How many veterans and current military are here?

[billwmeyer]

I am intrigued by what i see here. It seems like a
good place!

I'm excited.

And to think I found this place
as I was browsing for yahoo images! How wierd is that?

I hope to voice my experiences here

Peace

Welcome to the Forum.

Bill

[Kristofor]

Wow a 2:1 ratio, I'm actually rather shocked. Now with the audience being overwhelmingly male, and generally older folks (conscription ended sometime in the mid 70's right?) I figured it would be a lot higher than the general population but it was still much higher than I would have guessed.

[dkerfoot]

Wow a 2:1 ratio, I'm actually rather shocked. Now with the audience being overwhelmingly male, and generally older folks (conscription ended sometime in the mid 70's right?) I figured it would be a lot higher than the general population but it was still much higher than I would have guessed.

I think this is one of those polls that is inherently skewed. Those that were in the military are more interested in the question and therefore more likely to participate.

[cabinetman]

I think this is one of those polls that is inherently skewed. Those that were in the military are more interested in the question and therefore more likely to participate.

Not really "skewed". The thrust of the post/poll is to hear from ex/current military. Maybe if the wording was more towards finding the actual balance of those members who are active posters, more non military would be posting.
.

[billwmeyer]

I am happy to see so many Vets on board here. The only disappointing thing about this poll is that only 104 out of 5814 members participated so far.

Bill

[drillman88]

I never made it to the military, but I am very grateful to those who served. Many in my family served and I can appreciate your sacrifices.

I was heavily recruited by the Airforce until I was about 20 years old with weekly then monthly phone calls, but I had a job and was going to school and the structured military life didn't appeal to me at that time. I am certain if things were not going so well for me I would've joined. The recruiter was very good at his job.

[cwsmith]

I'm an ex wannabe!

I joined Civil Air Patrol (official Air Force Auxiliary) in 1958, when I was 14, and spent 11 years there. In the summer of my 17th birthday, I attended "summer encampment" at Griffiss AFB and was one of a dozen "honor cadets". I turned 18 the following year and immediately tried to enlist in the Air Force, but was found to be grossly underweight at 117 lbs (5'11") and therefore not accepted.

I had earned my certificate of proficiency (highest award in the "patrol") the prior year and had also taken several ECI courses offered by the "War College". By that time I had also participated in two "winter survival schools" sponsored by Plattsburg AFB. Despite those early efforts and plans, the lack of an extra 13 lbs kept me away from a hopeful career.

So, I joined the NY State Guard and spent four years with that and still kept trying to enlist in the Air Force. During the period from 1963 through spring of 1967 I tried enlisting six times and volunteered for the draft twice, all to no avail.

When I got married in September of 1967, I guess the government figured I was trying to evade the draft and Vietnam, so they sent me my draft notice in late October. But I was once again "deferred" and classified as 1Y.

So, to all those who have served I salute you with the utmost respect.

CWS

[dkerfoot]

Not really "skewed". The thrust of the post/poll is to hear from ex/current military. Maybe if the wording was more towards finding the actual balance of those members who are active posters, more non military would be posting.
.

Agreed that the poll was good for its intended use - hearing from people who served. But if you then try to say that there is a 2:1 ratio in the group, I believe THAT data is skewed. It is a common temptation to gather data first, then figure out how you want to use it...

[cwithboat]

USN. Guarded the Great Dismal Swamp during the Cuban missile crisis then
USS Topeka CLG-8 We rode through a typhoon to join the TJ and the Maddox two days after the initial incident.
As for the percentage of vets, since we seem to have an older group of folks, mostly male, remember that prior to 197? there was no choice for many.

[Hoyden]

Army 65-68, Thailand 66-67, Army sent whole company there by mistake, Great Mistake.

[Norm in Fujino]

USN 1969-1973 (HM2), active reserve 1973-1975.

Totally coincidental, but I was at the USS Arizona Memorial just a couple of weeks ago.



(And yes, this is the same Norm in Fujino from years past.

[Black wallnut]

Norm! Welcome back bud, this palce has not been the same with your posts not being made. Hope all is well in your busy life.

[Pappy]

Good to see you are still kickin', Norm!

[Norm in Fujino]

Thanks, Mark and Don (and Sam, for fixing my password). I haven't had much time for serious woodworking in the last few years due to my job, but this past summer I finally built the long-awaited A&C loveseat I'd bought oak for 9 years ago, and I'm hoping to do a bit more as soon as I get a bit more time (plus I've got to reside the house next year). So my interest is reviving. The BT3000, BTW, complete with the Original Red Line(c) and shim supports, is still working fine.

[chopnhack]

If ROTC counts then plus 1! Thanks to those that served. I have some idea of what sacrifice is like having been in ROTC and been on base.