Ask a soldier absolutely anything.

[Biblical Importance]

Why did this thread drop all the way to page 8?

[Echolilia]

Because it's not polite to spam a thread like this?

[Bad Infinitum]

Well, ask more questions!

[Echolilia]

When I've come up with what seemed a reasonable one that I actually wanted an answer to, I have.

[Guy]

How was moving?

Oh, and a military-related one.. What was your best experience? Alternatively, best memory?

[Sheynat]

It's been a while-how are you? What are you doing now that you're out of the military (if you are)?

[Free Guns For All]

Does the army have a gift shop?

[Bad Infinitum]

Aug 9, 2010 0:46:09 GMT -5 Echolilia said:

When I've come up with what seemed a reasonable one that I actually wanted an answer to, I have.

Ask away!

Aug 9, 2010 10:04:41 GMT -5 Guy said:

How was moving?

Not too bad. A little awkward, since half of my possessions are either weapons or crates of gear, and I'm pretty sure every one of my new neighbors saw me carrying something embarrassingly militant up the stairs at one point or another.

Aug 9, 2010 10:04:41 GMT -5 Guy said:

Oh, and a military-related one.. What was your best experience? Alternatively, best memory?

Well, I can answer both of those with one story! That's right, ladies and gentlemen, it's story time.

Way back in my second visit to Iraq, I was pulled for a pretty simple seeming recon assignment. My only concern was that it was pretty hastily assembled (most of my work there was planned weeks in advance), but the Army works best with little notice so I wasn't too worried. Our job was to chopper in, rope down, hike overnight, observe a target, paint it for a Predator strike, observe the aftermath, clean up, and exfil a few miles out. One night stay, all expenses paid, on a nice comfy sand dune just outside of BFE, Iraq. Easy, right? And with my best friend, to boot.

Started off just fine. Roped in on time, made it to our OP exactly when we should have, even the drone strike went off without a hitch. We went in light, no more than a few spare magazines, water, radio and IR equipment, K-pots and rifles. After we're all finished up at the target, we turn tail and start to hump it back to the PZ. We get there right on time, only to be greeted by a burned-out Huey and no signs of life. Radio to the nearest FOB says our exfil decided to show up about an hour early and wait for us... which I would normally respect, but this was a fairly clandestine operation in the middle of Indian country. Not cool.

Apparently the chopper had taken a little fire, and the pilots and chiefs were picked up by a passing Marine patrol and escorted back to camp. That leaves us stuck about forty miles from a friendly face with no food, low water, and about two hundred rounds between the three of us. Awesome.

We radio'd command and told them we needed a new pickup, and they directed us to an American-sympathizing hamlet about four miles from us. We got there just before dusk and hunkered down in an abandoned house on the outskirts. Real nice place, brick walls and a dirty concrete floor. It was only missing one wall, which put it in about the best shape of most of the houses around. We camped out there overnight, took sniper fire once, but other than that it's all quiet.

Whole next day, still no word. Command says they're sending someone as soon as they can, we keep re-rationing our water. No word by sundown, but we did go out on food patrol at dusk and noticed an old abandoned Humvee in a ditch. No markings, no electronics, no weapons... one MRE.

Finally, the next morning, we heard the friendly rumble of a thin-skinned convoy. We gathered our gear and made our way downstairs, shouted "friendlies, comin' out!", and opened the front door. Standing right before us is a fine young Guardsman, completely unawares of our existence. The lieutenant in command of the convoy said he had no idea there would be any friendlies in the hamlet. A little shrubbery, and we got us a ride back home.

Most fun I've had in a long time... even though it was in Iraq.

Aug 9, 2010 17:17:19 GMT -5 Sheynat said:

It's been a while-how are you? What are you doing now that you're out of the military (if you are)?

Retired a while back, I'm a private contractor for a kidnap and ransom firm now. I save princesses!

Aug 9, 2010 22:44:51 GMT -5 Free Guns For All said:

Does the army have a gift shop?

The PX, maybe? Or your local Army/Navy surplus store, those are usually full of goodies.

[Free Guns For All]

Wow, and I was only kidding.

[Bad Infinitum]

We do not kid around!

Just kidding, we kid around all the time.

[Enigmatic]

Aug 13, 2010 2:59:12 GMT -5 Bad Infinitum said:

I save princesses

What do you do when your princess is in another castle?

[Bad Infinitum]

Storm the castle!

[Free Guns For All]

But she's not there.

[Bad Infinitum]

Storm all the castles.

[Shelter from the Storm]

Invade Castle Storm.

[Free Guns For All]

Blow the f**k out of it.

[Bad Infinitum]

Back on page 8, thanks to Echo

[Free Guns For All]

Yeah, he tends to do that...a lot.

[Echolilia]

As do you?

[Free Guns For All]

You do it more.

[Echolilia]

So I do.

[Free Guns For All]

You take a break for a week then go on an 8 page spamming spree.

[Bad Infinitum]

Consistency is key!

[Free Guns For All]

I think it's more persistency.

[Bad Infinitum]

Dependency? Efficiency?

[Free Guns For All]

Whatever.

[Guy]

PAI, who's your favourite Islander?

[Bad Infinitum]

I hate everyone.

Just kidding, I love you all.

Just kidding, I love you all... except Guy.

[Free Guns For All]

YAY! I'm loved.

[Bad Infinitum]

Only by non-exception, don't let it get to your head