I made the question as broad as I could. Please be detailed, how were the MRE's, the mess hall food, etc. Were you surprised? Was it astonishingly bad? Or did you think you were in a Manhattan restaurant(yeah right). Where had the best food? If you were in a combat zone, did the people responsible for your food do anything special, like the Wolfmobiles in Desert Storm which cooked hamburgers, or the steak dinners in Vietnam? What bases had the best restaurants?\n\nThese questions are just a guide, you don't have to answer all of them...\n\nMost importantly, was the food a big factor in you leaving the armed forces?!
205966
When I was in the US NAVY aboard the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (aircraft carrier) the cooks accidentally spilled an industrial sized container of chili powder into the chili and served it anyway.  You know a ship full of men, no one would admit it was too hot too eat.  So we did.  Boy did we regret it later when we were sitting in the head(bathroom).
675701
Wild chicken, I remember it well. It was where we used to do our mortar gunnery trials. Great food, got to meet German soldiers... I didn't appreciate the blizzard during the winter of 75-76 though.
581779
I have 2 very dear friends who PCS'd there in April.  One chose housing at HAAF, and she loves it.  The other chose a home in Richmond Hills.  Both are very happy there and say there is always something going on, whether at the base or in Savannah.  Good luck\n\nGOD BLESS OUR TROOPS
329700
my husband went and he cant wait to go back. he is very proud of what he is doing over there...i think part of it is the military brain washed him though. he has a thing about muslims stating there is a very fine line between a muslim and a terroist. And he doesnt trust them. He has killed some and has no nightmares...i know a bunch of people who are glad they went and dont mind going again.
215863
My broTher has been in the Air Force for 4 years this July. He is on the instant message with me giving me this information. Hope it helps you. \n1. Not much physical activities. it is mostly mental\n2. Hardest week is hell week. This is the 5th week.\n3. Just in a tent for a week. There is a gas chamber, play a few war games. This is all physical and mental\n4. The basic chow hall you only have a few minutes to eat so you can't savor the food.\n5. Keep quiet and have your boots shined good and your bed made good. If not they can undo yours and everyone elses.\n6.Volunteer for KP duty when they ask. If you volunteer for KP duty you will have longer to eat and get deserts.\n7.Go to church services on base. He loved them. Plus it gives you time away from the Ti's (training instructors)\n9.Don't volunteer for element leader or dorm chief unless you like getting yelled at for someone else's mistakes.\n10. Don't volunteer for chow runner. They report to the head table with all the Ti's and say their flight is ready to eat, if they don't do it right away-they get yelled at or their flight eats last if there is more than 1 flight waiting to eat.\n11.Try to know the chain of command(people in charge) before coming in and know all the ranks.\n\nMy brother is a Senior Airman and loves the Air Force. Hope you love it too.\n\nI forgot to add that he can't remember what the food was, but remembered it was good. Plus he ate at Burger King plus they had a place where he bought pizza quite a bit. He was at Lackland AFB in San Antonio,Texas.
332095
My husband is in the Army.We have been in Germany for 4 years.We are stationed in Vilseck.The housing is nice.The drivers exam is a pain.The food is excellent.The exchange rate blows.I could give you more info if i knew what part of Germany?Family members?Pets?Lemme know if i can help.
661725
dead on.  i couldn't have said it better myself.  you did, however forget the foodstamps.  you'd better demand free food as well, because you have had a long hard trip sneaking into the country, you're going to need some free food, and you're going to need it now.
563060
I went to basic in fort jackson....i went on june 2nd 2004. Dont bring a damn thing.....When you get there...they give you a 'smart card' and they make you buy shoes...clothes..socks..etc. Keep in mind everything you bring you will be holding with your arms straight out for atleast an hour... so dont buy anything. Try to be what we call'high speed' dont kiss ass..and DONT ASSUME THE DRILL SERGEANTS LIKE YOU..BUT do everything your told to the best of your ability and as fast as possible. Try to become the bay leader or the platoon leader. Work your ass off in pt and dont cry or whine. Whether you like the training..(rifle,landnav,bayonette courses..etc) or not have fun with it but dont smile. Say YES DRILL SEARGEANT , NO DRILL SERGEANT as loud as possible. Keep your area clean and learn how to do hospital corners on your bed BEFORE you go to basic. Start drinking plenty of water now....youll have what is called force hydration where you have to drink 2 qts so you might as well start now so you dont get sick. Make sure your 'battle buddies' dont fuck up...stay on them even if they hate you tellin them what to do itll look good on your part and youll have a smoother ride. Be aware that theyre will be some 'crazies' when you get there...people will try to pull some bullsh it and kill themselves, run away, talk back....just ignore them and do what your supposed to do. The red phase is the worst. Oh and once you get to the blue phase ( last phase) youll be right back to red phase...they like to mind fu ck you like that. Dont stress it though. Youlll learn to like the chow...no soda or dessert but youll be alright...umm if you have anymore questions you can message me on im whatever496@yahoo.com
392615
Yes, the family has been since the Revolutionary War.\n\nWhen you grow up on base or post you really don't know the difference compared to living off base.  You don't go to "military school" but regular schools like in the "civilian" world except they are run by the DoD.\n\nIt wasn't a bad experience.  In fact when we lived on the Persidio in San Francisco, CA in the early 1960's....75 yards from my front door was a Nike missile launch site (cool for an 8 year old kid) and the window from by base housing bed room was of the Golden Gate Bridge...I good see the entire bridge.  Any idea what civilians have to pay for  view like that?\n\nThat was my experience any way.
592874
Having recently returned from Iraq, I can say that any carepackage is greatly appreciated.  Beverage base powders are good ( like kool aid and such ), books and even used DVD's ( we had power ). Wouldnt recommend chocolate or gummy bears ( the heat will get to those items before the items get to soldier). And thank you for your support of our troops.
620480
it's nice to hear the air force is treating you well ... I was a army wife and it was not" 90210 "like you explained ...{thanks for the dumpy comment }, My husband was a GRUNT in Bosnia and in Afghanistan ... It was sheer hell for me and our 2 boys .. Im thankful for Ft. knox they did all they could do to make it as easy as they could for us during my husbands deployment... No matter what branch all these men and women are HEROS ! I was not aware that there were people who did'nt support our troops ... I just thought it was Bush they did'nt support ! being a "army" wife is very hard!!{ there is no fun and games at war} maybe I should have had my husband Join the airforce so we could not appear to be so dumpy!!! My husband is a hell of a man and Im very proud of what he has done for our country.. HOOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
222917
ONE OF THE BEST F_CKIN QUESTIONS IVE COME ACROSS.....THATS US AMERICANS FOR YA............IVE BEEN TO THE DESERT AND ASKED MYSELF THE SAME QUESTION WHEN I LEFT AFTER SIX MONTHS
542205
I will give you an eyewitness statement. First, I'm not from Texas (I'm a Tar Heel!!! - GO NC!!), second I'm not in the National Guard, I'm active duty. Now the account, I served with an active duty battalion that was assigned 2 National Guard companies - one was from Kansas and one was from Texas. They were truck companies, and both saw heavy action. On a side note, I found both units to be extremely professional in their duties. Neither shirked from any mission assigned to them and had an amazing "Can Do" attitude. If I had any negative comments about the Guard units I have served with - they are minor. I found they had a bit of a height/weight and PT shortcoming, but they more than made up for that with their Mission First attitude. My BC had a board in his office/tent with a collection of all the Guard patches of units we had run into over there. I don't recall a single state missing from his board - we even had a couple territory patches (Guam and PR). So whoever posted that on a Yahoo Board is simply giving into conspiracy BS and once again, as they almost always seem to be - are yapping away and have NEVER spent a day. Isn't it curious how the folks who seem to to come up with this crap have a mysterious lack of service to go along with their tripe?
512377
Try some of these. \n1.Do you miss your homeland?\n2.How do you feel about being forced out of your country for your safety and the safety of your family?\n3.If it were to become safe soon would you want to go back to your homeland or do you prefer trying to start over and make a life for yourself here?\n4.What influenced your decision to come here rather than another country that wuld have accepted your refugee status?\n5.Now that you are here what plans do you have for your future?\n6.From what you have seen so far what do you think of our country?\n7.How do you feel about president Bushes current involvment in international affairs?\n8What are some of your personal experiences as you fled your country?\n9.What are some of your personal experiences that led up to your fleeing your country?\n10How did you feel when you first realized that you had made it safely our of your country?\n11.what was the first thing you saw in our country?\n12how do you feel about the way you have been treated by the american government?\n13how do you feel about the american soldiers you have had contact with?\n14 have you had any contact with american soldiers oversees?\n15how have you been treated by the citezens of the united states?
356094
I was in the Air National Guard and I loved it.  I was also in the Air Force Reserve for a couple of years and didn't like it nearly as much.  My Guard unit was really close-knit and fun, we were like one big family.  We always did well on our inspections because we were such a cohesive unit.  For the people that were surprised the Guard would be activated overseas, I was told by my recruiter in the beginning that the Guard/Air Guard were usually the first to go because of greater mobility.  My unit was activated during Desert Storm, and I certainly wasn't surprised.  When people ask why you joined, just tell them with pride that it's something you love doing for yourself and for your country...and they should thank you for doing it, too.  It always blows my mind when people talk so harshly against military service while they enjoy the comforts of living in this country, and aren't willing to make any sacrifices for it themselves.  If you're not willing to serve in the military yourself, at least have some common sense and decency and don't patronize those of us who do.
232309
Yes, 100% my husband was over there the first time, it is a hard thing, and you give up much while you're over there. You are what makes this country great. You should be commended and thanked for your great service not only to the American people but to the people of those countries over there. I think that people can't grasp what it's all about unless they've been part of the military and lived in other places. It is when you are given those opportunities that you understand just what it means to have the freedoms that we have. THANK YOU for your SERVICE to our GREAT COUNTRY!!!!!
43217
I also went to Iraq II, and I can proudly say I did it just to take care of my boys for no one else would look out for them in the situation we were in.  I called my dad a few days before I deployed and explained to him what BS it was.  Being the highly educated ex-hippy he was, he really surprised me when he spouted off the official Bush lie about how it was for a good cause with the WMD's and all.\n\nI was both an intel analyst and later a computer guy, and I got the Top Secret emails on the SIPR computer long before 9/11 telling the generals to "prepare for desert combat", as well as prepared briefings years before about Saddam's diminishing weapons programs.  I really knew what BS it was, but when you're a soldier, you have to bite your tongue.  I couldn't claim "consciensus (sp?) objector" because I really didn't have a problem with war or violence in general for the right cause.  \n\nIt was probably one of the hardest things in the world to bite my tongue and do my duty, though I was hit by the "stop-loss" program and spent my last year as a draftee in a war I didn't believe in.  To the mindless soldiers out there that can swallow wholly what is fed to them I salute you, and to the ones with a concious that keep it hidden for a sense of duty, I salute you more...take care of your kids and come home safe.\n\nAnd let no soldier that I proudly served with believe for a single second that the war they are now fighting has ANYTHING to do with defending our constitutional rights.  Though undoubtedly you would do your duty the same if it was truly in defense of our nation, don't delude yourself into thinking this self-serving looting by our non-elected leadership has anything to do with anyone's freedom.\n\nShort answer to your question is "Yes", but it took me two years on the outside to fully understand the implications.  Would I do it again?  Absolutely, its the small victories you win on a personal level that makes all the difference...the soldier you kept from being too trigger happy, the extra blankets or food you handed out, the prisoners you took by talking to them instead of shooting.  I saw the best and worst of psychopaths, cowards, and heroes within our ranks and war brings out people's true nature very fast.  Again, people still on the front lines may hate me for rubbing raw that little doubt in the corner of their conscience, but come home safe so you can ponder it at your leisure later.