Are you or have you ever been in the Armed Forces?

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-08-2005, 08:34 AM

I always liked the artillary simulators they the cadre used. It added to make it a more real experience.

BombTaxi · 03-08-2005, 09:21 AM

Yeh, flashbangs are scary stuff. My mate almost got hit by one, and Ive been in a room with one when it detonated. Not fun

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-08-2005, 09:28 AM

It fealt like and earth quake when they went off, but it was really fun.

Napier Sabre · 03-11-2005, 02:14 PM

Spent 5 years in the CCF RAF section as well, hated L98's. When we did live firing at Stafford bits kept falling off! Luckily I did it more for the flying than the shooting, still, Flight Sergeant aint bad I spose.

Off to Uni next year, fun fun.

BombTaxi · 03-11-2005, 03:08 PM

I made it to Sergeant, never had the time or inclination to take the exams for Flight. Also, my section commander wasnt my greatest fan. My reputation for getting things done by the most direct route meant I often got the kids who were trouble, and thier performance never boosted my chance of getting a crown!

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-11-2005, 03:14 PM

I know that feeling, in the US Army today the people who work there asses off dont get promotions but the people who sit around and are lazy from there job get promoted quickly because they get the necessary paper work and classes and points required to get promoted.

BombTaxi · 03-11-2005, 03:17 PM

I enjoyed the challenge, my section was compulsory service and that meant a lot of kids who didnt want to be there. As well as them, there were the natural troublemakers and the general jerks, but somehow I managed to get all of them through recruit training. After that, they were someone elses problem and I got a platoon of normal kids. That, as you might imagine, was a relief!

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-11-2005, 03:27 PM

I bet it was. Its the same way in my unit. When I was in the mechanic unit it seemed like I was surrounded by thiefs, idiot, and violant people and then I progressed into the flight companys and it seems like I am surrounded by bright and normal people. When I go and look at the mechanic company I see the same idiot people still.

Napier Sabre · 03-11-2005, 04:54 PM

Spose I was quite lucky, you get the obvious couple of pains up the ass, but a few weeks scrubbing floors does the world of good I found. In general though, the lot I had were pretty decent. We got 'em to the point where they could take apart and put an L98 back together blindfolded. Did work 'em pretty hard but I hope it paid off because we spend a lot of time organising and working with them.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-12-2005, 11:32 AM

I remember when I was in Basic Training most the people were pretty good and wanted to be there but there was a couple of people that were complete idiots and they would cause trouble all the time even though in Basic Training there is mass punishment. When one screws up everyone pays the price. So we would give them some blanket parties and stuff and atleast then they would feel some pain too.

the lancaster kicks ass · 03-13-2005, 06:49 AM

blanket party??

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-13-2005, 11:33 AM

Yeah a blanket party is where a whole group of guys take a blanket and go the bunk of the guy who is pissing you off and you throw the blanket over him and hold him down with it. Then the rest of you take socks that have a bar of soap in it and beat him with it. It doesn't do a permanent damage to him but it leaves a nasty reminder of what happens when you screw up everything for everybody. It is only done in the worst of cases. I dont condone it anymore, that was just back when I was young. And at some point you just get tired of being punished because someone doesn't care.

Back to where we were talking about L98's, here is some pictures of me when I was back in ROTC and we went to the Bristol Army Cadet Force camp in England for a few weeks.
I was a Cadet Leautenant at the time in the position of Platoon Leader. We trained with the British cadets and went out on exersices with them, used there weapons such as the L98 pictured here, it was quite fun.
The first picture is of me taking a break while out on exersice (I am the one on the left).
The second is of me with a British Cadet.
The Third is a few members of my platoon that I was in charge of. I am the one in the back row second from right.

Nonskimmer · 03-13-2005, 12:24 PM

Cool!

cheddar cheese · 03-13-2005, 12:25 PM

Nice pics.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-13-2005, 12:47 PM

Thank you. I am so glad I have my scanner back now so that I can put all the pictures on my computer that I took before I had a digital camera.

Here is one of me getting my wings pinned on after the US Army UH-60 Blackhawk school almost 5 years ago.