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When I joined the Army in August of 1990, I did so for a few reasons:
1. I've always been VERY politically aware about what was happening in the world. I've always striven to learn the facts and not be a knee jerk reactionary.
2. It SERIOUSLY pissed me off to see that Saddam Hussein thought he could just cross a border and take whatever the f*ck he wanted.
3. If I'm honest with you, I was 22 years old and in need of direction in my life. Discipline I had, direction I was lacking.
For those three primary reasons, (of course, there are many more), I spent exactly 7 days in the DEP and shipped out to basic almost as fast as I had signed up.
I was a willing warrior! I was eager to fight for and defend our American way of life. It took me just under 3 years to figure out that my own Government didn't hold the same viewpoint.
The final straw came about 3 years into my enlistment, when the guys and I, (including my E-7 - a helluva guy!) were playing poker in the barracks one night and we started talking about the only thing everyone on post was talking about...the impending visit of Pat Schroeder (D - Colorado) who was a member of the House Armed Services Committee. She was on a tour of all the 3rd ID and was going to make recommendations to President (cough) Clinton about base closures in Germany.
To make a long story short, months later, we, the soldiers of Ferris Barracks, Germany, couldn't even fiscally afford to go on live fire exercise at Grafenwoehr because we couldn't afford the ammunition for our rifles, much less the rounds for the BFV's and the M1A1's. Previously, we had completed this training, without fail, twice a year for about 6 weeks at a time.
To me, that was the writing on the wall. If my own government wasn't going to give us the ammunition needed to train effectively, then I saw no reason to dedicate the next 25 years of my life to that way of thinking...and I got the hell out.
If you didn't serve until retirement, for what reason did you decide to ETS?
PS. Up until the time I actually applied for early release, my E-7 (poker buddy) was CONVINCED that I was going to re-up, because I was a good soldier. For the record, I was a DAMN good soldier; I entered service as an E-1 and in under 3 years made E-4. But my E-7 failed to understand the depth of my conviction on this matter - either give me the tools and training to fight, or f*ck off. I'm no ones political football.
1. I've always been VERY politically aware about what was happening in the world. I've always striven to learn the facts and not be a knee jerk reactionary.
2. It SERIOUSLY pissed me off to see that Saddam Hussein thought he could just cross a border and take whatever the f*ck he wanted.
3. If I'm honest with you, I was 22 years old and in need of direction in my life. Discipline I had, direction I was lacking.
For those three primary reasons, (of course, there are many more), I spent exactly 7 days in the DEP and shipped out to basic almost as fast as I had signed up.
I was a willing warrior! I was eager to fight for and defend our American way of life. It took me just under 3 years to figure out that my own Government didn't hold the same viewpoint.
The final straw came about 3 years into my enlistment, when the guys and I, (including my E-7 - a helluva guy!) were playing poker in the barracks one night and we started talking about the only thing everyone on post was talking about...the impending visit of Pat Schroeder (D - Colorado) who was a member of the House Armed Services Committee. She was on a tour of all the 3rd ID and was going to make recommendations to President (cough) Clinton about base closures in Germany.
To make a long story short, months later, we, the soldiers of Ferris Barracks, Germany, couldn't even fiscally afford to go on live fire exercise at Grafenwoehr because we couldn't afford the ammunition for our rifles, much less the rounds for the BFV's and the M1A1's. Previously, we had completed this training, without fail, twice a year for about 6 weeks at a time.
To me, that was the writing on the wall. If my own government wasn't going to give us the ammunition needed to train effectively, then I saw no reason to dedicate the next 25 years of my life to that way of thinking...and I got the hell out.
If you didn't serve until retirement, for what reason did you decide to ETS?
PS. Up until the time I actually applied for early release, my E-7 (poker buddy) was CONVINCED that I was going to re-up, because I was a good soldier. For the record, I was a DAMN good soldier; I entered service as an E-1 and in under 3 years made E-4. But my E-7 failed to understand the depth of my conviction on this matter - either give me the tools and training to fight, or f*ck off. I'm no ones political football.
Re-enlistment
Transition
ETS/EAS
Training
Politics
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 175
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45 days out from transition leave - retiring after 26 years of service. Like many, I do not want to retire but recently 'saw the sign'. I've had a sterling career, served in all the right positions, awarded all the awards one can handle yet passed over for attendance at the Sergeants Major Academy twice.
My sign came in the form of another NCO whom I had known earlier in my career. A bad seed all around - toxic. Two DUIs, relieved of duties and rehabilitatively transferred to another post. Heard he had failed UA at this gaining unit - cocaine.
Ran into this NCO just after I had returned from my seventh combat deployment... and he was wearing Sergeant Major rank.
I love the Army but after you have placed your heart and soul into making something greater, placing trust in its codes, morals and values, taking care of and caring for its Soldiers.. to have something like this come before you is not only heartbreaking but crushing.
My sign came in the form of another NCO whom I had known earlier in my career. A bad seed all around - toxic. Two DUIs, relieved of duties and rehabilitatively transferred to another post. Heard he had failed UA at this gaining unit - cocaine.
Ran into this NCO just after I had returned from my seventh combat deployment... and he was wearing Sergeant Major rank.
I love the Army but after you have placed your heart and soul into making something greater, placing trust in its codes, morals and values, taking care of and caring for its Soldiers.. to have something like this come before you is not only heartbreaking but crushing.
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SFC (Join to see)
Wow...all of you speak my language. We had a guy get out of the Army as a SFC who went to become a Cop in South Carolina. He was nothing special...no special duties...He gets hurt, becomes an active duty National Guard Soldier. I just seen pictures of the non-deploying, no college, no special duties quite who's nervous twitch is to grab his crotch graduate the SERGEANTS MAJOR ACADEMY in Class B's with 1 MSM!
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Sgt Packy Flickinger
I once stood at attention while a NCO received a navy achievement medal for coming in on his own one Saturday to reload software on a new computer. Funny thing is, I had come in on my own also that Saturday to prep the Mals for a CNAP inspection as I had done the last 3 Saturday's as well as stayed late several days a week for a month. I was doing the Sgt's job while on leave. I hardly got noticed
The NCO who got the NAM was black as was his NCOIC and OIC and half the staff. Racism pure and simple. If I wernt transferring and getting out I would have filed discrimination charges I was so pissed.
I did say out loud as it was handed to him "I guess it's not what you know but who you know". They didn't like the comment but it was kind of a challenge to say something about it. They knew! They also knew if it went to a hearing a few other things might come out like the fact the NCO and NCOIC were both tag-teaming the same white LCpl... Without their wives knowledge.
Trust, honor, integrity. My code. Obviously not a generally accepted one. I do not stay around those who feel as I do, in a job or as friends. Semper Fi are not just words!!!
The NCO who got the NAM was black as was his NCOIC and OIC and half the staff. Racism pure and simple. If I wernt transferring and getting out I would have filed discrimination charges I was so pissed.
I did say out loud as it was handed to him "I guess it's not what you know but who you know". They didn't like the comment but it was kind of a challenge to say something about it. They knew! They also knew if it went to a hearing a few other things might come out like the fact the NCO and NCOIC were both tag-teaming the same white LCpl... Without their wives knowledge.
Trust, honor, integrity. My code. Obviously not a generally accepted one. I do not stay around those who feel as I do, in a job or as friends. Semper Fi are not just words!!!
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Cpl Thomas Mcdonough
Good for you, if more people would speak up maybe all this reverse racism would be stoped. you know when something feels wrong it probable is.you were most defenitly wronged
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Sgt Kelly Overmyer
No such thing as reverse racism, it's like sayinf someone has done such a good job 360degree improvement - that's back where you started. Racism is just that, doing thing biased because of "insert prejudice"
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For me primarily a service-connected injury put me out. I was thrown from a vehicle in the field and had a cervical spine injury. Thankfully nothing too awfully bad.
I was sexually harassed by my former First Sergeant in my unit. I was basically told in no uncertain terms if I didn't sleep with him, my life would be made miserable and I would have no chance of advancement in that unit. Sadly at that time, I was 19, and rather naive about how things worked. At the time I was in, there were not very many women in the Cav. I was combat support. I was too scared to go above his head and quite frankly, being only 1 of 2 women in my whole battalion at the time, I didn't think I would the support I needed to fight it. So when I was offered the discharge I took it. I sadly have regretted that decision. Up until that point, I had enjoyed my time in the service.
I was sexually harassed by my former First Sergeant in my unit. I was basically told in no uncertain terms if I didn't sleep with him, my life would be made miserable and I would have no chance of advancement in that unit. Sadly at that time, I was 19, and rather naive about how things worked. At the time I was in, there were not very many women in the Cav. I was combat support. I was too scared to go above his head and quite frankly, being only 1 of 2 women in my whole battalion at the time, I didn't think I would the support I needed to fight it. So when I was offered the discharge I took it. I sadly have regretted that decision. Up until that point, I had enjoyed my time in the service.
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PV2 (Join to see)
Thank you SCPO Larry Knight Sr. for your efforts. It's folks like you that renew my faith in most of the leadership.
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SCPO Larry Knight Sr.
Your quite welcome and you should never have been subjected to this level of un- professionalism by a supposed leader ! "BZ" on getting out and moving into a new career pattern, and keep holding your head up high as you continue to do great things in life.
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SFC (Join to see)
Lisa Wilcox all members of our Armed Forces regardless of who they are are entitled to nothing less than outstanding leadership. What happened to you sickens me while I would like you and anyone else who has served to know that you all matter while your service will always be held in the highest regard. Please note that our brother's and sister's herein come from all walks of life and every grade of military rank. The one true common denominator we all share is that we served. Remember our rank came with a level of responsibility while we earned everything we should have never forgotten once we came from in that such does not define us. keep your head up and realize that no matter how tough things get God has a plan for all of us!
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SSgt Alex Robinson
God bless you. You should never have had to endure any of the garbage you did. Prayers for you...
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Well, I did serve to retirement. I did not want to retire, actually was trying to deploy with another EOD team going to Afghanistan. I had enough sense to approach Medical and ask what it would take for me to deploy and the Med Officer started laughing. Apparently, broken ankles, arms and hand, knees with ligament injury, separated shoulder and three bulging disks in my neck were enough to get me medically boarded. So, I sat quietly in recruiting for 16 months until I could retire. NOT what I wanted! However, I will say, 4 months after I had that meeting, I was moving a bomb suit and something popped in my neck. I had ruptured all three disks and was told that I should have become paralyzed when it happened, hell, the surgeon told me that he had no idea of how I made it that far without becoming paralyzed since he knew what I have done and was still doing.
Proof positive god looks out for idiots!
Proof positive god looks out for idiots!
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