You should give us another option like "i´m not military".
Just for curious people like me, that whanted to see the results. Becouse i´m sure that here are many guys that picked any option just to see the results, and that will interfere with your results...u follow me??

Just for the record, i´m not military and piked up Air Force just to see the results. Erase my selection when u finish the Poll ok?

NC Air Guard, originally AD USAF, MSgt (E-7) with 18 years and counting down . I've been cycling on and off since the late 1980s. Deployed to Qatar and Iraq last year, and started bike commuting after I got home (1140 miles commuting so far in 2007).

Negative Ghostrider. More like you have to wait on an old fart to retire to free up a slot so you can get promoted.

Is this thing still going? 21 year active duty Navy Chief, put it on 6 years ago, (we don't call ourselves "E-7's"). I'm in the Aviation community currently jocking a desk at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in So Cal. I've been riding for over 22 years. Been there done that as far riding a bike. Rode in over 18 different contries, raced as a Cat 2 for 12 years but now at 40 years of age play golf far more than I ride. If your ever in the Ventura county area look me up and we'll go for a spin.

ex-Canadian navy 78-98. Every January our robust little fleet of destroyers and a sub or two would sail from Halifax for the warmer climes of the Caribbean. Did a lot of manoeuvres with the USN in and around Roosevelt Roads, PR, Bermuda, Charleston and Norfolk. Great times.

In the various ports, I played the role of a stereotypical sailor, ie, drink to excess and then drink some more. Many of my buddies, however, planned ahead and brought and stored their bikes in the hangar. While I was chasing skirts, they were, as I know now, experiencing the glory of cycling. Ignorance is bliss I suppose.

Treker..you fight in the Great Turbot War of '97?

Currently a LTC in the Army.

Retired sailor here. Serve mostly on Tin Can

Agree. That was certainly not the case when I was in the Navy. You would have had to have been deep selected for every rank above O1! Not sure what's up with 14 yr O-5 (unless there is an MD or maybe DDS in there somewhere. We had a heart surgeon as the ships medical officer on the USS Coral Sea (I'm old) who had only been in the Navy for (I think) five years and was an O-5).

The Defense Officer Personnel Management Act of 1980 (DOPMA) states that it should take 15-17 years to make 05 (LtCol/CDR), and that the selection rate should be 70%. Currently the only service that regularly "deep selects" officers is the Air Force. I met a 36 year old 06/Col who was referred to as a "four deep,” meaning he had been deep selected four times. The Marine Corps has not selected an officer from the below zone in over 15 years. That being said I pinned on LtCol at 15.5 years, and I am nothing special.

Thanks for the update. I too served under DOPMA rules. The Doc I referred to I met in 1975 - pre DOPMA. I have to admit I don't know if they still bring in MD's at minimum O-3; but googling around it appears that most MD's are commissioned as O-3's and specialists may be commissioned as O-4's. Easy to make O-5 in 14 yrs that way! I pinned on 0-5 (not frocked) 15 yrs 11 months. I'm still betting the person is an MD or DDS.

Direct commission officer, credit towards rank based on education. Medical Service Corps, Aerospace Physiologist...

Had my bike ('89-'91ish Schwinn Probe) shipped to my first base. I had always lived in rural areas, so I never really thought about locking up my bike- there was no need. With my 19-year-old-straight-outta-basic logic, I figured I wouldn't need to lock my ride up since I was on an Air Force Base (everybody there has high integrity, right?)- WRONG! It was stolen off the bike rack the first week I was there. There were actually a lot of other bikes on that rack that weren't locked up either.

Honorably discharged almost 10 years ago- I remember it was mandatory to wear a helmet if you were riding a bike on base.

Ex Navy 88 – 94.

Rode with some guys in VA Beach while stationed at Norfolk. Good riding once you get out of town a little farther south in the northern NC country.

Hello, I am new here. To answer your question, I have been a Soldier in the U.S. Army for 7 years. I am an infantryman, currently stationed in Germany. Road biking is excellent where I am stationed. Secondary roads are well mantained, and there are alot of riding options with some beautiful scenery. Also, the Alps are not too far away and I plan to do a couple of rides in them next year. There are only a few roadies where I am stationed and I usually ride alone. Hopefully that will change and I can get into some small group rides.

I was stationed at Bitburg (Air Force) 85 to 88 before the base was closed down. Outstanding riding in Germany. I was one of the first off road riders there and can kick myself for not doing another tour. Where in GE are you stationed at?

USMC - Reserves 87-93 switched to NJNG 93-96 for additional school benefits. Would do it all over again.

Ex-Canadian Forces. 87-84.

Had the pleasure of working with Canadian Forces personnel on the staff of the Commander 3rd Fleet and at NORAD. Really great folks!

I must say that anytime I worked with our American military colleagues, it was a distinct pleasure. I spent three weeks down in Colorado Springs in '94 in training, and I'll never forget the great time we had and the generous hospitality extended by our American hosts.

Which brings me to my other thought: I've always had a great time on all my visits to the US, either on business or vacation. I have met so many friendly people in the States.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of American-bashing going on in the world today, which I find to be quite annoying. All Americans out there, just ignore the bashing. Remember the massive, selfless effort the US put into bailing Europe out of two World Wars. I wonder how many people would have still been under the yoke of some fanatical dictator if it weren't for the US.

Stevemtbr, sorry it took so long to reply. I am stationed in Bavaria. Right now there is not much road riding going on as the weather has been very poor. Of course with all the early snow that means skiing, both cross-country and alpine! Bitburg was in a very nicepart of Germany. Alot of great roads in Rheinland-Pfalz.

So your down by Garmisch/Partenkirchen? If so man you are one lucky dude. I spent my honeymoon their in July 87. My wife was also Air Force and we spent two weeks at a Gasthaus. The area is outstanding and we had a great time. Most beautiful part of Germany and would love to visit again.