I just rejoined the active-duty military.

[Squatch]

Holy crap.

I was active duty from 1997 to 2002, then got out because I wanted to try my hand in the corporate world.

Since then, I've been working on 2 advanced degrees (PhD in Oceanography, and MBA), have been a project manager on a small government contract, have had my first child, bought my first house, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

But, over those years, I've come to realize that I truly miss the intangibles of military service such as the camaraderie of my friends, the hands-on hard work, and working, living, and playing with some truly wonderful people.

So, the writing has been on the wall for a while, and I finally decided to get back in to uniform full-time. The risk of mobilizing to any theater of war is very remote, but that's something I knew could be an eventuality when I initially signed up back in 1997.

Anyways, I just can't believe I'm back in but I am really, really looking forward to it.

[MadMaddie]

1. Good luck to you....

Thank you for your service!!

We are proud of our service members...!!

[northzax]

2. which service?

and did you get the phd and mba?

[Squatch]

7. Army

and still working on the degrees. The good thing is that the gov't is going to pick up the tab on those degrees, which I had been paying out of my own pocket.

[northzax]

11. true, and you're too smart to be cannon fodder

that's a good thing. I assume this makes you an officer? And what does the army need oceanographers for, anyway? in case they need to take on the Navy?

welcome home, soldier.

[Squatch]

15. I have a geology undergrad and wanted to expand my horizons

it just sounded pretty damn cool. I'll probably never use the information I learned, but if you need to know how to model physical ocean properties, I'm your man.

[xultar]

3. As long as you are happy I'm happy. BE SAFE !

[babylonsister]

4. Why is the risk of mobilizing remote?

All I can do is hope and pray you stay safe!

[RiDuvessa]

5. Cool.

I hope you enjoy being back. Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines?

I'm Navy myself. Aviation Maintenance.

[Sammy Pepys]

6. Good to have you back in service, sir n/t

....

[Lowell]

8. Some habits are hard to break

I spent eleven years in the Army then took a year off. Then I joined the Navy. One hitch in the Navy was enough for me. I'd missed the action and travel of the Army and thought going back in another branch would get me to some different countries. I ended up spending three years in Iceland.

Good luck and keep your ammo dry.

[benburch]

9. Best of luck to you!

You're braver than I am in times like these!

[wryter2000]

10. All the best

I'm glad you've found your niche. I didn't find mine until I was in my 40's, and I'm still struggling to make a career at it (writing). I sincerely hope you don't end up someplace awful that Bush has decided to invade, though.

[Earth_First]

12. Good luck! Any idea if you'll persue a different PMOS?

Or retain your previous occupation?

[Squatch]

17. I'm going to be staying in my current MOS.

though my first position is branch immaterial.

[Just Me]

13. I sincerely understand the camaraderie aspect.

I wish you the best of luck but must express my fear for you,...for obvious reasons.

[Squatch]

19. Thanks...and I hear you.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. The best of luck to you

I'll still worry about you, though. I think Bush has nearly ruined the Army; the fact that sailors are having to go into Iraq to replace soldiers shows that something is very, very wrong. I just hope that your belief that your chances of going to Iraq are remote are accurate.

[Gormy Cuss]

16. Best of luck.

I hope you find a very cool way to use those advanced degrees within the Army.

[Longhorn]

18. My son is 2.5 years into his four-year Marine enlistment

and he is back and forth right now on whether he should go into the officer program (which would mean getting his degree first and extending his enlistment four years.) The veterans affairs person at the community college where I teach advises military folks to do exactly what you did -- that is, get out after the first enlistment and experience civilian life before deciding to go back.

It sounds like you know what you're doing. Good luck and thank you for your service! :toast:

[mmonk]

20. Good luck.

My father,now deceased, was in the army. Hope everything works out for you the way you want it.

[midnight]

21. Just yesterday I was wondering who is it that joins the military

when all this evil is being created with it? It sound like you may have just revealed to me that it is men who have started family's,going to school,need money.

[Coastie for Truth]

35. I don't know about the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps

but for the Coast Guard (like Fire Fighters and Rescue Medics) it's a crazy, indescribable mix of altruism and being an adrenalin junkie. I admit it. I loved the Coast Guard -- even when a "Rescie" changed to a "Recovery".

[Lone_Star_Dem]

22. I'm glad you're happy with your decision

Our armed forces can never have too many Democrats.

I wish you well and hope the Army utilizes your brain for all it's worth.

[oneighty]

23. Good luck Squatch

Even at my late stage in life I have periodic dreams of "Being back in the Navy" Oh no it cannot be. I look so foolish in my white hat wrinkled face and no teeth.

Scary.

Good luck again,

180

[Shine]

24. Wow, good for you, Squatch.

:thumbsup:

btw, how's your hand doing these days?

[Squatch]

25. Still hurts like a mo-fo.

And, get this, I have to qualify with a 9mm pistol in 2 weeks. OUCH.

[benburch]

27. Get a tennis ball.

Spend time squeezing the shit out of it.

[Shine]

38. Oh honey, I'm sorry.

I am sending you healing vibes....:hug:

[malmapus]

26. Good luck, know that feeling all too well

I remember the first couple years out of service were the hardest (ETS'd back in 95). Civi world is just so different from what I had known.

Then when this crap started back in 03, I was at odds because I still have buddies in and felt like I needed to be with them through this despite how wrong I knew it was.

But yeah, best of luck to you!

[VaYallaDawg]

28. Best of luck, and thank you for your service.

[donsu]

29. why would you want to work for the criminal bushmilhousegang

you are ok with killing for a lie?

[Squatch]

30. 29th reply...

what's the matter? Your reaction time slipping? :evilgrin:

And, to answer your loaded question: I am not "ok" with killing for any reason. I'm sure that should that day ever arrive in which I have to take another human life (God forbid) for any reason, I will not be "ok" with it. Sorry to disappoint you.

[donsu]

43. you won't be ok but you will still do it? why?

what did you desire when you posted your re-enlistment?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

31. Better you than me. Were you an officer or working man?

4 years that seemed like centuries were enough to convince me that being in the military was undoubtedly the heighth of uselessness.

[GreenPartyVoter]

32. Dang, you are really brave to do it in these crazy times *hugs* Good luck!

[Solly Mack]

33. Good luck

May you get garrison.

[Coastie for Truth]

34. No way would I volunteer for the Army

(I had Army ROTC) - but after several years in the Coast Guard in the 1960's, I was bursting with pride watching the Coastie response to Katrina.

<>

One evening, during Katrina, my son called and asked what I was doing. My wife responed "He is 40 years younger, back in the Coast Guard, flying an HH60 over the lower 9th ward, rescuing people."

Until you have experienced it - you don't know that "high" that a Coastie, a Fire Fighter, or a Rescue Medic gets from their calling.

[Squatch]

36. If I could do it all over again, I'd go USCG

[Minnesota Libra]

37. THANK YOU for your service and PLEASE stay safe...........

......we are VERY PROUD of you and thank you. :hug: :patriot:

[tatertop]

39. I think that was a BIG mistake

[UTUSN]

40. Post as often as possible, recruit Dems, report back. Good luck n/t

[thirdpower]

41. Good luck and stay safe..

I re-upped last year into the USAR after a 4 year break for school. Before that I did 6 active Navy and 3 ANG.

[otohara]

42. 11 Members of Iraqi Family

shot in the head by American troops and then they blew up their house before leaving.

You might end up in Iraq correct?

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15272267.htm