Good grief, who cares so much about little ol' me, anyway.
I spent just 4 years active in the USMC, tail end of the Clinton era. Got out in spring of '01, just a few months before 9/11 (unlike my younger cousin - who followed in my footsteps joining a year later, where he got extended by over a year -got out early '03- was sent to Afghanistan, almost got shot down several times (CH-53 crew chief), and generally had lots of 'fun' over there.
Though, I never really 'left' the military, since I've been working for the DoD since I got out, as a civilian.
It's funny... I've actually spent more time with the Army now, than I did w/ the Marines. And, as a CIVILIAN, I am more highly decorated (yeah, I've got several bonafide civilian medals from the Army... they do have them, see below).
Of course, A.) The Marines are the last branch of service to join if you like getting medals (and rank) thrown at you. And B.) I served active duty during the Clinton years (not durign this whole GWOT -Global War On Terror- thing). When I was in, the military had nothing better to do, that play mind games with eachother, thus it wasn't exactly 'fun'. But, now they've got a real purpose. Of course, I think even they are starting to wonder about that 'purpose'. But, they'll go along with it. Always do. That's their job.
My precious............. I have 3 of them. If that doesn't tell you the Army throw medals at their people, I don't know what does. Though admittedly, I have played an integral role over the past years. Not any more though! Now I just sit around. And get paid more than ever before.
I was asking Lotus
It's a bias, that just ain't true, I tell ya. Especially in my case.
