is reported to have 5 aboard.

[mbtex 683]

Son is about to head back over to Eastern Europe again.

[Gil Bang 25651]

Crash is trending poorly.

[Paco 1905]

What is the typical crew / capacity of one of those?

I think the crew can be as few as three but typically they have 4-5. That bird can carry 50+ combat loaded troops.

[Gil Bang 25651]

I think the "no marines inside" was bullshit intended to give the Corps adequate time to make the personal notifications.   If they had said "bodies were found", there's a really good chance that at least some of the family members would have known it was their loved ones aboard.   I'm sure that there are wives and girlfriends that were waiting for their Marines to arrive yesterday AM, and knew that bad news was coming. 

 

[Gil Bang 25651]

Son is about to head back over to Eastern Europe again.

PCS or deployment?

[BearSchlong 8003]

Son is about to head back over to Eastern Europe again.

Sending positive thoughts to y'all.

[mbtex 683]

16 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

PCS or deployment?

Deployment

[mbtex 683]

Looks like all 5 on board died. RIP Marines.

Still brave young men risking their lives everyday.

[Gil Bang 25651]

23 hours ago, mbtex said:

Looks like all 5 on board died. RIP Marines.

Still brave young men risking their lives everyday.

The military is a dangerous occupation, even in peacetime. 

[Guest]

" It's just a training Op"  never gives much solace.

[BearSchlong 8003]

Stuck in the desert with a surplus of gym time.

[BearSchlong 8003]

“So Dad, I've been flying around in Chinooks a lot. Do you know what that is? Anyway, it is fucking HOT here and the turbines are attached to the ceiling so we fly guns out with the ramp down for ventilation.”

Sends him pic of his grandfather flying in a Chinook in SE Asia 56 years ago.

“Yeah son, I do”

[baboso 6037]

The venerable Shit hook.

[Gil Bang 25651]

On 2/9/2024 at 10:54 AM, Guest said:

" It's just a training Op"  never gives much solace.

Apache went down in WA yesterday. Both crew in the hospital, but at least they survived.  

[Gil Bang 25651]

Somebody that I know recently told me that Jordan is a nice place, the weather is good, and the Jordanians are terrific people.

 

I understand that there are joint maneuvers going on these days.

[YGIFS 19445]

The Jordanians have been quietly a tight ally of ours in the Middle East for the last few decades.  My younger cousin is still USMC Force Recon and has worked with them frequently, picking up both Arabic and Farsi along the way.  Has good things to say about them, for the most part.  

I wish all currently serving men and women, a blessed U.S. Armed Forces Day today.  I still have three blood relatives serving, so may God keep his watchful eye over them.  One of them even had bone spurs but managed somehow to do a few tours with the USAF.  God Bless all of 'em.  We may be headed back as a country to some shit again...

[InkaUtexas 24932]

1 hour ago, YGIFS said:

I love Jordan. Great food and history. But um, yeah, they don't speak Farsi. So boy was a bit to east.

[InkaUtexas 24932]

15 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

Somebody that I know recently told me that Jordan is a nice place, the weather is good, and the Jordanians are terrific people.

 

I understand that there are joint maneuvers going on these days.

We have worked closely with Jordan since the 1970's, just quietly. Their Special forces was with our kids in Mogadishu. Damn fine people and good soldiers. Still built on the English model, but they are building a solid NCO core.

[YGIFS 19445]

36 minutes ago, InkaUtexas said:

2 hours ago, YGIFS said:

I love Jordan. Great food and history. But um, yeah, they don't speak Farsi. So boy was a bit to east.

I am truncating, for once Lobo, that during deployments and language school-he learned both Arabic and Farsi.  Plus some associated Portuguese.  

[InkaUtexas 24932]

4 hours ago, YGIFS said:

I am truncating, for once Lobo, that during deployments and language school-he learned both Arabic and Farsi.  Plus some associated Portuguese.  

I am not lobo.

Tells me he was 3rd or 5th group. How did he like Mozambique?

[Guadaloopy 10801]

6 hours ago, YGIFS said:

The Jordanians have been quietly a tight ally of ours in the Middle East for the last few decades. 

Almost 30 years ago now, I was part of an amphibious readiness group that participated in a combined force exercise with the Jordanians.  We pulled in to Aqaba for three weeks.   The Marines went ashore for exercises, and the ships’ crews got to hang out in port for the entire time.  
 

The Jordanians treated us right.  The visit fell over the 4th of July, so they lent us the use of the picnic grounds at the Royal Jordanian Dive Center to have an Independence Day barbecue bash.  They didn’t even flinch when we busted out the whole suckling pigs to cook over their pits.  For the full three weeks, they allowed Sailors full access to the dive club and free use of snorkeling gear.   I’ve dove and snorkeled all over the world, and the Gulf of Aqaba has some of the most beautiful water and reefs I’ve ever seen.  The Jordanians also organized multiple trips to Petra for the crews.  That was a truly surreal experience.  
 

Jordan is a solid ally and they walk the walk. 
 

 

[InkaUtexas 24932]

34 minutes ago, Guadaloopy said:

Almost 30 years ago now, I was part of an amphibious readiness group that participated in a combined force exercise with the Jordanians.  We pulled in to Aqaba for three weeks.   The Marines went ashore for exercises, and the ships’ crews got to hang out in port for the entire time.  
 

The Jordanians treated us right.  The visit fell over the 4th of July, so they lent us the use of the picnic grounds at the Royal Jordanian Dive Center to have an Independence Day barbecue bash.  They didn’t even flinch when we busted out the whole suckling pigs to cook over their pits.  For the full three weeks, they allowed Sailors full access to the dive club and free use of snorkeling gear.   I’ve dove and snorkeled all over the world, and the Gulf of Aqaba has some of the most beautiful water and reefs I’ve ever seen.  The Jordanians also organized multiple trips to Petra for the crews.  That was a truly surreal experience.  
 

Jordan is a solid ally and they walk the walk. 
 

 

Dad was with them in Mog and spent some time in country. I worked with them in Bosnia and Afghanistan. Solid dudes and they do it right.

[Thetexashammer 1062]

35 minutes ago, Guadaloopy said:

Almost 30 years ago now, I was part of an amphibious readiness group that participated in a combined force exercise with the Jordanians.  We pulled in to Aqaba for three weeks.   The Marines went ashore for exercises, and the ships’ crews got to hang out in port for the entire time.  
 

The Jordanians treated us right.  The visit fell over the 4th of July, so they lent us the use of the picnic grounds at the Royal Jordanian Dive Center to have an Independence Day barbecue bash.  They didn’t even flinch when we busted out the whole suckling pigs to cook over their pits.  For the full three weeks, they allowed Sailors full access to the dive club and free use of snorkeling gear.   I’ve dove and snorkeled all over the world, and the Gulf of Aqaba has some of the most beautiful water and reefs I’ve ever seen.  The Jordanians also organized multiple trips to Petra for the crews.  That was a truly surreal experience.  
 

Jordan is a solid ally and they walk the walk. 
 

 

[BearSchlong 8003]

Nice.

Anybody been stationed at Carson? Looks like my kid and his bride might be headed there for a few years.

[F250 28491]

I'm currently planning a trip to visit my oldest at Fort Meade. It's been awhile since I've seen him. Since his graduation and commission his adventures have taken him to Mississippi and Maryland.

I want to see Gettysburg and possibly Fredericksburg and tour D.C. and finish up at Virginia Beach. Plans are to fly into Philadelphia and hit up Gettysburg and Fredericksburg and D.C. then my son join us at Virginia Beach.