This year I celebrated 29 years of military service. For all you old-timers: How many of you have "out-lived" your peers in the service?

2016-08-12T02:07:35-04:00

Response by COL Lee Flemming made Aug 12 at 2016 2:31 AM

2016-08-12T02:31:04-04:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member I raised my hand in 1986 and came in as a PFC 30 years ago, and am distinctly honored to continue my service. My friends are retiring every month with smiles and hopes for the future, but I think I have a few left in me!

Response by LTC Jason Bartlett made Aug 12 at 2016 6:56 AM

2016-08-12T06:56:04-04:00

I am almost positive I am the last one standing from the group I came in with. I too will close this chapter on my life eventually:)

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Aug 12 at 2016 7:07 AM

2016-08-12T07:07:03-04:00

I crossed 31 years total service in April, and I'm 5 years and change short of 30 AFS.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 12 at 2016 7:33 AM

2016-08-12T07:33:24-04:00

Served 24 yrs. none of the people I went to basic with stayed in that long.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Aug 12 at 2016 8:20 AM

2016-08-12T08:20:55-04:00

In 3 days I hit my 21 year mark and almost certain, not one Soldier I went to basic training is left standing.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Aug 12 at 2016 9:05 AM

2016-08-12T09:05:11-04:00

When I punched out at 30 I was the last of the crew that I had associated with from my first duty station . I really knew I was long in the tooth when two of my "Privates" from the squad at Ft Benning in the late 80s showed up to see me in Iraq as CSMs.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2016 9:47 AM

2016-08-12T09:47:11-04:00

Certainly of all my friends from high school that joined as well as me, I am the only one standing. Interesting since no one in high school thought I would make it very far and the one guy everyone figured would go the distance and then some was given the boot. And it's been 23 yrs 7 days since I graduated from Basic Training, pretty sure I am the only one left from that crew that is still in.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 12 at 2016 9:53 AM

2016-08-12T09:53:45-04:00

Wow, does that make me feel like Methuselah, you know? Sometimes I joke on here about feeling like a dino or mastodon roaming the Pleistocene (an effort at toungue in cheek humor, lol)....

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 12 at 2016 10:23 AM

2016-08-12T10:23:15-04:00

I had 32 years. I knew it was time to go as I brought my people home safe for the last time and I was looking towards other horizons. Funny thinking back on it when I started noticing that I was the only one with 'Nam stuff on the rack. I suppose those looking at me wondered if I joined by lying about my age. There was absolutely nobody around me that would have been near 'Nam in '71.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2016 11:40 AM

2016-08-12T11:40:39-04:00

Seems like it wasn't long ago that I was making "old Soldier" jokes. Stuff like Combat Archery Badges and Dress Grey uniforms seemed so funny.
Now I look around, and there isn't many older Soldiers anymore. I am the greybeard... and the beard actually shows it (off duty, of course!).
It is a young man's game, to be sure.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2016 3:10 PM

2016-08-12T15:10:43-04:00

I know i have, a few lol

Response by 1SG Robert Rush made Aug 12 at 2016 3:55 PM

2016-08-12T15:55:15-04:00

I know I have, they retired me the day before my 60th with over 40 years service.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2016 8:51 PM

2016-08-12T20:51:11-04:00

I don't know about outliving my peers. But, I do know troops have been born, and served 20, and retired since I got out.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Aug 13 at 2016 4:42 AM

2016-08-13T04:42:40-04:00

Congrats for 29 yrs. I did over 22yrs and had to step down for medical reasons.

Response by Lt Col John Eliopolo Cpc, Eli Mp made Aug 15 at 2016 10:28 AM

2016-08-15T10:28:35-04:00

30 years, 1985-2015, now part of the Retired Veteran's Service. We're still serving even though we've passed the torch to the younger generation of military members. We can still serve by serving them in some way, doing some sort of volunteer work that helps them out, whatever that looks like!

Response by LTC Greg Henning made Aug 15 at 2016 1:12 PM

2016-08-15T13:12:49-04:00

36 years combination of enlisted and commissioned. I have out-lived most of my peers. It was a great ride!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2016 2:20 PM

2016-09-08T14:20:49-04:00

I am not sure. But, there have been people that were born, and served long enough to retire since I last served on active duty.