Honorable Discharge

Posted: 3/30/2001 6:19:11 AM EDT

I just got the certificate making it offical.

I was Honorably Discharged from the Army as of 1 March 2001.

For the 1st time since 1984, I have no military status. It's funny I find that unsettling, even though I've been inactive reserve since late 95.

On the bright side I have a nice new certificate for my office wall.

Posted: 3/30/2001 6:37:48 AM EDT

[#1]

I got out in July of 1990-from age 17 to 25 I was a Soldier, and I STILL find it disconcerting not to be one.

Welcome to the club, bro.

Posted: 3/30/2001 6:48:37 AM EDT

[#2]

Miss the camraderie but not the military/governmental bullshit

Posted: 3/30/2001 7:24:43 AM EDT

[#3]

My certificate is dated 96. BTW Tim. I still consider myself an infantry soldier. "Old soldiers never die...They just go to hell and [b]REORG[/b]"

Posted: 3/30/2001 7:30:35 AM EDT

[#4]

"My certificate is dated 96. BTW Tim. I still consider myself an infantry soldier. "Old soldiers never die...They just go to hell and REORG "
HOOAH!
Although I plan on reorg'ing in the much nicer, cooler place;)
I want four things on my grave-Father, Soldier, Husband, Patriot.

Not a day goes by that part of me doesn't miss tha Army-nor does another part of me appreciate the freedom I have as a civilian.

Tim

Posted: 3/30/2001 7:30:55 AM EDT

[#5]

Thanks to all of you that have served!

Semper Fi.

Posted: 3/30/2001 8:12:10 AM EDT

[#6]

Mine has hung on the wall long enough it has turned yellow.
Conratulations....if that is appropriate considering it is sort of a "bummer" for you.
Everyone should serve at least a short "hitch" in my less than humble opinion.

Posted: 3/30/2001 9:16:08 AM EDT

[#7]

Welcome to the club. I have been a member since 1993. I am in the Guard though. Its not quite the same though. Actually, its better I think. The good people and toys, but a little less Army BS. You may want to check into it. Talkting about certificates... check this out. How many of you got one of these. We all about choked laughing when we saw who it was signed by, then the jokes started. You know.."I'm gonna shellac it to the lid of my cigar humidor" and such.

[img]http://milpubs.com/DEF/bscert.gif[/img]

Aviator

Posted: 3/30/2001 9:20:59 AM EDT

[#8]

It is indeed a bit of a bummer to me.

The problem is the BS fades and I only remember the fun of blowing crap up and hanging out with the kind of guys you'd follow (or lead) to hell and back.

If I think about it, I can take myself back to remember the BS, Politics and Apple Polishing that lead me to sign out of the Active Reserve back in '96, but who the hell wants to remember that part.

Finally, I agree with the sentiment Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier. I served my country and was proud to do it. Nobody will ever take that from me.

Posted: 3/30/2001 9:29:35 AM EDT

[#9]

You never realize how good you had it while in...but ...you finally realize how good it is to be out (Infantry).

Posted: 3/30/2001 9:30:18 AM EDT

[#10]

Every day, I think about going back. There are two things that keep me from doing this.
1. I know what I miss most is the people I served with, especially A CO 5/87 INF, the Jaguars, and they no longer exist,
and
2. My wife. She would kill me!
I am proud I served, and thank God it straightened me up the way it did. I feel everyone should serve, just for the life experiences you gain.

Posted: 3/30/2001 9:30:41 AM EDT

[#11]

Originally Posted By dr jarhead:
Miss the camraderie but not the military/governmental bullshit

View Quote

In a nutshell, that pretty much sums it up.

Posted: 3/30/2001 9:33:28 AM EDT

[#12]

2. My wife. She would kill me!
I am proud I served, and thank God it straightened me up the way it did. I feel everyone should serve, just for the life experiences you gain.

View Quote

I agree. I think every person in the US should have to serve right out of high school. I don't care if its the military, the pece corps, or forrest service if they like. Let them choose. But every kid should give back to the country. Then they can have college free or something.

Aviator

Posted: 3/30/2001 9:44:39 AM EDT

[#13]

Dittos.
Former Cavalry Trooper
I finished my 'hitch' in '97.

I actually tried enlisting in the Air Force in '98, but they will not take prior service Army. Only way was to go Para-Rescue and hope you completed the training. If you failed, you could be assigned as a mess cook.

That's one hell of a gamble for someone who can't swim very well(me). You either become a member of the Air Force's Elite, or a cook. I didn't want to chance the odds. SCOUTS OUT!

Posted: 3/30/2001 9:56:05 AM EDT

[#14]

The character that you build in the service never leaves you. if you were squared away in the service you will retain those qualities. Unfortunately the same goes for the sh*tbirds. For those that served, you will take with you the knowledge that it was people like yourselves that made America the greatest country in the world. Although near the end of my enlistment,I could not wait to get out and earn some real money, I still regret my decision to leave after 6 years of active duty. Those were some of the best years of my life. If they only paid better! Good Luck Hipower.

Posted: 3/30/2001 11:24:38 AM EDT

[#15]

When the hell do you get the certificate? My ETS was DEC 1997 and my IRR status ended January 2001?

Posted: 3/30/2001 1:09:30 PM EDT

[#16]

Good God you all are making me feel old!!
Discharge dated December 15, 1978. I don't think some of you were even born then! Congrats Hipower. Even after all this time I still miss it.

Posted: 3/30/2001 1:35:52 PM EDT

[#17]

Ha! You think that's bad? I got a medical out of the Corps, AND an Entry Level Separation! (I was "discharged" to go to NROTC.) Now, the only actual certificate I have is when I was disenrolled from NROTC and went back to the Corps: an actual Honorable Discharge certificate at that! Problem is, it reads to: Seaman Apprentice (E2) Kenneth P.E. Little.

Now, who the hell is THAT? For wearing the Eagle Globe and Anchor every day for 2 1/2 years, PROUDLY, the NAVY slaps me with THAT! Thank God I have my DD214, or people would say I was a swabbie!

Oh, well. I'm too old, now, but would literally give my left testicle to be back in the Corps now that the Slickster is gone. After all, one of mine is more than enough![}:D]

Semper Fi!

Ken Little

Posted: 3/30/2001 1:53:49 PM EDT

[#18]

You bunch of young bucks.I got my firest Honorabl in 77, that was Army then i went Air Force got my second honorabl discharge.
You guys make me feal old. Congrats

Posted: 3/30/2001 2:35:53 PM EDT

[#19]

When I got out of the Army back in 1988 I was in the IRR for a while, and was told you could stay in there and even put in for temporary active duty assignments. After a couple months I joined the National Guard, but didn't care too much for the local unit here. When I got out of there, I asked about inactive guard to keep my rank, but they didn't want to keep paperwork on inactive people. (Which is ironic, since just months later inactives were being called up to unload planes and ships in Saudi Arabia.) I even wrote letters to my commanding officer and some IRR headquarters in Missouri, asking to be transferred back to the IRR. No response from either.

I hated to break that connection completely.

Posted: 3/30/2001 3:57:14 PM EDT

[#20]

I got out of active in 1973. Wouldn't trade the experience for anything (well, nearly anything), but I sure as hell wouldn't do it again.

Posted: 3/30/2001 4:18:46 PM EDT

[#21]

I got out of active in 1973. Wouldn't trade the experience for anything (well, nearly anything), but I sure as hell wouldn't do it again.

View Quote

Got that right Foxtrot! Those were the days though, weren't they?

Posted: 3/30/2001 5:03:02 PM EDT

[#22]

Sheesh,I got out in '69...we still had muzzle loaders then. Never seen one of those new fangled MATTEL rifles. Now I have one...and then some!

Posted: 3/30/2001 6:29:00 PM EDT

[#23]

I hated the Navy once I got to the fleet after 2 years plus of nuclear power school, but had to go through the whole enlistment if I wanted an honorable and all that. 2192 days - that includes the 2 leap years I thought was an evil trick pulled by the ocean gods.

I skipped work that last week processing out for real and BS reasons, and when I signed that mystical DD214 it was like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. So anticlimatical. That was it, just a sig.

All I had to do was to catch a ride, get on a plane to Moscow, ID, and start school in 3 days. Culture shock big time.

Posted: 3/30/2001 7:01:53 PM EDT

[#24]

I've been in 7191 days and will go over 20 years in July... but then who's counting?

Posted: 3/30/2001 7:18:00 PM EDT

[#25]

Finally got my Honorable in '97. Proud that I served and in the Infantry at that. You can tell by my username what badge I'm most proud of. Any of you guys get a "Cold War Recognition Certificate"? It's BS that you have to apply for the dang thing.

Posted: 3/30/2001 7:20:18 PM EDT

[#26]

Man, Am I feelin old! I was turinin' and Burning on a Navy P-3 with on top time on Sov. Deltas, Yankees, Echo's, Novembers and the Kiev task force the day they let the hostages out of Iran. The S*** I've endured for God and Country...If you've ever done S.E.R.E. school in SoCal you know what it's about... the next step closer to hell is SEAL/BUDS.

I also agree, that directly out of high school (or if you drop out , don't pass go, proceed directly to boot camp)every male should do 2 years Active Duty as they do in Sweden. Then go ahead and go to college or go to work. For sure you will have gotten the opportunity to grow up.

Posted: 3/30/2001 7:27:07 PM EDT

[#27]

You guys make me wistful. I appreciate your comments about everyone needing to serve out of High School. I tried and the recruiter told me I could serve right after the old women and young children. Just because my eyesight is 20/400 when uncorrected. I wear contacts and am 20/15 with them. I guess they figured there are no timeouts in battle to look for lost lenses. Oh well, I admire and respect those of you who serve/have served. And thanks for your service. There are some of us who appreciate it and cherish the liberty.

Posted: 3/30/2001 8:11:05 PM EDT

[#28]

Congrats to you young troop. I have a number of those Honerable DD214's myself. Feb73-Nov80 US Army. April 83- Aug 92 , CA Army NG. 54E. If anything I got a chance to see a lot of the world at the expense of others, Looking back I would have done my 20 RA.

Posted: 3/30/2001 8:35:22 PM EDT

[#29]

Second best thing that I ever done was sign up for the USMC. First best thing was getting out. Miss all the good people but not the military bs. I believe, although, that every able body male should have to do some service in one of the branches.

Posted: 3/31/2001 8:43:04 AM EDT

[#30]

I believe EVERYONE, men and women, should serve. It's not just guys that are messed up at that age. I have noticed a different degree of maturity in military personnel. Everyone I have met since getting out adds at least 5 years to my age, just based on the way I act. Everyone should have this advantage.
Besides, there are school benefits to be earned.

Posted: 3/31/2001 9:55:57 AM EDT

[#31]

US Army 1983-1986 IRR till 89. Loved being a soldier hated the Army.

Posted: 3/31/2001 11:27:07 AM EDT

[#32]

WTF!?!
I ETS'ed on 21 March 1991 & STILL have not received any Honorable Discharge certificate!!
I even applied for it back in 1995 or 1996.
How do I get mine?

Paul

Posted: 4/2/2001 5:38:29 AM EDT

[#33]

Real,

I'll check the paperwork when I get home and see if I can find you a contact.

I was sent orders to go take a physical if I wanted to remain in the IRR. I left the Reserves as a Infantry Captain and am now in the zone of consideration for promoton for the 2nd time. I figured there was little chance of that being that I haven't done a dang thing in close to 5 years.

So rather than get bumped out for being passed over 3 times, I just signed the back of the form indicating I had completed my obligatory service and wished to end my Voluntary Indefinite status.

One thing I noticed here is the sentiment that all should serve. I understand the thoughts behind it, but disagree that service should be mandatory. The fact that you volunteered to defend your country is what makes you differnt that the average joe. To make service mandatory, would destroy that and those that would have volunteered would have to serve along side the milktoasts.

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