Who here has served Uncle Sam in any way?

[Taverner]

As in, had a job working for a federal agency, served in the military, coast guard, peace corps, or some other like org.

Me? Peace Corps Thailand from 92-95

[cherokeeprogressive]

1. Sailor. 81-89 n/t

[Captain Hilts]

49. Woo hoo! What'd you do in the USN?

Just curious.

[cherokeeprogressive]

51. I was an AMS. Aviation Structural Mechanic.

I worked on S-3A's, and A-6E's. I was a CDI and ready to test for a job in QA when I suffered a knee injury which required the reconstruction of my ACL, and the Navy said Sayonara, otherwise I probably would probably have stayed until retirement at 30 years in 2011.

Over two years of Sea Service, all of it on the flight decks of the USS America, USS Ranger, and USS Constellation.

From Wiki regarding the Connie:

On the morning of 2 August 1988 Connie quietly slipped her moorings for a routine two week carrier qualification off the coast of southern California. Things quickly turned out to be anything but routine. The ship had barely cleared the harbor when a JP-5 fuel leak in the uptakes rained down on the One Main Machinery Room and erupted into a full blown conflagration that tore through the uptakes and spread throughout the ship. The Oil King and Oil Lab were blamed early. One Main Top Watch (a Machinist Mate) said JP-5, jet fuel, as he exited the space.Explosions rocked the ship and the crew went into General Quarters. Amid explosions and extreme heat, volunteers from the crew entered enclosed spaces to extinguish the fires and preserve the ship. Through the selfless service of her crew, Connie's main fires were extinguished around 21:00 hours at which time Marines from the Marine Detachment served hot dogs to the exhausted crew in the hanger bay. To the crew's horror, the fires reflashed and the crew went back into action. Into the next day, the crew battled the blaze that had reflashed and continued to threaten the entire ship. Connie pulled back into North Island on 3 August.

A crazy two days. Best damn hot dogs I ever ate though. I loves me some Marines!

[Captain Hilts]

55. You were on the Consternation! I LOVE A6Es...nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

58. Since my experience with the fire, I've always thought of it as the USS Conflagration LOL.

The A-6E was without a doubt the LOUDEST airplane I've ever heard.

If you ever meet another airframer who worked on A-6's, ask him/her about changing the rudder actuator. I hope never again in my life to be tasked with something so frustrating.

Cheers!

[EndersDame]

2. Got Things Done for America via Americorps '05 & '06

I built two low income environmentally friendly houses as well as worked on neighborhood restoration projects ( such as in stalling wheel chair ramps , weatherizing houses for people with low incomes...) for one year through their Casa Verde Builder Program that was run by Americorps Youth Build and American Youthworks. I also served one year with Americorps/American Youthwork's Environmental corps building trails and participating in habitat restoration for the Golden Warbler

[Taverner]

3. Cool! AmeriCorps, Peace Corps' domestic cousin!

[jmowreader]

27. That second picture is the basis for a drinking game

"How Many OSHA Violations Can You Spot in One Minute or Less?"

[mcctatas]

4. I served two years in AmeriCorps

working with "at-risk" teens at a high school (1998-1999)

[EndersDame]

7. heh heh my Americorps program was run out of an org for at risk teens

We ended up getting college money and job skills! I really think Americorps is not only a great program but a sensible and logical one.

[mcctatas]

17. It was a wonderful experience for me too...

managed to pay off my student loans from my first go at college (thus allowing me to take out more to finish my degree) AND learned that I never, ever, ever want to be a teacher! I was in a really odd situation because I served at the HS I graduated from and some of my teachers were still there, teaching the same things in the exact same ways, enough to make an ADD chick like me apoplectic.

[Zomby Woof]

5. Did a stint with the IRS

More than a decade ago.

[kimi]

6. Air Force nurse during the first Gulf War stateside

Then worked as a civilian in the same hospital for the next several years, then worked for DOD schools overseas as a nurse.

[Orsino]

8. Soldier in the nineties.

Making satellite hook-ups happen around the globe.

[cloudbase]

9. I did some time with the

Military Sealift Command.

[Kaleva]

10. Navy

[Aristus]

11. I crewed a tank in the Gulf in 1991.

Here's me on the right with the rest of my crew:



My veteran status is a great "Fuck you" to all of the freeper armchair warrior types who call me un-American for opposing Bush's criminal wars...

[Taverner]

12. Awesome. Here's me and *my* crew

[Aristus]

13. The ladies are cute. Nice crew!

B-) :P

[Mendocino]

14. I 've spent over thirty years with the federal government

and back in the summer of 74, built hiking trails with the YCC.

[Taverner]

35. Awesome man!

Working for the fed is not always the highest paying, but its the highest caliber folks :thumbsup:

[Iggo]

15. On second thought...nope, not me. (n/t)

[sarge43]

16. AF, 21 years. n/t

[lumberingbear]

18. 23 and 1/2 years with the Veterans Administration

:patriot:

[Skittles]

19. me, USAF

[DevonRex]

20. Army vet and ex-Fed. nt

[Inchworm]

21. Navy 87-90

Some of the best times of my life. :)

Some of the worst too hehe

:patriot:

[Mugu]

22. USN 75-79. n/t

[mwooldri]

23. Best I can think of is paying my taxes...

Well, it's paying Uncle Sam but serving - not had that priviledge yet.

I'm too old for the military, plus HM Armed Forces would probably draft me first, and yes I'm too old for that as well.

Best I could do would be Neighbourhood Watch.

[LibDemAlways]

48. Each and every taxpaying American is definitely

doing so in the service of Uncle Sam. Point well taken.

[mulsh]

24. I served AFE's (Armed Forces Enlitees) breakf ast , lunch and dinner

at the hotel I worked at whe they were quarteder prior to passing their physicals. We had candidates from all branches of service.
oh you mean worked directly for Uncle Sam. sorry.

[Kali]

25. just minor stuff

pay taxes, vote, and jury duty

oh in a tangential way: steward about 720 acres of BLM land

[Mike 03]

26. I have not, but I am really curious about the Peace Corps.

How old is too old to join the Peace Corps, if anybody knows?

[Taverner]

28. No age is too old!

Roslyn Carter served in her 60's!

[retread]

29. For breakfast!!

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

30. USMC

68-72

[MrScorpio]

33. 'Nam?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

66. No

Got lucky I guess......... :shrug:

[MrScorpio]

77. I'd say nt

[Captain Hilts]

50. My buddy was at Khe Sanh....he can be seen in LIFE Magazine's

'Peggy Fleming' issue with a photo series by David Douglas Duncan.

[DoBotherMe]

53. Oh my

What photo? I have a book "Nam A Photographic History" with 50 photos at Khe Sahn none credited to Duncan but your friend might be pictured. If he is, I'll scan and pm it to you. Dana ; )

[Captain Hilts]

54. The back of his head is central in a photograph of guys being briefed by intelligence while looking

at a map presentation.

[sammytko]

31. 22.5 yrs - Air Force

[MrScorpio]

32. Twenty-two years in an Air Force uniform

yeppers

[Taverner]

34. Dude you got to see Berlin BEFORE the wall came down!

Awesome on ya!

[MrScorpio]

36. That wasn't me

I got to Germany in '94

[Taverner]

37. Sorry man - I thought you got to see Berlin in the Bowie days

[MrScorpio]

39. I was in Texas, Korea and DC in the 80's

When the Wall fell, I was in the Pentagon

[Taverner]

74. Sorry man

:(

[Spoonman]

71. Germany 1985-1987 (during the Pink Floyd era - ie the wall)

Went to Berlin 4 times (when the wall was up!)

EYE opening experience!

[Taverner]

73. How cool was that?

[Spoonman]

78. Surreal

The first time I went into East Germany there was a crowd gathered next to a 3ft tall iron rail about 25 feet from the wall.
They were all facing West Berlin, and I thought they were gathered there watching some sort of street entertainer doing something.

They were standing there watching the tops of the carnival rides that were operating in the British sector of “free Berlin” that they could not get to.

It was very enlightening.

[DoBotherMe]

52. I remember the countdown

To your retirement(?). And the pix you posted from your station. Those were fun times ... Cocktail hour! Dana ; )

[denbot]

38. U.S.N. for me and my wife served in the Peace Corps: Burundi.

My wife has been in federal law enforcement for nearly twenty years.

[Urban Prairie]

40. Postal employee '90-'06-now retired on disability

Employed in the infamous Royal Oak region but was not a carrier. I worked the graveyard shift at several mail processing facilities. After the shootings, management began treating temporary labor and the union employees with much more dignity and respect, but just like after 9/11 with the courtesy and politeness that Americans showed each other, it did not last.

[Midlodemocrat]

41. Does giving him a staggering amount of $$$$ every year count?

I didn't think so.

[SoxFan]

42. Army Reserve and Army National Guard

11B, 13F, and FA officer. My wife served with the Delta Service Corps, a tri-state (LA, AR, MS) service group that actually predates AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National Service. It has since been incorporated into AmeriCorps.

[Robeson]

43. Postal service.

[Brother Buzz]

44. I was a dumb draftee that added no value, no advantage, really, to the United States armed services

Rumsfeld, the ass, informed me of that fact.

[UTUSN]

45. We are all "Uncle Sam" n/t

[av8rdave]

46. 12 years Air Force

[guitar man]

47. USMC '81-84. nt

[flvegan]

56. I served Uncle Sam by never enlisting.

Trust me, you don't want me as part of any portion of the military, etc.

Though, I'd probably make a great *whatever they call the folks that design strength/endurance training for Marines, etc* in the corps.

Hmmm...never really thought of that before.

[Taverner]

68. Well yeah - that's why I never joined the military

Peace Corps is definitely not military. No cakewalk, but no military.

There have been plenty of great people for whom the military was not their bag. Pfc Jerry Garcia lost a tank in training. Think about that for a minute - lost a tank.

[MiddleFingerMom]

57. I served Uncle Sam with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

.
... fb-fb-fb-fb-fb-fb-fb-fb-fb-fb.
.
And by voting.
.
And by sitting on a Murder One jury.
.
And by 6 years as an Army medic.
.

[old mark]

59. Army. Lowly Spec 4, which we thought of as a corporal who could read.

82d Airborne, 504th PIR.

Long, long ago.


mark

[Mojorabbit]

60. Don't know if it counts

but I volunteered in the base clinic as a nurse in Japan where my first hubby was stationed.

[yewberry]

61. Americorps 05-07

Two years in local Title I public schools teaching and tutoring at-risk kids.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

62. Army draftee, 2 years as REMF

Served the hitch in Germany, learning to appreciate sauerbraten and Schwabenbrau.

And trying not to screw things up. The boss's Big Threat involved a transfer to Vietnam. I figured I'd rather be in Europe.

:hi:

[hobbit709]

63. USAF 1969-73

Stuck on a mountaintop surrounded by antennas.

[driver8]

64. US Navy 1985-1991.

Served on board the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

[Tikki]

65. Mr. Tikki...

Two years U. S. Army...me..Army wife.


The Tikkis

[GoCubsGo]

67. Seasonal work for a federal agency

Last two summers. At the rate things are going, I will probably be back again this summer. Last summer about killed me. This summer probably will, if I don't find a permanent job first.

[RushIsRot]

69. Three years, US Army, two years, FBI (file clerk), one year+, Pentagon.

The Pentagon job was with a civilian agency doing work for the Navy.

[Spoonman]

70. US Army 1985 -1991 18d -Z Flight Med Call Sign "Spoonman"

[Taverner]

72. After the Soundgarden song?

[lazarus]

75. USAF

Comm specialist 84-88. Spent two years in the UK, then two years in San Antonio. Hated being in the military (I was undiagnosed with ADD and bipolar), but loved the people and places.

[trof]

76. Pilot ALANG.

RF-84/F
Look it up.
;-)