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SimeyTheLimey · 08:18 AM

I just realized today is the 15th [edit: 16th] anniversary of the day I shipped out to Basic Training. My, how time flies!

Even though it seems like yesterday, quite a lot has changed since then. Just think -- that was the last day of Reagan's presidency (I was amused to see that Fort Knox's Reception Station misspelt his name "Regan").

The Cold War was still ongoing, the Soviet Union still existed, and the Army still had troops sitting along the Berlin Wall and in the Fulda Gap. The Soviets still had troops in Afghanistan. There were two Germanies, and everyone expected that to be the case permanently.

Nobody (I suppose outside of Arkansas) had heard of Clinton, or George W. Bush, although his father was about to be inaugurated. Nobody suspected that U.S. troops were ever likely to go to the Middle East. There were rumors that we might go to war with Panama because of Noriega.

Canada was an ally.

The internet was something that most people had never heard of, and hardly anyone had a personal computer. One of my friends later that year gave me a Compuserve address. I didn't know what it was.

The Simpsons was a brand new show. "Eat my shorts" was a popular T Shirt slogan.

"I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up" was another.

"Don't Worry, Be Happy" was on the radio.

Marion Barry hadn't yet been arrested.

And SimeyTheLimey still spoke with a really strong English accent.

nath · Jan 19, 2005, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
15 years ago today...Nobody suspected that U.S. troops were ever likely to go to the Middle East.

1991? We'd only just kicked Saddam out of Kuwait!!

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:

And SimeyTheLimey still spoke with a really strong English accent.

I think if that ever changes you should change your login to SimeyTheSeptic.

MallyMal · Jan 19, 2005, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:

The Cold War was still ongoing, the Soviet Union still existed, and the Army still had troops sitting along the Berlin Wall and in the Fulda Gap.

That reminds me of a story a friend of mine told me. He was in the army and stationed in Germany in 84-85 and he patroled the wall. He told me that when he first got to his post that he was all ready to kill "commies" and all that but in reality was so different. He said use to cross the line and eat hot dogs and drink beer with the German soldiers on the other side of the line and the German did the same. Said that they told him in basic that if he crossed the line it was an act of war but they all did it anyway because no one on either side really took it seriously. My friend tells the story better but I found it hilarious.

SimeyTheLimey · Jan 19, 2005, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by nath:
1991? We'd only just kicked Saddam out of Kuwait!!

Ooops! I went to a British Comprehensive and consequently can't do arithmetic.

I went to Basic Training on January 19, 1989. 16 years ago today.

So much for the nice round number.

badidea · Jan 19, 2005, 08:21 AM

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
There were two Germanies, and everyone expected that to be the case permanently.

15 years ago? You mean 01/19/1990? Now that's debatable but I would say at that time most people already believed that this era was over!

edit: just saw your post about the 16 years - now it makes more sense!

SimeyTheLimey · Jan 19, 2005, 08:23 AM

Originally posted by MallyMal:
That reminds me of a story a friend of mine told me. He was in the army and stationed in Germany in 84-85 and he patroled the wall. He told me that when he first got to his post that he was all ready to kill "commies" and all that but in reality was so different. He said use to cross the line and eat hot dogs and drink beer with the German soldiers on the other side of the line and the German did the same. Said that they told him in basic that if he crossed the line it was an act of war but they all did it anyway because no one on either side really took it seriously. My friend tells the story better but I found it hilarious.

In 1993 I went to Poland as part of the first Partnership for Peace exercise. It was the first time that NATO troops trained with troops of the former Warsaw Pact. It was a strange (and rather drunken) experience, but the funniest was comparing their pop-up targets on their rifle ranges with ours.

Ours at the time were little green guys with AK-47s and red stars on the helmets. Theirs, of course, looked like little American GIs.

macroy · Jan 19, 2005, 09:06 AM

Fort Knox... yea. This reminds of earlier this year (maybe last) when I had a business trip to Louisville, KY. It was a SW flight originating from BWI - forgot where the connection was, but in walked 12 fresh recruits going to Fort Knox for basic training. It was pretty much the first time I've been in contact with brand new recruits. I was VERY suprised at how young these kids were - yes, we all know that they are about 17-18... but until you see them, you really don't think about how young they are. And they are the ones laying their lives for us lazy slobs.

SW being what they are.. they pointed these kids out and we all applauded them. On the flight I spoke to a few of them... they talked about how much they looked forward to the expereince and what they hope to be later on. Most of them have never been out of their home towns. I wished them good luck - but couldn't help feeling a little sad thinking that a few of the may not see their 21st birthday...

Sorry, back on topic...

SimeyTheLimey · Jan 19, 2005, 09:31 AM

Originally posted by macroy:
they talked about how much they looked forward to the expereince

Ah, yes. I remember being naive like that. We got there at about midnight, and I figured we'd get something to eat and be allowed to sleep. We spent the rest of the night filling out paperwork and finally got to bed about an hour before they woke us up again -- by throwing a trash can down the hall.

You can see the room where we did the paperwork if you watch the movie Stripes. It's the one with the division patches on the walls where John Candy and Bill Murray first meet their Drill Sergeant. They filmed it there. I remember sitting there and thinking how amazingly realistic the film was for a comedy.

Spheric Harlot · Jan 19, 2005, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by MallyMal:
That reminds me of a story a friend of mine told me. He was in the army and stationed in Germany in 84-85 and he patroled the wall. He told me that when he first got to his post that he was all ready to kill "commies" and all that but in reality was so different. He said use to cross the line and eat hot dogs and drink beer with the German soldiers on the other side of the line and the German did the same. Said that they told him in basic that if he crossed the line it was an act of war but they all did it anyway because no one on either side really took it seriously.

Where exactly was this?

wdlove · Jan 19, 2005, 09:53 AM

Thank you for your service to our country. It is appreciated. Are you still active? I'm retired from the Air Force.

OreoCookie · Jan 19, 2005, 09:54 AM

�_I was playing with my first computer, an Amiga 500

MallyMal · Jan 19, 2005, 09:57 AM

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
Where exactly was this?

I'll ask him and let you know.

SimeyTheLimey · Jan 19, 2005, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by wdlove:
Thank you for your service to our country. It is appreciated. Are you still active? I'm retired from the Air Force.

Me? No, I got out in 1995 and went to college. I'm glad I served, but I never planned to make it a career.

Kudos for you for making it to retirement. Did you start out with that intention? My nephew just reupped at the ten year mark after making Tech. He's going for 20. The Air Force isn't a bad place for someone with a young family.

wdlove · Jan 19, 2005, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
Me? No, I got out in 1995 and went to college. I'm glad I served, but I never planned to make it a career.

Kudos for you for making it to retirement. Did you start out with that intention? My nephew just reupped at the ten year mark after making Tech. He's going for 20. The Air Force isn't a bad place for someone with a young family.

Yes, my intention was to retire. I finished up with the Reserves. Served in the Medical Corps as a nurse. I retired with the rank of Captain.

Was just thinking, in 1989, I was on my second Apple computer.

SimeyTheLimey · Jan 19, 2005, 10:20 AM

Originally posted by wdlove:
I retired with the rank of Captain.

That's the way to do it. Beats getting out as a Sergeant.

Of course, I have an Uncle who retired as a Chief. They do pretty well.

My short career was backwards. I started out in the reserves, then after a couple of years I switched over to active duty.

Spheric Harlot · Jan 19, 2005, 10:24 AM

Originally posted by wdlove:
Was just thinking, in 1989, I was on my second Apple computer.

'89, I got my first computer.

Mac SE 1/20 (later upgraded to 2.5/40).

-s*

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Jan 19, 2005, 11:25 AM

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:

Canada was an ally.

What is it now?

Are Americans going to start calling it "Freedom Bacon"?

SimeyTheLimey · Jan 19, 2005, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
What is it now?

Are Americans going to start calling it "Freedom Bacon"?

Ham.

DeathMan · Jan 19, 2005, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
What is it now?

Slightly antagonistic?