Military service...Past, Present, Future???

[yablanowitz]

U.S. Navy submarine service 76 to 82. MOS 3356. For those who don't speak Navy, that means Machinist Mate, Nuclear field, Engineering Lab Technician. And for those to whom all that is Greek, it means chemical and radiological control tech and nuclear power plant mechanical operator. (I helped make the boat go through the water and kept the bad zoomies away)

[Stuart Ackerman]

South African Army...Rhodesian Army...
Another Time, Another Place...

[OldHoosier62]

South African Army...Rhodesian Army...
Another Time, Another Place...

Over the years I've served with a few Marines and Soldiers who were former SADF and RA soldiers. Like you said, "another time, another place". I've had several long conversations with some of them about the insurgency/war that they dealt with...interesting to say the very least.

If I ever make it back to NZ I'd love to buy you a pint and get your thoughts on life during those years. Glad you made it out.

[Stuart Ackerman]

OH62
it would be a pleasure, Sir!

[PSquared]

South African Armoured Corps 1984-86. Finished up as an armoured car troop commander.

[bearrowland]

Make that 2!

South African Army...Rhodesian Army...
Another Time, Another Place...

Over the years I've served with a few Marines and Soldiers who were former SADF and RA soldiers. Like you said, "another time, another place". I've had several long conversations with some of them about the insurgency/war that they dealt with...interesting to say the very least.

If I ever make it back to NZ I'd love to buy you a pint and get your thoughts on life during those years. Glad you made it out.

[OldHoosier62]

South African Armoured Corps 1984-86. Finished up as an armoured car troop commander.

Congratulations to you also for surviving a rough period in your country's history.

[PineyBoy]

U.S. Army '61 - '64, 4th Armd. Div, 94th Arty., Germany. '64-'66 inactive reserve.

[Michael Janich]

First off, thank you all for your service to your countries and for a very cool thread!!!

I was U.S. Army enlisted from 1980-89, MOS 98G3LCM, 98G3LVN, and 98C, which means I was an Electronic Warfare Signals Intelligence Intercept Operator in Chinese-Mandarin and Vietnamese, as well as a Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Traffic Analyst.

I got out to use my Vietnamese and other skills on the Human Intelligence (HUMINT) side as an Intelligence Officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency Stony Beach Program (1989-91) and the Joint Casualty Resolution Center (JCRC)/Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA) (1991-94) investigating the fates of US POW/MIA from the Vietnam War.

Again, thank you all for your service and for being part of the Spyderco community!

Stay safe,

Mike

[Doc Dan]

I remember we were on a jump and I was one of the last 3. The plane had to turn around and go back over the drop zone. In the meantime, a bad storm arose and they jumped us anyway. After going over 2 miles from the drop zone, I landed in a swamp with my risers tangled around my feet. The winds were so strong my chute reinflated and started pulling me along like a water skier behind a boat. I was going feet first and water was coming up between my legs as I butt skied and I I thought I would drown. I kept my head and finally got one side free (oxidation kept the quick releases from working) and came to a stop in the swamp in about waist deep water. Fun times.

[MichaelScott]

Fire Control Tech, Guns, USS Buchanan DDG-14, ‘62-‘63, WesPac, Golden Shellback.

Fire Control Tech, Ballistic Missile, Polaris boats (Boomers), out of Rota, Spain and Charleston. If I revealed what we did I’d have to kill myself.

[Pokey]

USN for 6 years, '77-'83, as an Avionics Tech, (NEC 6612,) in A7 light attack squadrons.

[PineyBoy]

When do we get to sit around with a case of Bud and tell war stories? :D

[ChrisinHove]

South African Army...Rhodesian Army...
Another Time, Another Place...

I read somewhere that these experiences informed your Sustain design. Is that right?

[Stuart Ackerman]

Partly, but more the Serrata, as per extended edge holding and ease of sharpening, like a flat pebble or rock for example.

[Stuart Ackerman]

BTW, I feel that a good 4 inch fixed blade with a syntheitc handle of some sort, would have done me fine... :)
Steel type is irrelevant, but there are better stainless steels now, compared to when I served.