Kriegsmier

Iraq.

I like Chopper pilots. I work with them constantly in Landing Support. They seem to always find an excuse to get in the air lol. They were used extensively at the beginning of Iraq. They basically advanced 3 artillery batteries miles in a matter of hours something that would normally take them a day or more. You can pretty much pick a chopper and almost guarantee its seeing time in theater. For all you that want to be pilots. Def go the Officer route, theres no other way.

I don't totally agree. I prefer the enlisted side of things. You feel closer to everyone. Officers seem distant and while they should know their men/women....they really don't. I'm not sure about the other branches, but i know for a fact that the enlisted side runs things in the Marine Corps. They run the Marine Corps. NCOs are the backbone of the Corps. Corporals and Sergeants. I like knowing that my actions keep this force going. I'm not sitting in an office drinking coffee, i'm hands on out in the field. Some people are different, but i get a sense of gratification from actually working like I do.

From what i hear the Airwing is pretty good. Its like the Air Force meets the Marine Corps, i hear its a good gig to have. I'm in the reserves and i can of course go to school. Whatever anyone decides, be sure you can get the GI Bill if you plan on going to school. Its extra money in your pocket, a good amount too.

I'd like to know too. What is the basic training/bootcamp like?

Lots of things. In an active combat role, not much aside from transport, some air support, medical and....yeah that seems about it. Defense against pirates too. I've heard of individuals that actually do combat ops such as patrols or security but i'd think thats a very rare occurrence, especially these days. The most Navy personal you will find in theater will be the Navy Corpsmen (Doc) attached to the Marines. I do know the Navy does some EOD, so EOD might see some action.

Technically you still go in at the bottom becoming an officer. Its a whole other totem pole to climb. I heard something pretty funny the other day. A Master Gunnery Sergeant (one of the highest enlisted ranks you can get in the Marines) walked past a fresh 2nd Lt and didn't salute. The 2nd Lt stopped him and told him he needed to salute all officers. The Master Guns looked at him and said, screw you why don't you climb my rockers and come get it. I was like YES! Offtopic, the pic is titled "meatthebeach" so....idk. :-w :-k

Feel free to ask any questions. I can't always speak the truth for the other branches but i can give a general viewpoint, as i've worked alongside all of them and know how the government/military works.

I'm in the Marine Corps Reserves, going on 2 years. I work in Landing Support and i should pickup E-4 very soon and become an NCO. I'll be deploying to the middle east for my 2nd tour in the next few months. The Military is a great opportunity, gives you a lot of great skills that you might miss or not get in the civilian world. Plus you have the opportunity to do some things that most people will just dream of. I'm in the best physical shape of my life, i've become 10 times more confident with myself and abilities, i never quit things, and i'd like to think i am a finely tuned killing machine that can be turned on with the flip of a switch. ;) Officer programs are great, power to those that do it. Personally i have no intentions of going officer, nor making it a career. I love the enlisted side of things to much. All branches are a good choice. I figured if i was going to do something i wanted to be the best at it. And thats what i consider the Marines, the most elite of the branches. Air Force and Navy seemed to be geared a lot more towards the person's future after the military, their job training and jobs available are much more specific and refined. While the Army and Marines are more combat oriented and provide broad training. Still very usable after the military but not as much as the Air Force and Navy seem to be. At least to me. The Navy finally just got a new Digital Utility uniform. A new selling point for them. Looks terrible and total garbage lol. ;)

US is currently pulling combat troops out and slowing down combat ops. Had a buddy get his deployment chopped by 3 months because Infantry troops arn't needed there anymore. All combat operations will cease in 2010. The whole military itself will probably be gone by 2011. Currently, OPs and CPs are being pulled back into the FOB's (Forward operating bases) and the FOBs are being packed up to move back further. Trust me its all being packed up so its only a matter of time. I'll be going over in August to do more packing for the Marine Corps. However, what people don't realize a lot is that even with ending operations in Iraq, troops and equipment are being diverted to Afghanistan in force. Theres no sign of that ending any time soon.

Honestly i enjoy being deployed. For the sole purpose of making more money in 7-8 months then i do in a regular year at home. Otherwise i really wouldn't want to do it, i still would as it is my job....but i wouldn't want to or enjoy it as much. People make bank over there, deployment through military or civilian company....its all good, though civilian companies massively outweigh the military with pay.

TOTAL Truth right here. While we're at it lets look at Teachers and Law Enforcement salaries. All 3 need to be raised for the jobs they do.

A lot of private contractor jobs in countries like Iraq are simple things like transporting truck cargo, or even driving a politician from a hotel to an airport. They don't even necessarily wield assault rifles at all during their entire employment phase Thats what i'm saying. Others Here are making them out to be Ricky Recon out there when thats really not the case. Most people do not want to work over in that environment though no matter what job they do. These guys will. At this point in time, executive protection, (bodyguard and transportation services) are their main jobs.

I've worked with these folks in Iraq before. I don't think you fully understand these guys. These are former/prior military and law enforcement guys. They don't cut and run. They are not "paid to kill". Most of their jobs over there involve executive protection and convoy escorts. They are not SEALs, they are not force recon, they are not special forces. They don't go kicking in doors and lurking in the shadows to assassinate diplomats. The government is paying them to do jobs a lot of people don't want to do, or are to scared to do, thats a fact. The military is to busy and stretched to thin to cover everything, they need help.

How do they rob the American people?

I still see a big market for these services today and the money is AMAZING. We're talking 6 figures to do the same work the military is/was doing overseas give or take a few things. They even work stateside. They are just as armed as the military, just in a private company setting. They have the weapons, the armor, the training, the helicopters...good stuff. I think private companies like Xe/Blackwater are a very effective, cost effective, and valuable force to have on your side but at the same time things can get sticky. They arn't bound by any Uniform Code of Military Justice so the rules of engagement are totally different to them. As long as there are regulations going in regarding Rules of Engagement i don't see any problems. Might be that each company has its own that are OK'd by the US defense department. Still could be sticky. In a situation where the US is spread so thin without much allied support, contractors are much needed relief and help. I really don't blame guys jumping ship to get on with a private company, especially the enlisted guys. They can do the same deployment, but get payed six figures. Even their 10 year military tax free salary can't compare to that, doesn't even come close. Why not seriously? Though not private, the US hires Ugandans to provide security for US bases in Iraq now. Every base you go to, Ugandans run security.

My guild grabbed server first Flame Levi kill 25man yesterday on Zuluhed. Then grabbed Server first 10man Razor today. We have gotten XT-002 to 10%. He'll go down tonight. So will Razor 25. I love Ulduar.

This. Especially since you have the most skewed and biased view of music ever. I think what it is, is these other 17 year old kids putting out music that sells millions and you're jealous. 58million + views or 20 people on a runescape forum....i fail to see how the masses are in the wrong for liking something a few people on this forum don't.

Yeah, i'm a Landing Support Specialist. I load gear and people onto Planes, Helos, Boats, whatever. And send it where it needs to go. You know where helos would hover then lift gear with those big ropes/slings? I am the guy under it hooking it all up. IF i get to do my job over there i will be at a larger airbase which will be nice. But they can send me over to do MP stuff if they wanted...not real sure yet. I hope i'm going over to help with the pullout thats coming. Send some guys and gear back home. Good luck Dongle.

Thought i'd bump this. Seems like an appropriate place to post. Got word today officially that i will be activated April 27. Will be going on my 2nd deployment to the middle east. Looks like Iraq for 7-9 months but won't know for sure until it gets here. I thought this would be easier the second time around....but its just as hard. Definitely a roller coaster of emotions.

Please turn in your man card. ;) I feel i should lose my man card if i buy a V6. So V10 is great. You definitely can't be a hippie or tree huger and drive a Dodge, i love dodges. :) Literally as you can see i am obsessed with the Challenger.

Not my dream cars, but i wouldn't complain about owning them. A few new ones unveiled just recently. They seem to be right up everyone else's spaceship alley. ;) [hide=Matte Black Mansory Bentley Continental GT] [/hide] [hide=Aston Martin One-77] [/hide] [hide=Infiniti Essence Concept] [/hide] [hide=Giugiaro Vamir] [/hide]

NO he was NOT smart enough to use a blanket. There is NO point to the blanket, people watch to much CSI. Reading more into it. It appears it was a youth model 20 gauge that belonged to the boy. He shot her once at point blank range....which again rules out any use for the blanket because at that close its still going to put a distinctive marking on the victim. You ever seen what a shotgun can do to a solid object up close? Wtf is a blanket going to stop. Picked up from a movie. My honest opinion is Murder such as this, cold blooded by a rational thinking person is beyond the realms of the Juvi system. Not to mention, its written Pennsylvania law that anyone over 10 accused of murder is charged as an adult. Which is still totally [developmentally delayed]ed, since the GSR (Gunshot Residue) can be picked up from the ejection port and the gasses coming out of the ejection port. So covering the bore doesn't do much other then well....just provide something for the gun to shoot through. Again, its just a movie tactic. Say what you want, but i still blame the parent. Did he just let him keep the gun in his room? I agree the kid was messed up, but he had problems the parents failed to address. I'm not saying charge the parent with murder, but charge them with something, neglect?

Picking a gun safe? I doubt it. Its really not that hard to put guns where they can't be reached by 11yr olds, seriously. You just must be responsible enough to do so. I got mad as an 11yr old, but did i run and try and grab a gun? No. I knew that was a bad idea, and i couldn't get my hands on them to begin with. Its really not that hard.

Its all in the Parents. Not about just gun owners. Even with more regulations. I had a gun at 11, i had a few guns at age 11. A shotgun included. The difference was that my parents regulated my access to it and gave me the proper training. Point is unless the parents educate their kids on this stuff then there is no hope. A shotgun is a VERY easy gun to load and fire, and the process can be seen on movies. Without further safety training or education about guns, things like this where an 11year old just finishes watching a "gangsta" movie can go play GI Joe with dad's shotgun IRL will continue to happen. I truly believe parents are at fault more then everyone thinks these days. That gun should of been locked up. Or at the very least in a well hidden spot, preferably high up out of reach of the kid. Thats all it boils down to. Loaded or unloaded we don't know if the kid loaded it himself or not, should of never gotten in his hands to begin with. And the blanket. Seriously? Thats only something you see in movies. Only a kid would try to imitate this. That shows you right there he was improperly trained/educated about the weapon. Parents need to parent.