Combat Duty vs Non Combat Duty

Amen, brother.

 

Well said!

 

Couldn't have said it any better. Thanks SS. A-1 post.

 

I have to agree with a lot of people on here, that whether you deployed or not makes absolutely no difference at all. Because if they had come to you and said "go home pack your bags and sit by the phone", i am sure you would have, and when the call came, you would have been ready. People that haven't deployed are just in line waiting for their turn, and if their turn comes up, they have already sworn to go and do what is needed. I have deployed 3 times now, which is not much compared to my fellow military members, but if they told me today to get ready to go tomorrow, I would, as i am sure you would have. The only time that it makes a difference is when you were told to go and you found a way to get out of it. Theres not enough of us out there to go everytime, and if you aren't ready to carry the weight, then i would say "Oh" and end my conversation with you, but only then would i think less that you haven't deployed.

 

IDK I'm in the coast guard and have been to colombia, haiti, dominican republic among others and apprehended armed drug smugglers and rioting migrants but almost everybody- including other servicemen give pretty much zero respect to us. Almost all the people that actually respect the coast guard think everybody is just like Ashton Kutcher from the Guardian. I know its not the same level but there are dangerous jobs that dont involve deploying to iraq.

 

Im not going to lie I have made my fair share of jokes on the Coast Guard, but I am also aware that their is plenty of Coasties that do jobs like you mentioned above, a select few do "Guardian" type stuff.. but just like the "Ch"Air Force we both have people that are pretty much office working pencil pushers.. and not to mention the only Coast Guard member i have ever met in person told me, he spends most of his time "relaxing" on the beach at work

 

Well, that's kind of presumptuous, I don't have that feeling, and I know some fellow mates that don't either, even one of them did some counternarco stuff getting the Coast Guard Special Operations award from you guys.

Every branch has their support side, some are just more designed to fill that support role.

 

IDK I'm in the coast guard and have been to colombia, haiti, dominican republic among others and apprehended armed drug smugglers and rioting migrants but almost everybody- including other servicemen give pretty much zero respect to us. Almost all the people that actually respect the coast guard think everybody is just like Ashton Kutcher from the Guardian. I know its not the same level but there are dangerous jobs that dont involve deploying to iraq.

I am a multi-time deployer to "the theater" and in for another here in the short future, and I have never met a more professional bunch than the USCG. My hat is off to you guys who get to do your mission every day and put your lives on the line to protect people from their own stupidity, and to keep the flow of drugs restrained. The Coast Guard is under manned, under resourced and yet never finds a way to say "no." While you see a line of generals bitching to congress about our budgets, you never see the Coasties there, they are too busy doing their job. You guys rock and I will go toe-to-toe with anyone who tries to say otherwise.

Just my $0.02

 

Most of us have dissed the other services at one time or another, but when the time comes to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, we work together to make the mission, whatever it is, a success. Even when we work with the military of other countries, we seem to be able to put aside our squabbles and get things done.

 

Yea, but nothing wrong with a little friendly rivalry.

 

No, but I purposely took a combat support MOS to get deployed if/when a conflict happened. Can't blame the ones that didn't know when they signed up that they wouldn't be deployed. But, ANYBODY who serves (and serves honorably!) should be given the respect that they deserve.

On the other hand there were some shit bags that served in my unit that didn't pull their wieght and did everything they could to get out of work/deployment. They were a disgrace and should have been shot.

 

My answer to your original question is no & yes

No it doesn't matter...you did serve your country and were honorably discharged...Mission accomplished brother!!

Yes, it is better to serve in Combat, I served in the Navy during Desert Storm (U.S.S. Missouri) And with the Army National Guard during OEF (Afghanistan) And loved both experiences....

As it relates to badges...The Navy & Marines are not badge heavy, yeah there are some but the Combat badges there are none...we have a ribbon and pride

 

You also get a huge pay increase for deploying. I didn't enjoy Iraq but I would go back as a civilian for the $ too

 

I agree completely, as also having been a Navy Rescue swimmer, I know the coast guard does a tough job also and they do it well....

Now lets get back to picking on the Air Force

 

Hey the Air Force isnt all fun and games. My company truck a 09 F-350 4dr 4x4 powerstroke has manual roll up windows, the remote for the plasma in the break room is broken and just the other day some Col. woke me up during my afternoon nap. I see a big shiny medal in my future. Oh and sometimes I get a blister if I have to walk all the way to the chow hall.

 

LOL I owe it all to my public education and recreational drugs.

 

4th ID LEADS THE WAY.

 

I could tell you some stories of how they "led the way" when we were ripping out of AFG...

 

I voted yes. But there is a caveat to the yes. To me, it only applies to those who sought to hide out from deployments. I have several friends that have not had the chance to deploy down range due to assignments. I have the same respect for them as I do for my brothers that fought along side me in Iraq.
I also know several people who have hid from being deployed. Those folks have no respect in my book. They let someone else go instead on a 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th tour. Doing your job is one thing, hiding from it is another all together.
As long as you did your job, and were never given the opportunity to deploy then your A OK in my book. As far as the guys that stay in the wire all the time, they are there doing there job so the grunts on the ground can accomplish theres. They still get respect in my book. Although a CIB, CAB, or CFMB definitely sets you higher, they all have suffered in the SUCK.

 

i believe it boils down to fighting spirit. Bottom line if your job can be done by a civilian then you get less respect from me. yea it might take skill, dedication, demand long hours ect. But anybody who signs on to be the tip of the spear (ie combat MOS) is better.

im a army sgt,infantry scout, OIF vet, and i got f-ed up in the box. going on 2 years in the hospital now. i think i know what im talking about