I went to the recruiter today.....
 

As I walked through the door, the Staff SGT looked at me, checking me over. His eyes settled on mine and he began to speak.
"How can I help you?"
I eyed him for a second, then I said as calmly as I could, "You can give me a M-16, a plane ticket, and a few hundred rounds of ammo."

I'm at a cross roads, and I'm not sure of the direction I should go. I feel the call of my country, yet I have my family to think of.
My brother is in Germany, awaiting deployment to Saudi Arabia. He'll be there atleast 6 months. Alot can happen in 6 months....... alot that I could probably prevent. I love my brother, and I know that deep down he will be fine, but when I look at him I don't see a 21 year old man. To me he's still 5 years old, and it's my place to make sure that he is safe.
But I have a son, and an unborn child. A loving wife, that needs support. I don't know what to do here. This is the first tome in my life that I don't have an answer. I'm not asking for advice as much as I am unloading, however, I will listen to what you have to say.
I just don't want to sit here and do nothing.......know what I mean?

Later.

cobra , do what you want, but also think about your children , there are enough military force's to take care of this counting, reserve's, national gaurd , etc this question of your's weigh's on my mind , you can tell me if i'm wrong, but you have a unborn child to cosider. my grandfather never came home from ,ww2 i never got to know him all i knew of him was , apicture of a man in a sailor's uniform , just a thought you can tell me i'm wrong , but consider that, at least you will make your own decision, good luck with whatever it is. take care.

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As I said, I haven't made up my mind as of yet. Thank you for your opinion, and I am glad to hear your point of view. I will let you know how things turn out.

I'm also testing my sig, so don't pay me any attention if it doesn't turn out right.
Later.

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http://usmc.org/globe.gif

I can feel your confusion on what to do. I am also married and attempting to start a family.

At the time of this happening I had about 25 days left in the army. Now I have this big gorilla on my back over whether to re-enlist or not.

Last october(2000)I was supposed to go to Special Forces selection. I couldn't go because of injured legs during a routine deployment. Now a year later, I am healed and prepared to exit the army. In light of new developments I am toying with the idea of again turning in my packet to SFAS.

Any vets out there, army or otherwise, give us guys with questions some guidance. Anything is appreciated.

I too have questioned what my place is in all of this. I would leave in a heartbeat if asked to by my country, but until then I will stay here and continue my education. It is selfish to some extent, but we have enough current forces to get the job done. But, if I am needed for anything, I will drop everything for this country.
My advice to you would be to stay back and take care of your family. You have priorities there and are not yet needed to enlist. No one is going to fault you for taking care of your family.

Not that I could ever fully realize what this country's veterans have gone through, but I like to think I have more of an understanding now. I am much more appreciative and can now feel their pride in America. I more fully realize what an honor it is to live in the greatest country in the world and what sacrifices they have made to keep it that way.

I remember seeing the hurt in my grandpa's eyes, a WWII veteran, when we were handed American flags at a fourth of July celebration and they were all made in Japan. It upset me at the time, but now I see small incidences such as this as a matter of national pride.

Thank you to all current and former members of the armed forces. You keep this country strong and your efforts are appreciated by all!!

If this turns out to a all out war I will sign up and do my part. But if it just becomes more of a strike and wait type of thing where soldiers are not needed I will not join. I just don't want to get stuck and end up in another country on the other side of the world if I am not needed.

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79 hatch w/ NA 347,stage 2 Canfield heads, out of the box Victor 5.0 intake, solid roller cam, Aeromotive fuel system, proshifted TKO II.MY CAR http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/...splay.cgi?1288
93lx all stock + tremec

Just to add another log to the flame....I've already served once....in the Marine Corps, which is probably why I feel so strongly about this. Well, whatever I decide, it won't be tonight. Time to get some sleep. Later.

hey , power i told you my opinion the other day , but you know what they say about , opinion's. if you want to ask me any question's , i will try to give you an honest -unbiased answer , but i can tell you this for a fact they might let you ets now or they , also can extend your ets indefinitly it happened to me , i was in the middle of the pacific & damn sure didn't want to swim back to hawaii .e- mail me at mustang37379@msn.com if you have more question's it wiil say leota- my wife's name hell i reckon she own's ,everything i have, see ya!

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Stay home. We got your back. My wife is 6 months pregnant, and I have a very high chance of being deployed, so, no reason for everybody to suffer.



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1993 GT/AOD
'93 Mustang GT

best of luck to you MACH1 we will be praying for you & your'es keep it low to the ground bro take care & god be with you alway's.

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Bigwhitecobra, Mach1, PonyPower, and the others...YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!! It's times like this that I feel priveledged to 'know' people like ya'll!!! Do what you feel you need to do!! I'm sure your families are very proud of ya'lls commitments at this time. I would just lay in the balance at this time...there are too many others that are so eager to serve that are not expecting babies!! BUT, that is your decision. Either way, your children would be proud of ya'll!!!! Thank you!!! Topless

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1994 GT CONVERTIBLE
TOPLESS IN TEXAS Girls can too's July "Mare of the Month"

Performance Red. Cold Air Ind.,K&N,H.P. Pulleys,OffRoad H-Pipe,Subframe Connectors,Flows,3.55,Light bar,Custom HeadRests.Lotta Chrome

Hey, thanks everybody. At this point in time, I dont think Ill be getting deployed, and Im thinking my unit might leave me behind considering my wife is prego, if we do get deployed.

Eithier way, appreciate all the support.

I seriously think you really don't have to worry about it. Thanks to all the piss a$$ bleeding heart liberals that are crying and moaning about how the poor civilians have nothing to do with Bin Laden, I'm sure all they will do is try to extradite him and try him. I don't think anyone has to worry about doing their duty.

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Elisha~5.0 HO Racing (ahem HIGH OUTPUT!)
1994 GT: The Primered Wonder!
Email: Belle@Mustangworks.com
AOL name: FZRBelle306

Here's my opinion. When I was a teenager, I really wanted to join the service. But women and other bad habits (no offense ladies)seemed to be more of a priority at the time. I am presently a police officer so in that way, I express my patriotism by my swearing to uphold the constitution of the United States as well as the constitution of the State of Florida.
I regret not joining the service when I was younger, and like every other American, feel the true NEED for the first time in my life to enlist. I am as outraged and angry over this entire situation like all of you. Before I continue rambling, my point is this: I admire anyone who has served this country, whether in peacetime or war. It takes a true patriot to do so. But patriotism to me is like believing in God in this sense-I say you don't have to go to church or synagogue to have faith in the same way you can truly be patriotic without serving in the Armed Forces. You guys that have families or families to be, this is the time to think of them. This is a situation that, like every other use of force, will cause many of our boys in uniform to lose their lives. Understandably, that's an unfortunate circumstance of war, but if the life of a father, husband, brother, etc, can be saved, then by all means do so. Surely, fathers and brothers will be lost as this situation escalates, but I feel staying stateside with your children is more important than leaving behind an orphan. Best of luck in your decision though. Whichever it may be, it will be the right one. Having the desire to go overseas, especially to the degree where you felt the need to post this topic, says a lot about your character and dedication to this country.

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Todd
1995 GT/T-5
Pulleys; 65 mm TB; Flowmaster cat-back; Mac off road H-pipe; FMS aluminum driveshaft; short-throw shifter; HD clutch; Cobra R's; Cobra front and wing

Wow.

I'm currently serving and honored more as an American to here those of you wanting to join the fight. http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/smile.gif Awesome, but this guidance I give freely to you fine Americans.

First it is a huge decision to join the service but if you've served or have members serving now trust in us and the govn't because this War will be a long drawn out affair and the need it not there and I can honestly say ... shouldn't arise.

As an Air Force member I know no one does it better and these terrorist will be found and brought to justice.

So, stay at home buy stocks and keep the economy going and understand there are many f us ready to go in harms way first and pray we can come home and roast the tires and wash the mustang some weekend soon.


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K!
Personalized Black 98 SVO Blown DVD/TV equipped daily driver Stage II ROUSH
without the side exhaust
Dyno 303rwhp 338rwtrq
Still working out the kinks!!!

ok i cant resonded con m;letley. I love erey thing any ine has done for me
i lave u all
i just wish there was saw somowmonae s goon as u

I know exactly what you guys are talking about......I'm sort of torn myself, but I have a wife and we're planning on starting a family shortly. If I wasn't, I'd already be enlisted or down at the recruiters office. I've got 2 friends and 1 cousin that have already been shipped out to the Persian Gulf and Germany. Because of my commitment to my wife and future child, I cannot leave here. If it is necessary in the future, and if I'm called upon by Uncle Sam, I will fight proudly w/ all my heart and might for this country. Military's been in my family, but like todd95 said - women and other "social activites" kind of were more important back in the day. Good luck to all of you who are shipping out and know that we appreciate your service to this country. Our prayers are with you.

hey, wait a minute. Ive had way more than my share of woman and "social activities", but I still enlisted.

I had my own reasons for enlisting, NONE of which were patriotic in nature, and you guys that didnt enlist, and are having sudden feelings of patriotism, you dont have to make excuses, please, spare us, if you wanted to do it bad enough, you would have done it, regardless of woman or anything else.

you said it all mach 1 ,i tried to go to the nam was too young ,missed by 1 year , went to beirut , went to the gulf war , want to go now but can't , gulf war syn , wish i could put in my last 8 year's to go but can not so my hope's , thought's & prayer's are with all of our armed force's i feel that , you are all my comrades . just a thought from an old vet. god bless you all & may we not lose one single one of you, we have lost enough people for ,one crazy a$$ed reason if you could call it reason .i don't,take care.

[This message has been edited by mustang marty gt (edited 09-22-2001).]

Damn I dont even rember Posting on here. I have no clue of what the hell i was trying to write. They just let everyone here have beer again for the first time so i got a little wasted and didn't know what the hell i was doing. U should have seen the lines at the class six.
Women and social acctives. I will tell u one thing my two years in the army i have had way more women and social activites than i did in my 4 years of college. Women love men in uniform. Anyway
ALL the support is appriciated but we do have plenty of people to get the job done.

Nice to see the support of all you guys. I'm currently serving in the Army. I'm in for 6 years (5 and 1/2 to go) so looks like I'm in for the long haul. I'm glad that you all want to join but if you have a wife and kids, I would wait until you are really needed. No sense in joining just to sit in a country half way across the world while your wife is at home wondering if you are coming back. And you might not even see combat. I'm not married, but I have a girlfriend that I love very much. And it's tough being away from her. So do use all a favor and take care of you kids and wife, until the time comes. Then if you choose join us. Good luck!

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89GT,T-5Z, D.S.S. 306 shortblock w\main support, B-303 cam, Cobra intake, GT40P heads, 1.72rr, MAC "P" headers, MAC off-road H-Pipe, MAC true-fit w\tips, 373's...and the list goes on!
Throttle Junkie Powered by Ford!
12.824 @ 107.05 MPH

damn 69 fastback i almost figured out what you were saying, then i had another beer & lost it , just kidding the military does teach you, to cuss & drink that i know for a fact, but i found out the hard way when you get older , it really take's a toll on you , just the smell of whiskey , etc make's me want to power hurl now. im glad though cause i feel a little better than i used to in the morning, but have fun with it now .take care

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BIGWHITECOBRA,
I've been serving my country now for over six years, i have a wife and 6 month old little girl to think about now. I am probably going on deployment real soon. The thought of leaving them behind really hurts. In my opinion, if you have a family to care for, there are enough of us out here to get the job done. Glad to see your willing to fight for your country, but think about what your leaving before you sign your life away.
http://www.mustangmods.com/publish/e...ang/mework.jpg
Brian Mertes CM2 USN

Extremestang you have all the support that an old vet can give you ,you take care & i hope you are not inf. i was feild arty that was enough . my best memory was in the gulf , when we rolled by a 2 to 3 mile long trench of 101st inf only one of them stood up & yelled& held up his hand , he knew if the arty was rolling by, his a$$ was safe just wish i would have had a camera.all i can say.good luck my bro!come home!

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No, i am actually a SEABEE. A special unit of the Navy. We are generally called a support unit, but there have been times when were out there in the front. I will do my damndest to return home, you can count on that brother. Made it back from Kosovo....

Thanks for your support mustang marty

this was originally a reply to the "excuses" comment made above. too frustrated with that ignorant mentality to even reply. deleted my entire response, might have been a little too rash.

[This message has been edited by todd95GT (edited 09-24-2001).]

Whats that? Your too ignorant to reply?

I was gonna let this one go, but you pissed me off.

Dont call my mentality ignorant when I made a sound comment and you cant even state your reason for being upset.

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1993 GT/AOD
'93 Mustang GT

Extremestang

Props for being a SEEBEE. Awesome, you guys do great work.

This from an USAF guy.

My reason for being pissed off is this: You made a comment insulting my character-insinuating that any reason I never enlisted was simply an "excuse"-also inferring that any excuse would not suffice. Well, at 17 years old, my future wife seemed more important to me, as did the reconstructive knee surgery I was facing to repair damaged cartilage. Saying that was simply an "excuse" offended me even more when I thought of my father's brother, my uncle Gerald, who lost his life at 33 years old in Viet Nam. And because my father just retired from a twenty two year military career. And because you were so quick to insult my character (and that of BADA$$LX since he agreed with me)by assuming I didn't have what it takes to serve this country....well, I serve this country every single day. I pin a badge over my heart before leaving my house for work every single day, and walk out my front door facing the very reality that I may not come home. I fight a war every day-one that some will laugh at for my sounding somewhat corny, one that some will say doesn't even exist. I get high on the feeling of resucitating an infant who has stopped breathing, from extracting a drowning motorist who has driven into a canal (read the Local section of the Palm Beach Post from last Thursday)from locking up a crack dealer or from getting the drunk motorist off the street before he/she has the chance to kill your wife and children, or my brother and father. To insult one's personal drive or intention without knowing who you are speaking of is wrong, as in this case. It IS ignorant. I respect anyone who has served in any capacity-it certainly does take a certain type, a disciplined, dedicated individual. I just didn't think calling one's reasoning an excuse was called for.
Take care
...and now that I've reread my original post, it even says in there "at the time" it was not a priority.

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Todd
1995 GT/T-5
Pulleys; 65 mm TB; Flowmaster cat-back; Mac off road H-pipe; FMS aluminum driveshaft; short-throw shifter; HD clutch; Cobra R's; Cobra front and wing

[This message has been edited by todd95GT (edited 09-25-2001).]

[This message has been edited by todd95GT (edited 09-25-2001).]

hey Exstemestang , yes i am very well aware of the seebee's i pulled 6 year's reg navy, first t hen 6 more in the nat'l gaurd i kown you guy's are more or les ground troop's as well, i was going to go back, nav resever's they want me to go seebee's i told them i had enough , ground action , iwanted to go back to , the ocean but still you have my best wishes.good luck! oh , i just did'nt see the usn at the bottom sorry bout , that.

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[This message has been edited by mustang marty gt (edited 09-25-2001).]

Well, I guess you have to look at this from my point of view to understand why I was upset.

I was addressing the majority of the people who are jumping on the patriotic bandwagon, and then explaining (giving excuses)why they didnt join the military when they were younger...you know what..nobody cares why you didnt join the military when you were younger.

We didnt care before this happened, and we dont care now. Why do people feel the need to start with all this "well, I wanted to serve my country, but..." crap in the first place.

There is the possibility that many american military people will lose thier lives in support of the war on terrorism, including myself and many of my friends.
Do you think that any of us care that you wanted to serve when you were younger, but...??
And then to start saying woman and social activities were to blame, blah, blah, blah...

Keep it to yourself. When I give my life for your freedom, I dont want to hear your bullshit...plain and simple.

Maybe Im overeacting, but put yourself in someone in uniforms perspective and try to keep an open mind.

You had no reason to say I had an "ignorant mentality". Save your pats on the back for yourself, and spare us the excuses, because it just doesnt matter, does it?

mach 1 it's ok dude YOU know why guy's like us signed up , some people don't know or will ever , i'm not getting on anyone's case who did'nt join , just don't dog the one's who did -not you mach ,re last sentence you just stay safe , big a$$ salatute from an old vet for you and anyone who's butt is on the line now. & our people making our equiptment & weapon's & ammo good luck . straight up.

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Well, I thought my response would somewhat enlighten you to my perspective. Apparently, it didn't. I even said that anger caused by recent events is no reason to light the fire under one's butt and join the service when the same person never considered it before. Anyway, I thought this was over. We obviously have two different opinions bbut you know, I think they really aren't that disimilar over all. I'm sure face to face we could easily agree on most of this. So, are we finished? Can we agree on one thing at least---we both love Mustangs?

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Todd
1995 GT/T-5
Pulleys; 65 mm TB; Flowmaster cat-back; Mac off road H-pipe; FMS aluminum driveshaft; short-throw shifter; HD clutch; Cobra R's; Cobra front and wing

Your response did enlighten me to your perspective, and I dont have a problem with you, so dont take any of this the wrong way.

Just do your job of pulling over all Camaro drivers and harassing them while the stangs cruise by.. http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/smile.gif

Its all good, peace.

later

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1993 GT/AOD
'93 Mustang GT

cool , glad you guy's got it straight, we are all in this together ,one way or another ,hey cop's are at war everyday i respect them even when they say sign here sir ,have a nice day & you can mail that puppy in & save court cost.see ya.

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I know I'm posting a little late in the thread but..Here are my 2 cents (And my only 2 cents..I'm broke now http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/biggrin.gif )

Serouisly though. After September 11th I myself thought about enlisting in one of the armed forces.

My Girlfriend cried, and my step dad (Retired Army... 82nd Airborne) was 100% against it. Along with the rest of my family and friends.

After I moved to Fort Bragg, my sense of partriotims was dulled. It became serouisly tarnished. I could go on for pages with my feeling and how they have changed ( I did send the Fayetteville Observer a letter.) but I wont bore you all with it.

Yes, the country has more than enough men and women defending it and upholding our liberty and freedom, but I feel like I need to do my part. But my Family and loved ones need me more than my country needs me.

White Cobra, at this time, your country can do it with out you (No offense ment, I know it sounds harsh) Your family needs you.

If my country needs me to defend its liberties and the others who share this great land I will proudly and gladly step up to the task, but until then, my family needs me more. I know this sounds bad, I'm not quite saying things right.

The only thing I can say is. I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.

hey merc , it's cool if you have family to take care of, that's your first priority we have enough armed force's to take out towel head & his physco's so don't sweat it our guy's will kick major a$$ in camel land. allah theira$$es. see ya

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