Ask a soldier thread....

[Arwon]

What the hell is a cryptographer? My sister won't tell me!

 

[stormbind]

It's someone who unhides information on Google.

 

[Patroklos]

Numbers and codes, and hours or mindnumbingly boring hours of listening to signals over varios radio channels.

But when something intersting is going on, you will know about it.

 

[Stevenpfo]

Haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if this has been asked before (these goes for anyone who wants to answer them) :

1. Have you ever questioned a commanding officers order?
2. Have you fought in a war?
3. If so, how do you deal with the fact that you have to kill? Do you try mentally to dehumanize the enemy?
4. Does it bother you that so many veterans are homeless and/or mentally ill? What do you think is the solution to this problem (if any)?
5. Do you keep in touch with your military brothers (and sisters?) who you trained/served with? (I guess this doesn't really apply for those who are still training/serving)
6. What are your top two military experiences/memories?

1 - Same as Patroklos. Questions, yes. Disobey, no.
2 - Yep. Afghanistan. Feb 06 - Aug 06
3 - Patroklos also had a good answer for this. It's usually pretty damn easy to shoot someone if they're firing rockets and bullets at you.
4 - I can't think of to many here in Canada in that situation. Maybe they all go to the coast? It's too cold in Edmonton.
5 - Just spent last weekend up at my buddies place. Good times.
6 - Infantry battle school and Afghanistan.

 

[Bill3000]

What the hell is a cryptographer? My sister won't tell me!

Pelcgbtencul vf gur cenpgvpr naq fghql bs uvqvat vasbezngvba. Va zbqrea gvzrf, pelcgbtencul vf pbafvqrerq gb or n oenapu bs obgu zngurzngvpf naq pbzchgre fpvrapr, naq vf nssvyvngrq pybfryl jvgu vasbezngvba gurbel, pbzchgre frphevgl, naq ratvarrevat. Pelcgbtencul vf hfrq va nccyvpngvbaf cerfrag va grpuabybtvpnyyl nqinaprq fbpvrgvrf; rknzcyrf vapyhqr gur frphevgl bs NGZ pneqf, pbzchgre cnffjbeqf, naq ryrpgebavp pbzzrepr, juvpu nyy qrcraq ba pelcgbtencul.

(PS: rot13)

 

[bhsup]

Oh please, the only difference between a 2LT and a PFC is that the PFC has been promoted twice. NOBODY pays any attention to a butterbar.

Freaking army goons. Would you all get with the program and adopt the Private > PFC > Lance Corporal rank structure...please??

 

[Hornblower]

Oh please, the only difference between a 2LT and a PFC is that the PFC has been promoted twice. NOBODY pays any attention to a butterbar.

Nobody pays any attention to a PFC that makes those sorts of comments either.

 

[FriendlyFire]

"Meals Refusing to Excrete"

LMFAO Mobboss hemmroids joke.
(ewwww faeces comming up the wrong way is a terriable situation to find yourself in.)

Their low dietary fiber content could cause constipation <---- O_o
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRE

 

[Longus]

This is a question for soldiers in the army specifically those who are/have been stationed in Iraq/Afghanistan: do you remain with the same company throughout the entirety of your stay, and if so what about repeat tours of duty, or does the US military still employ a strict program of rotation as they did in Vietnam?

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

So I enlisted. Hopefully I will start baisic in 2010. Anything I should do before that?

 

[Azash]

Is shellshock a common disorder among those who get into "real" situations?

 

[holy king]

So I enlisted. Hopefully I will start baisic in 2010. Anything I should do before that?

finally you found out where you belong to...
well, i guess it could have been the police too...

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

finally you found out where you belong to...
well, i guess it could have been the police too...

I have dreamed of the army since I was 4, The reason I signed now is because three days ago was the earliest day I could sign legally.

 

[RedRalph]

I have dreamed of the army since I was 4, The reason I signed now is because three days ago was the earliest day I could sign legally.

Here's hoping due to a clerical error you get put into the immigrant corps

 

[Hornblower]

Is shellshock a common disorder among those who get into "real" situations?

I'm not sure about 'common' but I can tell you from personal experience that prior to serving in Iraq I was never bothered by loud noises such as fireworks or slamming doors. Since coming home I have discovered that there is some sort of Pavlovian response that I have inherited. At first I would flinch or duck or look around for the source of the noise. I know that I am safe but the hairs on my neck still stand up if there is the right sort of noise. You would be surprised at the number of common urban noises can sound like gunfire or explosions.

 

[Ecofarm]

What a good thread. Gratz, MB.

Couple things I might not have seen answered:

Marine = squid

If you ain't airborne, you ain't . .. .. .. ..

Spoiler :

 

[Chazumi]

I'm not sure about 'common' but I can tell you from personal experience that prior to serving in Iraq I was never bothered by loud noises such as fireworks or slamming doors. Since coming home I have discovered that there is some sort of Pavlovian response that I have inherited. At first I would flinch or duck or look around for the source of the noise. I know that I am safe but the hairs on my neck still stand up if there is the right sort of noise. You would be surprised at the number of common urban noises can sound like gunfire or explosions.

Not to sound gay but sometimes these events make me cry. Seriously. Especially if I am drunk. Which seems to be a bigger problem after deployment than before...

 

[MobBoss]

Not to sound gay but sometimes these events make me cry. Seriously. Especially if I am drunk. Which seems to be a bigger problem after deployment than before...

Chaz, if you are having an emotional response to loud noises, then I strongly recommend stop drinking the alcohol and seek some counseling and/or therapy about it. You may have some mild PTSD developing and should address it sooner rather than later. Going in and getting screened by a therapist isnt that big of a deal, nor that time consuming and it could make a big difference in your standard of living. Dont just try to cope with it, even just a little.

 

[Chazumi]

Chaz, if you are having an emotional response to loud noises, then I strongly recommend stop drinking the alcohol and seek some counseling and/or therapy about it. You may have some mild PTSD developing and should address it sooner rather than later. Going in and getting screened by a therapist isnt that big of a deal, nor that time consuming and it could make a big difference in your standard of living. Dont just try to cope with it, even just a little.

Yeah we have sissies in our battalion that don't have heart, you gotta have heart in this job. We are meant to kill. sometimes that is all you see yourself as. a killer. But who are we to question who we are? I'm good. I'm not a sick call ranger.to use the basic training term. and I hate basic training.

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

What a good thread. Gratz, MB.

Couple things I might not have seen answered:

Marine = squid

If you ain't airborne, you ain't . .. .. .. ..

Spoiler :

This is how my friend listed them:

Navy: Squids.
Air Force (or pilots in general): Airdales.

Never asked about the other branches.