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What is (or was) your occupation when you're (was) military?


luft
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Hi,

 

All is says in the title, i'm just curious to know what is your occupations in the army (marine corps, air force, or navy) during your military period (or today if you're still military personnel in active duty sure)

 

Personally, i serve in the french army, in a Artillery unit, with a radioman-navigator in observation team occupation on a VAB Obs (a french observation armored 4x4 vehicle). I'm in charge of all radio communications of team and field collected data transmission to artillery guns via ATLAS system

It's really interesting, where i was in contact with infantry (we move with them on the field) and artillery, and some last entering in service french equipments

 

Cheers

 

Thierry

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Rakkasan187

I started out as an Anti-Tank specialist (Dragon Gunner). I carried the M47 Dragon and an M16A1 rifle. After about 5 months I was then moved to the M60 machine gun as an assistant gunner. I carried my M16A1 rifle and the spare barrel, tripod, traversing and elevating mechanism, and night sight for the M60. After weapons qualification, I ended up qualifying expert over the M60 gunner, so I took over as primary gunner and was in that position for about 18 months. I carried the M60 Machine gun and as a side arm the M1911 Colt .45 pistol as my sidearm. When I was promoted to Corporal I was in charge of the Machine gun section in our weapons platoon for 5 months and I still humped the 60. I PCS'd to Germany in a promotable status, but until I was promoted I carried an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). After I was promoted to Sergeant, I became an Infantry Team Leader. I was supposed to carry an M16A2 but we were very short man power in the platoon so I ended up still carrying the SAW for about 8 more months. (In an infantry company you want to have crews manning your highest casualty producing weapons all the time, ie, (machine guns, SAWs and grenade launchers), or at least that was the thought process during the Cold War days) I was then appointed squad leader, and I finally turned in all my other weapons and carried the M16A2 rifle. From the position Squad Leader all the way to Operations Sergeant I carried the M16A2, after being appointed OPs SGM, I carried an M9 pistol. I would have preferred my .45 caliber pistol that I carried as an M60 macine gunner, but the Army went with the M9. This was over a span of 21 years..

 

 

Leigh..

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Thanks to your participation and What a career leigh! :w00t:

Interesting system about weapons skills and attribution of weapons in a infantry squad during cold war days. If have a good memory, my uncle who serve in french airborne infantry during the 80's was trained 1st on the old semi-auto rifle MAS 49-56 and SMG MAT 49 (numbers corresponds to year of entering in service :o :o Older is better...). After that, he carries a MAT 49 because he was in a anti-tank platoon equipped with LRAC 73 mm (later LRAC F1 81 mm), and, before his departure in overseas operation in Chad, he following a quick "formation" on SIG 540 who replaced some Semi-auto rifles and SMG in his regiment!

 

Thierry

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148thSoldier

I am currently a 91B Wheeled vehicle mechanic serving as the Motor SGT for a BDE HHC in Afghanistan. Though im pretty sure I made up my mind to go Warrant officer so once I get back stateside I will go 915A which is a Automotive Maintenance Tech.

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Very interesting! and congrats for your service in Afghanistan ;)

BTW, your work on all type of vehicles or one in particular? (like specialized on HUMVEE, buffalo, etc...)

All my wishes of success for become WO :)

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I was an Operations Specialist (OS) and served aboard the first Aegis cruiser (USS Vincennes CG-49) deployed to the Pacific Fleet. I was a part of the commissioning crew and served with her from 1984-1988 working in CIC performing various duties - surface and air tracker, surface warfare coordinator, air warfare coordinator, identification supervisor, tactical information coordinator, anti-submarine air controller (NEC:0321), air intercept controller (NEC: 0318).

I served aboard the Camden (AOE-2) for two years, as the CIC supervisor with many of the same duties as before, but I was the work-center supervisor as well.

 

My final 3.5 years, I served ashore as a corrections specialist (NEC:9575) before ending my 10-year career, having finally made E-6. I didn't stay in long enough to tack the crow on, so I finished as an E-5.

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148thSoldier
Very interesting! and congrats for your service in Afghanistan ;)

BTW, your work on all type of vehicles or one in particular? (like specialized on HUMVEE, buffalo, etc...)

All my wishes of success for become WO :)

 

 

Here we are mainly working on MRAP's (MaxxPro, M-ATV, RG-33's) here, but at home I work on most anything with wheels on it. I enjoy working on some of the bigger trucks like HEMTT's and 916's.

Thanks for the well wishes

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My career was similar to Leigh's. I was an infantryman, but that term doesn't adequately describe the myriad of duties, tasks & positions required of that position.

 

I'll try to keep it short here: Rifleman, Automatic Rifleman (M16A1), Assistant Machine Gunner (M60), Radio Telephone Operatior (RTO - PRC-77 radio), clerk/typist/driver (don't ever let them know you can type!), Infantry Operations Assistant (Battalion S-3), Mountain Training Instructor, Infantry Team Leader, Drug & Alcohol Education Specialist, Assistant Operations Sergeant (Infantry Battalion S-3), Infantry Squad Leader (best job in the Army), Air Cargo Specialist (US Air Force Reserve - I know, I know - I lost my way for a couple of years), Acting Platoon Sergeant, Drill Sergeant, Senior Drill Sergeant, Infantry Battalion Intelligence Sergeant (S-2), First Sergeant (second best job in the Army).

 

Rather than try to explain all of that, which can take a while; when people ask I usually tell them "I was an infantryman." Those who have been there will know all of what that can mean.

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Here we are mainly working on MRAP's (MaxxPro, M-ATV, RG-33's) here, but at home I work on most anything with wheels on it. I enjoy working on some of the bigger trucks like HEMTT's and 916's.

Thanks for the well wishes

you're welcome ;)

 

Yep, big toys for big boys :w00t: BTW, very interesting job, and very important for keep the full mobility of troops on the field :thumbsup:

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My career was similar to Leigh's. I was an infantryman, but that term doesn't adequately describe the myriad of duties, tasks & positions required of that position.

 

I'll try to keep it short here: Rifleman, Automatic Rifleman (M16A1), Assistant Machine Gunner (M60), Radio Telephone Operatior (RTO - PRC-77 radio), clerk/typist/driver (don't ever let them know you can type!), Infantry Operations Assistant (Battalion S-3), Mountain Training Instructor, Infantry Team Leader, Drug & Alcohol Education Specialist, Assistant Operations Sergeant (Infantry Battalion S-3), Infantry Squad Leader (best job in the Army), Air Cargo Specialist (US Air Force Reserve - I know, I know - I lost my way for a couple of years), Acting Platoon Sergeant, Drill Sergeant, Senior Drill Sergeant, Infantry Battalion Intelligence Sergeant (S-2), First Sergeant (second best job in the Army).

 

Rather than try to explain all of that, which can take a while; when people ask I usually tell them "I was an infantryman." Those who have been there will know all of what that can mean.

 

Great career Steve! I can see that you spent lot of time in instruction branch, that's nice to teach things to others soldiers some things that you study before. Hope one day too, i can teach some new recruits like my instruction sergeants do few months ago.... :rolleyes:

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I was an Operations Specialist (OS) and served aboard the first Aegis cruiser (USS Vincennes CG-49) deployed to the Pacific Fleet. I was a part of the commissioning crew and served with her from 1984-1988 working in CIC performing various duties - surface and air tracker, surface warfare coordinator, air warfare coordinator, identification supervisor, tactical information coordinator, anti-submarine air controller (NEC:0321), air intercept controller (NEC: 0318).

I served aboard the Camden (AOE-2) for two years, as the CIC supervisor with many of the same duties as before, but I was the work-center supervisor as well.

 

My final 3.5 years, I served ashore as a corrections specialist (NEC:9575) before ending my 10-year career, having finally made E-6. I didn't stay in long enough to tack the crow on, so I finished as an E-5.

 

 

Have a question about some of your duties, i saw few time surface and air warfare coordinator, but i never be able to understand really in what consist really these specializations :(

BTW, congrats for your book

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Have a question about some of your duties, i saw few time surface and air warfare coordinator, but i never be able to understand really in what consist really these specializations :(

BTW, congrats for your book

 

Thanks!

 

These are supervisory roles that oversee the functions of the air and surface trackers. Think of the coordinator role as escalation managers, providing them with amplifying analysis of potential threats for the senior officers (Tactical Action Officer and the Commanding Officer) to respond to. Rather than muddy these officers' time in the details of the non-threats, this allows them to focus on the most important information.

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I began as a 2nd lieutenant (after the french equivalent of ROTC) leading an infantry platoon of Troupes de Marine, then became a 1st lieutenant as a reserve officer.

 

My military career stopped there ...

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I served in the British Army from the age of 18. I started my career serving in the Parachute Regiment alongside my Father and my brother. Served in a Rifle Platoon. Later served in the Royal Anglian Regiment (The Vikings) in the Air Mobile role.

As well as Rifle Platoon I also served as Platoon Radio operator and was also qualified on Anti-tank (Milan), 81mm Mortar and GPMG in the Sustained Fire Role.

 

Spent a lot of time in the USA and served alongside the Rangers, 101st Airborne and also served alongside the French Foreign Legion in Bosnia.

 

Also dabbled with SF selection.

 

Rich

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I spent four years in the US Air Force as a Radio Relay Repairman, operating and repairing equipment like long distance telephone equipment. Most of the time I was in the 3rd Mobile Communications Group where we had two tactical airbases that could be transported anywhere. The equipment was truck mounted and we spent one week a month living in the field on Bare Bases. I was in the Army National Guard for eleven years as a Tactical Multi-Channel Repairman, the same type equipment as the Air Force but older, I remember some replacement parts were packaged when I was a two year old.

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My primary MOS was O5C10, Radio Teletype Operator. When I was promoted to E-5 I went from a 10 to a 20.

 

For promotional purposes I carried several secondary MOS's.

 

51M20 - Firefighter

31G20 - Tactical Communications Chief

36K20 - Field Wire.

 

When I was in the reserves I was promoted to E6 as a 72L30, admin specialist. Most people I know who wanted to get promoted carried several MOS's. A lot of the jobs topped out at E-5 or were impossible to get promoted in. My primary MOS cutoff score for E6 was 886 and never dropped the entire time I was on active duty.

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Commissioned via ROTC in 1968, MI branch. 28 yrs svc total, all but 4 in NG/USAR/NG/USAR. Viet Nam, MACV advisor, Phoenix Program, ICTZ; dual-slotted as Inf tng adv to RF/PF, thus qualified for CIB. Reserves: (branch transferred to Inf and voluntarily stayed there!) NG Hq Co cdr; USAR SF Gp asst S-2/S-2; USAR short tours w 101st, USARAL, 157th Mech Bde; uSAR Public Affairs; NG STARC Comd Historian; USAR PAO/Historian.

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I was commissioned as a 2LT in Field Artillery after graduating from college and Army ROTC. I spent my first 13 years as an artillery officer - served in 8" SP, 155mm SP, 105mm towed and LANCE Missile battalions. I commanded a LANCE firing battery in the mid-80s. I also trained as a Middle East/North Africa Foreign Area Officer/regional specialist - went to DLI to learn Arabic, then to Tunisia where I was assigned to the Defense Attache's Office with duty at the Department of State Foreign Service Institute; their advanced Arabic school. We lived just north of Tunis and I spent a year and a half refining my language skills and traveling across the Middle East and North Africa.

 

Without going into the details I ended up branch transferring to Military Intelligence as a Major and spent my last 13 years working in intel related jobs. I was the G2 planner for 7th ID(L), the XO for 107th MI, the G2 for 3ID (in Germany) and was the battalion commander of 103rd Military Intelligence Battalion in '95 until the division was reflagged as the 1st Infantry Division - at that point my battalion was also reflagged as the 101st MI in Wuerzburg Germany. I deployed the battalion to Bosnia in '96 and relinquished command there in '97.

 

I returned to the US after my command and ended up working in Army Strategy Plans and Policy on the Army Staff. After a year out attending the National War College, I was assigned back to the same office on the Army Staff as the Division Chief - I was a colonel at that point. I somehow managed to walk out unscathed from the Pentagon on 9/11, another long story, and retired at the end of December 2003.

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I started out as a 45B, Small Arms Repairer. I was trained to troubleshoot and repair .38 cal. pistols; M16 rifles; M1911 pistols; M2 ,M60,M240 and M85 machine guns; 60 mm,

81 mm and 4.2 inch mortars and the M242 Bushmaster (main gun on the Bradley IFV). At Ft Hood (my 1st Duty Station) I was the Small Arms Section Chief as a PFC. From there I went to Germany (Geissen), reinlisted and went to Ft Stewart. There I was Small Arms Section Chief and for about 8 months the Armament Section Chief until a SFC came along.

 

After I ETSed ,I became a Supply SGT/ Armorer for my National Guard unit. During our deployment (Operation Noble Eagle II), I was the Supply Sgt for Team Charlie 5/112 AR at Pine Bluff Arsenal ,Arkansas.

 

A grand total of 21 years, retired as an E5. Due to the vagaries of NG service ,I was in a deadend position as far as promotion went.

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I started out as a 45B, Small Arms Repairer. I was trained to troubleshoot and repair .38 cal. pistols; M16 rifles; M1911 pistols; M2 ,M60,M240 and M85 machine guns; 60 mm,

81 mm and 4.2 inch mortars and the M242 Bushmaster (main gun on the Bradley IFV). At Ft Hood (my 1st Duty Station) I was the Small Arms Section Chief as a PFC. From there I went to Germany (Geissen), reinlisted and went to Ft Stewart. There I was Small Arms Section Chief and for about 8 months the Armament Section Chief until a SFC came along.

 

After I ETSed ,I became a Supply SGT/ Armorer for my National Guard unit. During our deployment (Operation Noble Eagle II), I was the Supply Sgt for Team Charlie 5/112 AR at Pine Bluff Arsenal ,Arkansas.

 

A grand total of 21 years, retired as an E5. Due to the vagaries of NG service ,I was in a deadend position as far as promotion went.

 

 

Interesting field you where in, something I always wanted to know about Armorers, was, 1. They are of the Ordnance Branch, correct ? 2. If so, where do they recieve their AIT, at Aberdeen ?

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I spent 42 months of my life as Strategic Air Command Minuteman III ICBM crewmember. My primary weapon system was ten Minuteman III ICBM's equiped with 30 W78 350 kiloton bombs. My secondary weapon was a M15 38 cal pistol with 18 rounds of very old ammo, many with Kilroy written on them in grease pencil.

 

I spent the next nine years as a command, control and communiations officer, managing strategic aircraft and missile operations worldwide for the Strategic Air Command and two years defending Alaska with a fighter wing with a secondary mission of hunting and fishing. Its a good thing the Soviets didn't invade Alaska because we would have been a bit miffed about missing the king runs and moose season.

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HGButtentee

I started of as a draftee in the German Air Force. Became an NBC specialist / Firefighter and an S1 Clerk. Later I decided i would rather be with the real soldiers and joined the Army Reserve . Became an Jäger and an NCO . Currently i am getting to the age that the Reserve is offering me a new position in the so called "Home Defence" but i think I will pass on getting issued an Rifle that needs to be loaded from the muzzle ;-)

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