PILOT SPIN
Spin Zone => Spin Zone => Topic started by: Lucifer on November 11, 2025, 05:43:56 AM
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To understand a military veteran you must know…
We left home as teenagers or in our early twenties for an unknown adventure.
We loved our country enough to defend it and protect it with our own lives.
We said goodbye to friends and family and everything we knew.
We learned the basics and then we scattered in the wind to the far corners of the Earth.
We found new friends and new family.
We became brothers and sisters regardless of color, race or creed.
We had plenty of good times, and plenty of bad times.
We didn't get enough sleep.
We smoked and drank too much.
We picked up both good and bad habits.
We worked hard and played harder.
We didn't earn a great wage.
We experienced the happiness of mail call, and the sadness of missing important events.
We didn't know when, or even if, we were ever going to see home again.
We grew up fast, and yet somehow, we never grew up at all.
We fought for our freedom, as well as the freedom of others.
Some of us saw actual combat, and some of us didn't.
Some of us saw the world, and some of us didn't.
Some of us dealt with physical warfare, most of us dealt with psychological warfare.
We have seen and experienced and dealt with things that we can't fully describe or explain, as not all of our sacrifices were physical.
We participated in time honored ceremonies and rituals with each other, strengthening our bonds and camaraderie.
We counted on each other to get our job done and sometimes to survive it at all.
We have dealt with victory and tragedy.
We have celebrated and mourned.
We lost a few along the way.
When our adventure was over, some of us went back home, some of us started somewhere new, and some of us never came home at all.
We have told amazing and hilarious stories of our exploits and adventures.
We share an unspoken bond with each other, that most people don't experience, and few will understand.
We speak highly of our own branch of service, and poke fun at the other branches.
We know however, that, if needed, we will be there for our brothers and sisters and stand together as one, in a heartbeat.
Being a Veteran is something that had to be earned, and it can never be taken away.
It has no monetary value, but at the same time it is a priceless gift.
People see a Veteran and they thank them for their service.
When we see each other, we give that little upwards head nod, or a slight smile, knowing that we have shared and experienced things that most people have not.
So, from myself to the rest of the veterans out there, I commend and thank you for all that you have done and sacrificed for our country.
Try to remember the good times and make peace with the bad times.
Share your stories.
But most importantly, stand tall and proud, for you have earned the right to be called a VETERAN.
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The biggest failing among our elected class is their lack of military experience.
Their shallow understanding of war and the crisis that war puts countries thru leads to idiotic bullshit like the biden regime pullout from Afghanistan, and the hilary debacle.
Their ignorance is their proudest achievement.
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Thank you Lucifer.
USAF Retired
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I’m always grateful, every day, for those who serve, fight, and watchfully guard on my behalf. Now and in years past. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
My Dad was a gunnery sergeant in the European theater in WW2. As a female, I cannot imagine the incredible bravery it takes for men to do what those men did. Respect earned, and here given. God bless America and her people.
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Thank you Lucifer.
USAF Retired
Navy Airedale.
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I’m not a vet but my sister is (Army) and brother (Marine) and father (WW2! Africa) Both grandfathers (WW1 on opposite sides!) countless uncles and cousins.
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Not a vet but father (Navy: Korea), mother (Army: Korea), uncle (WWII: Merchant marine), and grandfather (WWI: France). Many cousins and other relatives. Greatest respect to all who serve and served.
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U.S.A.F 1971-1975 Never left the states.
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USAF 1966-70. 18 months at Clark, a year at Ton Son Nhut. Clark was renowned as "good duty" and indeed it was.
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I doubt I would even have made it through boot camp. Much respect to everyone that served.
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I doubt I would even have made it through boot camp. Much respect to everyone that served.
Boot camp is designed for you to learn how to take orders and work as a team with others.
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Boot camp is designed for you to learn how to take orders and work as a team with others.
Probably why it was decided that for the betterment of mankind it would be best if I didn't serve. I'm always analyzing orders and hate teamwork. Whenever I'm put on a team I try to put the rest of the team on the bench and just do it myself. "Teamwork makes the dream work" is nonsense. "Teamwork makes the team worse."
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Boot camp is designed for you to learn how to take orders and work as a team with others.
They also make you run and do pushups and stuff.
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Probably why it was decided that for the betterment of mankind it would be best if I didn't serve. I'm always analyzing orders and hate teamwork. Whenever I'm put on a team I try to put the rest of the team on the bench and just do it myself. "Teamwork makes the dream work" is nonsense. "Teamwork makes the team worse."
As Bob Newhart would say, “Stop it!” Your attitude needs a tweak here. :D
Many inputs may be annoying but you will get the occasional brilliant suggestion, one that makes the product better, from the most exasperating person on the team. In fact, this phenomenon has been studied widely in the software industry.
Also, I dated a couple of these exasperating guys. People they worked with were always telling me how hard they were to take but how much better the outcomes were with them on the team.
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Not every really brilliant guy results in a net benefit to the team.
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I always thought of boot camp as a lame attempt to stamp out the individual and replace it with a robotic, take orders, kind of personality. It never seemed to work well, but it was what they did. And they never considered doing it better.
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Basic training whether it be boot camp or OCS is about conforming, uniformity and yes teamwork. It also is about military customs.
It's also there to weed out any that can't conform.
There's no individualism, no Rambo types. Depending on where one may end up in which branch they could find themselves in a tough situation such as being at sea on a ship or being in a platoon or squad on the battlefield, or even on a team preparing an aircraft to fly a mission.
On a ship everyone is damage control (fire fighting). In the marines everyone is a rifleman. In the air force everyone is a member of the country club (OK, just kidding).
It's not for everyone and I watched people wash out. I'm glad I had the experience and still use it to this day.
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Probably why it was decided that for the betterment of mankind it would be best if I didn't serve. I'm always analyzing orders and hate teamwork. Whenever I'm put on a team I try to put the rest of the team on the bench and just do it myself. "Teamwork makes the dream work" is nonsense. "Teamwork makes the team worse."
Similar to you I don’t do well in teams. I am neither a good leader nor a good follower. I’m an introverted nerd. These days I’d probably be told I’m “on the spectrum” but back in my day we were just the unpopular bookworms who failed PE but got As in pre-calc.
I never fit in with any group except groups of other misfits. I would not have done well in the military. I might have made a good intel analyst though.
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I have a problem with authority (mostly because I'm probably smarter than the "superiors") so I wasn't "good soldier" material.
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It's the stolen valor guys that really piss me off. We had one on here at one time. There are a few over on PoA. On a couple of other forums I've ran into some as well.
Spineless wimps wanting credit for what others actually did.
But back to the OP. I appreciate all those that served. And I fully understand those that chose not to and respect their position, it's not for everyone.
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I have a problem with authority (mostly because I'm probably smarter than the "superiors") so I wasn't "good soldier" material.
Well yeah there’s that. Can’t be universal though. EVERYONE here on this forum is smarter than average, yet many of you did great in the military. My father was genius level smart and he bonded so well with his Army bros that they had annual reunions for life, right up until they all died. In your case must be that infamous “anti-authority attitude” the good Dr Chien warns about. ;D No judgment, if I’ve got the Asperger thingie.
Kidding. I think a lot of us just suffer from CEPD as someone over on PoA put it (I think it was HalfFast?) That is: Chronic Engineering Personality Disorder
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It's the stolen valor guys that really piss me off. We had one on here at one time. There are a few over on PoA. On a couple of other forums I've ran into some as well.
Spineless wimps wanting credit for what others actually did.
But back to the OP. I appreciate all those that served. And I fully understand those that chose not to and respect their position, it's not for everyone.
I cannot fathom why people do that. Totally scummy!
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Spineless wimps wanting credit for what others actually did.
You just described a politician.
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You just described a politician.
Like "DaNang Dick" Blumenthal? Or Tim Walz? John "Swiftboat" Kerry? Or Al Gore?
Yep.
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Like "DaNang Dick" Blumenthal? Or Tim Walz? John "Swiftboat" Kerry? Or Al Gore?
Yep.
Hanoi Jane fits in there too