37 years in the Guard with 2 years, 364 days to go. Pretty sure 40 years will be enough. Been a mil-tech for 30+ years. Countless State activity duty missions, thousands or days away from family and friends, Can't count how many kids birthdays I missed, or fathers days, or mothers days 2 deployments, one to Iraq, Liberty, Taji, and Hammer as a BMO in 2009-2010. No one can ever laugh at what we as Guardsman do. The whole two days a month and two weeks in the summer is a myth, especially for us senior leaders. We put in hundreds of hours a month to try and complete in two days what the active component does in 30. We are definitely logistical wonders. Been in the maintenance field my entire career. currently a 915E CW4 in the JFHQ as the states MAIT Manager. Can't wait to retire, want to go across the country by Bombtrack Hook EXT-C. I'll be 57 so no excuse not too. Thanks to all who have served, we're all brothers and sisters in one way and we are a small family.

Did the Great Alleghany Passage in July 2019, from Pittsburgh to Cumberland and back in 3 days, 2 hours. Want to do it again, enjoy the view this time.

Im a New Guy on the forum, But I recently retired from the Army at 20 years. Being stationed in Italy is what really turned me on to biking to begin with.

86th Combat Engineers, Binh Phouc, RVN (just a couple of landmines east of Dong Tam.)
Providing Engineering expertise with an M-16 and M-203 in support of 9th Inf Div, 2nd/47th Mechanized Infantry

Did a tour in Korea in 99 with 2ID HHB Division Artillery (Camp Stanley that no longer exists) and 2.5 years on Kelley Hill with 3rd ID, 206 FSB. Got into cycling just last year, ironically, in Korea (back here working as a civilian).

I served in the US Navy after graduating from Elon University. Happy to say that I was not onboard the USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6 while I was based in San Diego. I was onboard the USS Princeton CG-59

5 years as Uncle Sam’s Misguided Child 97-02. Did wedt pac on uss constelation with vmfa-323

I served 9 years with the NH ANG, 1983-1992, flying KC135’s, we were activated for Desert Storm (Gulf War 1) did a lot of fighter drags across the North Atlantic and took the B52’s halfway across, they were on their way to carpet bomb the Iraqi Republican Guard into submission.

I got out because we were gone so much and I had 3, later 4 young kids at home. After 9-11 I wanted to get back in but was too old. I do miss flying with all the great guys I was lucky to work with back then.

Been riding bicycles since childhood (had a paper route on bike too!) but really got into road biking about age 25, 1984, with my first real road bike, a steel Bianchi Limited, which I still own and occasionally ride. Moved up to a Trek Speed Concept TT bike for a triathlon then added a Trek Emonda SLR about 5 years ago, for more long distance rides (65-100 miles).

I’m 62 now, riding 5 days a week when I’m not working, it keeps me young but I’ll probably be run over one day by some kid who’s texting instead of watching the road!

Good organization! lots of discounts. i've been a member for 2 years. met some quality folks. good for networking if you race in different states.

https://usmes.org/

Good info, thanks!

I was USN from 81 to 90 and I was going to make it a career, but it was a funky time. They were starting to cut people loose due to the end of the iron curtain and my wife was over me only being home 25% of the time. She wanted to have kids, but wanted me to be there to help raise them. So I had to make a choice and we actually flipped a quarter in the kitchen, with her making the call, heads I stay in, tails I get out. The next day, I went to tell the command I had decided to exit the service and as timing is just perfect, the chief's board results came out, and I had been selected, but it would require another 4 years. I was really conflicted, but I told her I would stand by the flip of the coin.

I was in the army from '86-'10 and I remember when they did the early outs in '90 we had a lot of guys take it. But a bunch of them were regretting it after they got out. One was actually my roommate I had an apartment with off post when i was stationed at Bragg. When he got out he stayed in Fayetteville and got a job at some factory, but that very first week he was killing himself for getting out. He tried everything he could to get back in but it was a no go. He was really pissed when we deployed for Desert Shield/Storm and he missed it.

A lot of people also screwed themselves then they did the early retirement a few years later.

Yea there were days initially I was missing it, but when Desert Storm broke out, my old shop Chief called me to see if I wanted to come back in. The downside was I would be on sea duty again, and I had been sea duty for the entire time I was in, so I told him I might considered it if I could be guaranteed shore duty in Jacksonville, for at least 3 years. He asked but they had gotten rid of so many people, they did not have enough to people to staff the squadrons so, that was the end of those discussions. I have some good friends that the early outs and early retirements, they also regretted. I on the other hand, was just at the end of my tour time, so I never fell into that group.

Life in the saddle enrich their spiritual world.

Military, but just barely: Cal Guard -- the Title 32 component of the California National Guard. As rear-echelon as it gets. Protecting California from being invaded by Oregon, Nevada or Arizona.
Went through OCS in 2013-14 at Camp SLO. Attached to the Center for Military History.
The closest I'll ever come to combat is having to walk from my apartment in downtown SF to the BART station (on my way to a drill) while wearing my ACU, and gutterpunks shouting "Nazi" and "baby-killer!" at me.

Always remember: TAHAFE.
(The Army Has an Acronym For Everything)

Essayons

We'll win or we'll die!

Our official corps motto downunder is Ubique (everywhere). The unofficial one is We Make and We Break.

I was on the USS Constellation (CV-64) from April 1981 to October 1984.Operations Department, Communications Electronics Shop.

Yes, the military loves TLA's (Three Letter Acronyms).

Drafted two weeks after highschool, 9 months of training as Communications and Cryptographic Systems Digital Data Terminal Technician, and unpleasant 3 1/2 years.