That's awesome you adopted a prior service dog. Any reason his handler didnt keep him?Thank you for your service and providing us with the freedom that we all enjoy. Much respect!
I have never served in the military myself, but our dog has and I’d like to show him some props.
Retired MWD Messi W459
Dual Purpose PEDD
Connecticut National Guard
Iraq Deployment
Many U.S. Secret Service Missions
Current Mission: Kong killer / Couch potato
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That's awesome you adopted a prior service dog. Any reason his handler didnt keep him?
Awesome pics brother. Doesn't get any better, well, unless you are in the pilot's seat!
Beautiful shot brother. Can't get enough of the carriers!!!!I was in helicopter squadrons. We deployed on whatever ship they needed us on. So I got to spend some time on a lot of them. The USS Normandy and the USS Underwood were the best of the bunch by far. We were on the Normandy for Desert Storm and the Bosnian war. We were on the Underwood when 9/11 went down and we actually deployed that very day to New York city.
Here is the George Washington sitting off NYC. You can still see the smoke from the twin towers in the background.
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Awesome pics brother...AHOOOH! Looks like you did some presidential protection as well. Beautiful Shepard!Thank you for your service and providing us with the freedom that we all enjoy. Much respect!
I have never served in the military myself, but our dog has and I’d like to show him some props.
Retired MWD Messi W459
Dual Purpose PEDD
Connecticut National Guard
Iraq Deployment
Many U.S. Secret Service Missions
Current Mission: Kong killer / Couch potato
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Thank you for the acknowledgement and proud to have served.Not a vet, but much respect.
Thank you for my freedom!
Awesome pics brother...AHOOOH! Looks like you did some presidential protection as well. Beautiful Shepard!
I was on her from '92 to '94. Mayport couldn't handle that much. There was a second carrier there when I arrived onboard but for the life of me I can't remember which one. I know the Forrestal had just left and it was soon to be decommissioned. Two years later is was the Saratoga's turn.
I have an old WWII jeep marked for the 1st ID 18th Inf Rgt Dog Co.Army, 1980-1988
Signal Corps (REMF in the rear with the gear)
Ft Gordon
Germany (pic)
Ft Gordon
Ft Riley (1st ID)
Note the Dodge content!
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I got to Mayport in 1991. The Forrestal was there. I was in HSL-42 at the time. I know the Sara came a little bit later. We did a North Star in mid '91 on the Normandy in the USS AMerica battle group then went over to the Gulf for Desert Storm in December.
When the Kennedy came to replace the Sara both were in port together for about a year. It was a traffic nightmare. I know the two carriers had to stagger their work hours to not turn Mayport road into a parking lot.
We used call the Saratoga "the sinking Sara". But at least when it came time to deploy she always could. My last deployment we were in the Kennedy battle group and had to postpone workups several times because the Kennedy was unable to get underway. Eventually we did workups without the carrier. Then we did them again once she was finally able to get underway.
On Sept 11, 2001 we were supposed to go to Vieques to the missile range. But we all know what happened that morning. We ended up going straight to NYC since were fully combat armed. We actually loaded up four HELLFIRE missiles on our helo for the operations during that time (Noble Eagle). Four missiles was against the SOP because the lower two missiles would most likely get damaged during landing in rough seas.
The only other time we loaded four HELLFIRE was when we were protecting ships carrying Army units through the straits of Hormuz after the Iraqis threatened to sink anything passing through.
US Air Force, 1984 to 2004. I did a tour as an Air Force recruiter and I would always take these 18 to 20 year olds to the nicest base around and show them the facilities. That was usually a pretty good hook to get them enlist. Most were glad they did.. So true brother. I had the opportunity in 1984 while serving at Ft Polk, LA to go TDY to an Air Base for 4 weeks conducting air load mission for my Army unit, and man, I tell you, it was amazing how comfortable and spacious the dorm rooms were and when you say eloquent dining, our minds were blown away! I never would have thought that a military dining hall would serve shrimp, crab and lobster every Friday. This doesn’t include the steak, fish and other delicious food that was served there daily. If I was younger, I would enlist just for the food
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You actually had to try and bribe kids to enlist in Air force? When I was recruiting, the local Air Force recruiter worked maybe 2 days a week. And those days were just to do paperwork. We got several kids into the Nay because they came looking for Air Force and he wasnt there.US Air Force, 1984 to 2004. I did a tour as an Air Force recruiter and I would always take these 18 to 20 year olds to the nicest base around and show them the facilities. That was usually a pretty good hook to get them enlist. Most were glad they did.
I'm honored to have served with all of you on this thread.
Timing is everything. I was a recruiter from 97 to 2000. 1999 was the only year the Air Force has ever missed its recruiting goal. It was absolutely brutal. In later years the situation you describe is entirely accurate. Those guys would work a couple days a week and then hit the golf course. I wasn't so lucky LOL. Also location is critical as a recruiter. My first year and a half I was stationed in Minneapolis which is a very tough recruiting environment for the military. The next two years I was in South Florida and it was a much better.You actually had to try and bribe kids to enlist in Air force? When I was recruiting, the local Air Force recruiter worked maybe 2 days a week. And those days were just to do paperwork. We got several kids into the Nay because they came looking for Air Force and he wasnt there.