Military Hotrod Club - What makes being in the military worth it to you?

I wanted to hear what everyone had to say about this. There's a lot of sacrifices made when serving in the military, including being away from your home, family, and friends for extended periods of time. So what makes serving in the military worth it to you?

I've been in the USAF for almost 2 years now, and I'm about to deploy to Iraq this year and you can't help but wonder "what makes it really worth it?"... I think mostly for me is the sense of pride you get just putting on the uniform everyday.. Also the ability to see the world! I cannot wait to get any overseas assignment! If I don't go overseas in the military, I may not ever make it back in my life to visit, you never know!

Being in uniform and the travel are two GREAT reasons why ANYONE should want to join the military. I enjoyed how (unlike the corporate world) when you need something, you can get it. No where else will you get the same kind of team work with just the right amount of competition. Having been a warfighting Marine, I say the best part is going to exotic places, meeting new and interesting peoples and killing them! Oohrah! Can't do that in the states..

There's nothing out in the civilian world that can even come close to the Military. The structure, the respect, the declipline of others, the experience, the camaraderie. I miss it everyday.

having the opportunity to work on some of the most powerful rockets on earth that put stuff in space that help my brothers and sisters down range stay alive and safe as well as other rockets that provide the blanket of freedom for this great nation... :usa:

SSgt USAF 2mox2 / vandyland: secret squirrel stuff :secret2:

To me, it's knowing that what I do has a noticeably positive effect on the people I'm deployed to protect and better. On top of seeing them wave, smile and get excited when we go by, it feels good to know that that there are people down range that are glad that we're there, and know what we're doing is making their world a better place.

What makes it worth it to me the most though (if that makes sense), has to be knowing what I'm doing is making the world a safer place for my child.

Because I went from loser to mediocre person?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/Travbabble/98efe0dd-1.jpg

^ Talk about a change! Oohrah! You check in in the Marines thread?

because it keeps me on check, who knows where id be right now if i wasnt in the Marine Corps... one thing id be for sure would be FAT... lol. good benefits as well...

^ Talk about a change! Oohrah! You check in in the Marines thread? Yep, sure did!

one thing id be for sure would be FAT... We have something in common lol

Because I went from loser to mediocre person?
lol mediocre atleast your a marine, if are your ever in jeff on the last saturday of the month March?-October u should bring that 240 out to the car show up at the Capitol

lol mediocre atleast your a marine, if are your ever in jeff on the last saturday of the month March?-October u should bring that 240 out to the car show up at the Capitol

Supercruise? Hell yeah I come every time. Check out midwestce.net, most of the fast local cars are on there. Search youtube for travbabble to see what happens after the supercruises lol.

yea i may or may not have participated in some of that action before, i see someone racing devins vette on there though.

yea i may or may not have participated in some of that action before, i see someone racing devins vette on there though. We've probably met before then lol.

Health benefits, not accepting mediocrity, payed twice a month regardless, pride in serving my country, college tuition/MGIB, 30 day payed vacation, job security, travel/deployments, discounts and having the best job in the Air Force as an MTI. :devil:

I enjoyed all the adventure,challanges it had to offer.. pride in serving my country, college tuition. But after 22 years I will leave it to the youngsters....

The uniforms...and great health insurance

You know, I'm not exactly sure. But if I hadn't joined the USAF I would probably be still living with my mother not doing shit for myself, I finally have the freedom of having my own place and without the money I wouldn't have my Z28. I was going to do TCN in May and they swept it out from under me, I would love to deploy to have a better sense of worth of doing my job but it's too hard at my base. Guam isn't a deployment, I come from a god damn island anyway so it isn't even a vacation.

When I was younger and single, it had tons that made it worth it. Travel, pay was decent, party life. Now being married and realizing enlisted military pay is shit for the hours I work, its not worth it at all. Im out next year at 12.....unless we get to go to israel and help defend them against the cockroach population of muslims that want them all dead.

A big what if, but its the only way I would stay in and feel like Im doing something worthy. Fuck Iraq and Afghanistan. Let them rot. 10 years is bullshit. They dont care about their own well beings, why should we?

Health benefits, not accepting mediocrity, payed twice a month regardless, pride in serving my country, college tuition/MGIB, 30 day payed vacation, job security, travel/deployments, discounts and having the best job in the Air Force as an MTI. :devil:

I wouldn't mind being an MTI if they're schedule was such a kick in the balls to your social life. Haha I wish you were my MTI when I went through.. MTI with a WS6 has to be cool lol


Oh yeah, I got word my deployment to Iraq that I volunteered for this Summer got given to someone else. So now I won't go for at least another year and a half. I'm pissed. I was really looking forward to it.

you get paid to go shoot, blow shit up, jump out of air planes for free, pay isn't to back, the brother hood, the best part Eagle Globe and Anchor. oh and depend on your mos dive and do some secret squirrel stuff.

I thought I would post up in here, some of you might have heard my story before if so sorry for repeating.

My name is Coltin, I come from a military family, my dad is a disabled vet and was injured during the Iran Hostage Attempt. We lived about 30-45mins away from offut air force base and he would always take me there as a kid to watch the jets take off and to watch the ceremonies. I was raised with the belief that freedom did not come free and that we must fight to keep those freedoms and to protect our loved ones.

Up until my senior year I would wake up early every morning before school just to watch JAG. I knew what I wanted to do with my life and it was to fly jets and become a JAG lawyer. I was wanting to be a disability lawyer to help the soldiers like my father who had given up so much just to have to battle for disability.

In 94 when I was 3 we had gotten the letter saying my dad had received his disability the same day we got the letter from the bank that they were going to take our house, we barely escaped that. To me it's difficult knowing that my dad was over seas serving our country and because it wasn't during war time he didn't recieve the purple heart nor the respect from the VA system that he deserved(there's a whole other story behind that). My goals in life were to become an officer in the Navy and fly jets and to land on the USS Enterprise (my fathers ship). Another one of my dreams was to be able to salute my father at his funeral while in full dress.

I applied to the Naval Academy but later dropped my application because I realized I wouldnt enjoy the curriculum and that I wanted to be closer to home, so I decided to go through the ROTC program. I applied for AF, Army, and Navy but after receiving an amazing letter of recommendation for the army I dropped my other two applications. I was awarded with a 3year full scholarship to any school of my choice (would have been four but because of delays I wasnt able to get my personal interview done in time, at least thats what the LTC said). But in Jan/Feb of 2010 I got very sick with pneumonia/unknown infection/and MRSA and had to get the lower right lobe of my lung removed. The military medically disqualified me from all military status and took away my 3 year scholarship.

I started my freshman year in the Fall of 2010 without any scholarship but I enrolled in the ROTC program knowing that there was a very slim chance of me being able to get in. It was amazing how I was able to out run/out perform most of the other cadets. But in Nov I became sick again, this time it was just stomach flu but it resulted in me back in the hospital with stomach cramps that put me on the ground and the thought of possibly having crohns disease. At that point I saw the only chance of getting my scholarship slipping away.

At the end of the semester I decided not to continue to be in the ROTC program because I needed to focus more on my major since I wasnt going anywhere military wise. I had even switched my major from Law to Constructional Engineering Technology because I was told the flight training board likes it better if I have and engineering degree. Deciding not to do ROTC was the hardest thing I had ever done, knowing that fact that my dreams of being an officer and making a career out of being a military pilot were gone, I was left with the thought that I was letting my family, my country, and specifically my dad down. After lots of talking with my dad, friends, family, and God I relized that everything happens for a reason and you just have to go with it.

To me being in the military was more then the pay, more then the benefits, more then blowing up some towel heads. To me it was the honor of serving, the belief that I was protecting our rights, and fighting for this country, for my family, and for everyone back home. Nothing has felt as good as putting on that uniform or being able to salute the American Flag. You better damn well know that I would love to be right next to you defending our great country if I could.

Since last summer I have been a Patriot Guard Rider and I very highly recommend that you set it up so that we will be there for your farewell ceremony, your return ceremony, and in the worst possible occasion. For those that don't know we only come when invited by the family. The moto of the Patriot Guard Riders is "Standing for those who stood for us". Do me the honor of letting me stand for you!

So from me to you, THANK YOU for your service, STAY SAFE, and STAY STRONG!!
God Bless you all!
-Coltin Ridenour

The military is worth it to me because i can see what i was doing at high school/ after high school compared to right now. My life is so much better off being in the military. It is so easy just being in the military. I have been in 9 years now. The military is my way of life now. It is all i know. I do not think i could get out and be a civilian..lol

I go back home from leave every year, and its the same old same. I am sure others will agree. Friends still doing the same thing and not doing anything to better themselves, and kids out of high school working in the mall selling cell phones for 8 bucks an hour thinking its alot of money....:bang:

Plus to serve with other people and do what my grandpa and uncles did years ago. I feel obligated to do the same.

The Title.

The Title.

:D Well said

Health benefits, not accepting mediocrity, payed twice a month regardless, pride in serving my country, college tuition/MGIB, 30 day payed vacation, job security, travel/deployments, discounts and having the best job in the Air Force as an MTI. :devil:

man ill be at lackland on the 28th whats the odds that ill have you as an MTI..lol

No job better than being a pilot in the USAF.

No job better than being a pilot in the USAF.

:bang: Motivation to finish my degree!!

What are you flying at Altus? My brother was stationed there for some years.

i'm here for the beer and the bitches.

No job better than being a pilot in the USAF.

Except for being a Naval Aviator!! :engarde:

Except for being a Naval Aviator!! :engarde:

Except being Marine infantry!!!!!!!111......... wait, that sucks sometimes. :ripped:

:bang: Motivation to finish my degree!!

What are you flying at Altus? My brother was stationed there for some years.

KC-135, and loving every second of it.



Except for being a Naval Aviator!! :engarde:

I am not sure about you, but I don't enjoy being stuck on a boat with several thousand other guys for 6-8 months at a time. :D

KC-135, and loving every second of it.

Exactly what I want to fly!

man ill be at lackland on the 28th whats the odds that ill have you as an MTI..lol

Zero.. my current flight doesn't graduate till 11 March. But there's a decent chance you'll be assigned to my sqaudron. If you happen to get the 322nd.

The military for me is an extreme love/hate relationship. There is a lot of bullshit you have to deal with, but at the end of the day you still know you're doing something less than 1% of America is willing to do. They'll bitch about our freedoms and then do nothing to help the issue.

That being said, you will NEVER have the comrodery (sp?) and friendships you make in the military in the civilian world. The amount of dumb shit you can do to each other and still be friends and laugh about it is amazing. Also being an NCO, I stay in for the soldiers. There are too many incompatent NCO's and shitbag soldiers floating around, it can make a world of difference having just a few around that actually care about their jobs. Free health care is nice too

Except for being a Naval Aviator!! :engarde:

Don't forget, if they're in the air, Maintenance puttem there :engarde:

Except being Marine infantry!!!!!!!111......... wait, that sucks sometimes. :ripped:

Except for being Marine Artillery! Sucks less and bigger guns and bigger booms! :devil:

For my serious post I have to say this.

I was a big loser in highschool, one of the kids with unlimited potential, but no drive. Although I graduated early, my grades didn't reflect what I could have done. On a whim, I took the asvab. I only got an 82, but that was enough to start getting calls from the local recruiters. Originally I had wanted to join the Army. The recruiter got one look at me and that was enough. He told me if I lost the weight, then we'd talk. So I went to the airforce recruiter, same thing, lose the weight and then we'll talk. I went to the Marine recruiter, and he said "we'll help you lose the weight, but it's not going to be fun". He also didn't lie to me, he told me that being a Marine was great, but that it could really really suck. I thought, sign me up! Being 17, I had to have my dad sign the papers too. I'll never forget what he said, "Are you fucking crazy"?

So, I go to boot camp, six weeks in.... field week, I have an asthma attack. Shit, everythings a blur, medical platoon, depressed, fail pft, pork chop platoon, another attack, medsep. Now, I'm home again, a loser again. I gained all the weight back, plus some. I was pretty depressed. I was one of those guys now, that tried and failed. I worked more menial jobs, short order cook, things like that. I got an ok job being an emergency dispatcher for the county. My boss was a former Marine. I worked there for a few months, then got fired.


I thought, fuck it, I'm going to try again. So that summer, I did nothing but work out and run. I went from around 260-275lbs to 160 in 3 months (in hindsight I should have slowed down, I still have a ton of extra skin). I got a doctors note saying that I didn't have asthma and went and talked to the new recruiter. And I have to say, he hooked me up, and did everything he could to get me back in. He had my discharge rating changed so that I could go back to bootcamp, and was a great influence to me.

Bootcamp was much easier the second time lol. Everyone thought I was insane for going again, but I made it.

So, after all that, the reason why it's worth it to me? Because, it made me push myself in ways that people didnt expect. It surprises my old friends from High School, it surprised my parents, and I'm proud of what I've done. And quite simply, I love what I do.

Trav, that's awesome that you pushed yourself to keep going. Most people would give up.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv353/campi666_cegla/high-five.jpg

For my serious post I have to say this.

I was a big loser in highschool, one of the kids with unlimited potential, but no drive. Although I graduated early, my grades didn't reflect what I could have done. On a whim, I took the asvab. I only got an 82, but that was enough to start getting calls from the local recruiters. Originally I had wanted to join the Army. The recruiter got one look at me and that was enough. He told me if I lost the weight, then we'd talk. So I went to the airforce recruiter, same thing, lose the weight and then we'll talk. I went to the Marine recruiter, and he said "we'll help you lose the weight, but it's not going to be fun". He also didn't lie to me, he told me that being a Marine was great, but that it could really really suck. I thought, sign me up! Being 17, I had to have my dad sign the papers too. I'll never forget what he said, "Are you fucking crazy"?

So, I go to boot camp, six weeks in.... field week, I have an asthma attack. Shit, everythings a blur, medical platoon, depressed, fail pft, pork chop platoon, another attack, medsep. Now, I'm home again, a loser again. I gained all the weight back, plus some. I was pretty depressed. I was one of those guys now, that tried and failed. I worked more menial jobs, short order cook, things like that. I got an ok job being an emergency dispatcher for the county. My boss was a former Marine. I worked there for a few months, then got fired.


I thought, fuck it, I'm going to try again. So that summer, I did nothing but work out and run. I went from around 260-275lbs to 160 in 3 months (in hindsight I should have slowed down, I still have a ton of extra skin). I got a doctors note saying that I didn't have asthma and went and talked to the new recruiter. And I have to say, he hooked me up, and did everything he could to get me back in. He had my discharge rating changed so that I could go back to bootcamp, and was a great influence to me.

Bootcamp was much easier the second time lol. Everyone thought I was insane for going again, but I made it.

So, after all that, the reason why it's worth it to me? Because, it made me push myself in ways that people didnt expect. It surprises my old friends from High School, it surprised my parents, and I'm proud of what I've done. And quite simply, I love what I do.

Outstanding, is all I can say..

Except being Marine infantry!!!!!!!111......... wait, that sucks sometimes. :ripped:

true... and VERY true

I should start a thread titled "who can still fit into their Bootcamp-issued uniforms?"

sheot, I know I cant... they fitted us for everything two days after the Crucible and I havent been that thin since I was in middle school

I should start a thread titled "who can still fit into their Bootcamp-issued uniforms?"

sheot, I know I cant... they fitted us for everything two days after the Crucible and I havent been that thin since I was in middle school

Yeah, please don't. That would just be depressing.

For my serious post I have to say this.

I was a big loser in highschool, one of the kids with unlimited potential, but no drive. Although I graduated early, my grades didn't reflect what I could have done. On a whim, I took the asvab. I only got an 82, but that was enough to start getting calls from the local recruiters. Originally I had wanted to join the Army. The recruiter got one look at me and that was enough. He told me if I lost the weight, then we'd talk. So I went to the airforce recruiter, same thing, lose the weight and then we'll talk. I went to the Marine recruiter, and he said "we'll help you lose the weight, but it's not going to be fun". He also didn't lie to me, he told me that being a Marine was great, but that it could really really suck. I thought, sign me up! Being 17, I had to have my dad sign the papers too. I'll never forget what he said, "Are you fucking crazy"?

So, I go to boot camp, six weeks in.... field week, I have an asthma attack. Shit, everythings a blur, medical platoon, depressed, fail pft, pork chop platoon, another attack, medsep. Now, I'm home again, a loser again. I gained all the weight back, plus some. I was pretty depressed. I was one of those guys now, that tried and failed. I worked more menial jobs, short order cook, things like that. I got an ok job being an emergency dispatcher for the county. My boss was a former Marine. I worked there for a few months, then got fired.


I thought, fuck it, I'm going to try again. So that summer, I did nothing but work out and run. I went from around 260-275lbs to 160 in 3 months (in hindsight I should have slowed down, I still have a ton of extra skin). I got a doctors note saying that I didn't have asthma and went and talked to the new recruiter. And I have to say, he hooked me up, and did everything he could to get me back in. He had my discharge rating changed so that I could go back to bootcamp, and was a great influence to me.

Bootcamp was much easier the second time lol. Everyone thought I was insane for going again, but I made it.

So, after all that, the reason why it's worth it to me? Because, it made me push myself in ways that people didnt expect. It surprises my old friends from High School, it surprised my parents, and I'm proud of what I've done. And quite simply, I love what I do.


I dont post often, but I had too on this one..Great story of determination and going after what you want. You could have easily said F it and went on the wrong path..Instill that determination into your Soldiers/Marines when you start to lead.

That being said, the Army has taken care of me. I have no regrets in joining and in June when I retire after 24 years I'm sure I will miss it just a little bit.

That being said, the Army has taken care of me. I have no regrets in joining and in June when I retire after 24 years I'm sure I will miss it just a little bit.

If you miss it you didn't love it... you stayed in for 24yrs, you'll miss it! lol. I was out for a year after the Navy and missed it like hell! I'm now a 19D Cav Scout in the Army and love it. My ETS was supposed to be Sept of this year and I kept telling everyone I was getting out, but I just resigned for 4 more years and Hawaii. I sat down and thought about what I would do in the civilian world and nothing came to me. With the personality I have, customer service jobs are an absolute no go, plus I love being deployed and the comradery you find in the military is unachievalbe in the civilian world. That, and I like my job :D

I should start a thread titled "who can still fit into their Bootcamp-issued uniforms?"

sheot, I know I cant... they fitted us for everything two days after the Crucible and I havent been that thin since I was in middle school

my socks still fit!! :D

my socks still fit!! :D

Those and I can still get the t-shirts on! lol S/R trousers are a no go as they were smallish back then (who would give a damn anyway? Some recruits needed small and got large!).

The pay and benefits are good. It also enhances my career in the accounting and finance field.

The training/hands on experience...alot of jobs(contractors) would take the hands on experience over some dude that went college and read about it. Not saying college is a bad thing, but for the guys that didn't have an opportunity of having college paid for, prior service and a few years of getting your hands dirty, gets a foot in the door for bigger and better things when you're out. Signed for 4yrs and on my 2nd deployment...ets apr 2012 I can't wait.

did someone say yet that chicks dig guys in uniform? :D

The free education at the time and the small paycheck to go along with it..

I've got 10 years in now. PCSd about 8 times, so moving is fun, and seing other countries. Meeting new people and being at the cutting edge of much of the medical stuff (was a medic now hospital admin). I am a 4th generation military member, with most of my grandparents/aunts/uncles/father/sister/brother all serving in the military. Are there benefits and down sides, yeah, but I won't lie, I've seen people on the outside world, sucks to have to worry about your job all teh time. The college money has gotten me a bachelors and working towards a masters in medical admin :D Healthcare for my kids, for me, and retirement in 20-25 years, TYVM.

The biggest thing is the respect. In my career field it takes a while to get up the ranks. I made it to e6, which is pretty good, but I take the job serious and love to help people, soldiers, its in my blood, so this gives me the chance to, because they respect you, not only for rank but also for who you are. I have a chance to make a difference in others lives and I'm not going to take that softly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph3PGSVxr7A&feature=player_embedded

I can sum it up like this: All of the wounded warriors, tears and flags in the video...none of them will be in vain as long as I'm alive and kicking. It's worth it to me because I can carry on their legacies and never let it be forgotten. I don't do a single thing I do without thinking about one of my brothers or sisters who's given so much more than I have.

Oh oh oh, I tried on my basic class A uniform, from august 2000, and yeppers still fits.