MM Screen Name:  R3dfyre02

Name and Rank:  Michael J Schollian E-5 (Sgt)

Years/Months in the Service:  June 94 – September 04

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

R3dfyre02:  I joined because when I was a kid I always listened to my grandpa telling about his time on the USN Lafayette.  His stories always interested me so much.  The Military was a easy way for me to get out of my hometown of Ontario Oregon.  Growing up my family life was something less than desirable.  I knew if I didn’t get out of the area completely then I would never become anything.  When certain teachers in my High School heard I was thinking about joining the US Marines I was told point blank, “Don’t try it Mike, you will never make it.”  Well that right there made me decide that I was either going Marines or not at all.

MM:  What did you like most about it?

R3dfyre02:  Out of all the things I did in the Marines I liked the travelling the most.  I mean seriously how else is a 20 year old going to go out and see 28 different countries before he turns 21? all the sights, smells (OK, some of the smells really sucked. ever had a camel blow its nose on you from 10 feet away?), and the food, I loved the foods.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

R3dfyre02:  Trying to think what I really didn’t like,  sure there was the random petty things, cleaning the barracks top to bottom every Thursday,  picking up trash outside the barracks which include cigarette butts when I don’t smoke, random screaming sessions from the First Sergent, but is there really any one thing that stands out? not really.

MM:  Best Memory?

R3dfyre02:  My best memory? wow, there were so many.  Do I mention when one of my PFC’s got on the back of some poor Iraqi’s cow and rode it down the main path of some little no name village after we evicted the bad guys? or home comings? those were great.  gone for 6 months or more and stepping off a plane and being attacked by little kids screaming DADDY!!! or just chilling in the barracks drinking beer with my friends.  There were so many good times.  but I guess the best would have to be the camaraderie.  The feeling of belonging.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

R3dfyre02:  Sgt Joseph J. Mach was the biggest influence n me.  When I first got promoted to NCO he took me under his wing so to speak and taught me how to be a leader.  Showed me how to earn respect from my Marines rather than pin on my stripes and demand it.  He taught me about the carrot and the stick.

MM Screen Name:  Graystang01

Name & Rank:  Aaron White E3

Years/Months in the Service:  1 Yr 4 months

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

Graystang01:  I had always wanted to join the military but was encouraged by my family to go to college.  I went for a year and my scholarship got pulled.  After that, it was either join the military or work in a factory making next to nothing.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

Graystang01:  The camaraderie.  I never had friends back home like the ones I have now.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

Graystang01:  All the tech school BS.  If one kid in the squadron messes up, the entire squadron gets punished.  I understand the reasoning behind it but if I’ve never seen that kid before, how am I really supposed to do anything about it?

MM:  Best Memory?

Graystang01:  I’ve had so much fun in tech school it’s hard to narrow it down.  I did meet a pimp a few months ago

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

Graystang01:  It would have to be my dad.  He served 4 years in the Marines.  He tells me all the time he wishes he had stayed in and encourages me to make the Air Force a career.  I would have never joined had it not been for him.

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MM Screen Name:  Andrewa

Name & Rank:  Andrew Ahel SSGT E-5

Years/Months in the Service:  7+yrs

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

Andrewa:  There are a couple reasons, 1.  I wanted to fly and being a commercial pilot just seemed boring to me.  I wanted to do something bigger and better.  2nd money for school.  3rd Well I wanted to be part of the military.  I dont buy into the BS but being in highchool when I enlisted I was proud do to something that not everybody elese was doing.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

Andrewa:  I get to go places, meet people and do things that not everybody can.  You work with professionalls and see some cool shit.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

Andrewa:  There are alot of complainers.  There are alot of liars that make up shit and the hurry up and wait SUCKS.

MM Screen Name:  Drick

Name & Rank:  ADAN E3

Years/Months in the Service:  1 year

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

Drick:  Wanted to serve my country and see places of the world I’d never get to see if I didnt join.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

Drick:  The bonds you make with people and the greastest friends ever

MM:  Biggest dislike?

Drick:  being away from loved ones all the time.

MM:  Best Memory?

Drick:  I dont know.  To many crazy times to just pick one.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

Drick:  I had a Chief at my first squadron that would do anything for me and I mean anything.  He had to bail me outta jail one time.  Well he didn’t have to but he did.  And he never held it against me.  Good guy to talk to also.  He probably doesnt know how much I respect him for everything he did for me and but the least I could do was shake his hand and thank him upon checking out of the squadron.

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MM Screen Name:  Burnin_yours

Name & Rank:  Lacey Hurst, SrA (E-4)

Years/Months in the Service:  3 yrs/6mos

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

Burnin_yours:  Finding something to better myself and give me direction and some sort of foundation.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

Burnin_yours:  Guaranteed paycheck, people’s funny stories

MM:  Biggest dislike?

Burnin_yours:  Everyone is treated like children

MM:  Best Memory?

Burnin_yours:  Hmm, not really sure on that one.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

Burnin_yours:  Haha well I suppose my commander, since he makes the rules.  I’d really have to say my fiance (while he was in), he taught me to fight for what I deserved in the Air Force.

MM Screen Name:  E3SEAN

Name & Rank:  Sean Schaffer Staff Sergent USAF

Years/Months in the Service:  6 years

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

E3SEAN:  To get out of dodge aka New Port Richey, Florida

MM:  What do you like most about it?

E3SEAN:  Gaurenteed job

MM:  Biggest dislike?

E3SEAN:  Cant say “I quit!” or call in sick

MM:  Best Memory?

E3SEAN:  Can’t tell you I might get in trouble.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

E3SEAN:  TSgt Goggil the best supervisior I ever had.  No matter what happened he would stick up for any of his people no matter who it was or how many stripes they had

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MM Screen Name:  101fng

Name & Rank:  Andrew, SGT

Years/Months in the Service:  3 yrs 8 mo

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

101fng:  I always knew I would join the army, even in grade school I knew this.  Almost my entire family was in the army at some point.  My father joined when he was 18.  My mother joined soon after as a commissioned officer.  My brother joined when he turned 18 and served with the 82nd ABN DIV up until a few months after 9/11.  My mother always told me crazy awesome stories about my grandfather and his time as a special forces company commander in Vietnam.  I remember my grandfather being extrememly strong and agile even into his 70s and I always attributed it to his army service.  But I started seriously considering the army after my dad became a recruiter.  I would go to the recruiting office to bum money off him and while I was waiting for him I’d pick up the pamphlets and read.  I fought with my mother for a while when I turned 17.  I wanted her to sign the waiver to let me in at 17 but she wouldn’t have anything to do with it (“not with Bush in office” is what she always said lol).  Well, once I turned 18, me and my dad got started on my paperwork.  By January 06, I was in the delayed entry program and by July 06 I was in Fort Benning, Georgia learning to be a soldier.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

101fng:  The oppurtunities.  I’m about to begin language training in Persian Farsi Dari and I could’ve never gotten it without the army.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

101fng:  Being away from the people I love (but it’s always worth the wait in the end).

MM:  Best Memory?

101fng:  Lol, its a tie with having thanksgiving dinner with an afghan and seeing my family again.

MM:  Out of these three who is your favorite military actor: Chuck Norris, Sylvester Stallone or Mel Gibson?

101fng:  I’d say Mel Gibson.  He’s just realistic enough to be believable. “We were soldiers” was a pretty good example of how the army trains in preparation for war and Mel Gibson was spot-on in his role as a battalion commander.

MM:  Can tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

101fng:  My dad.  Even when he was signing the papers sending me off, he never once stopped being concerned for my welfare.  He made sure I chose an MOS which he felt was safe (little did he know…).

MM Screen Name:  XTCNAGT

Name & Rank:  Ryan Monroe, Staff Sergeant (SSgt)

Years/Months in the Service:  6 Years

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

XTCNAGT:  Many reasons.  Felt it would give me a lot of opportunities later in life, have always been completely fascinated with fighter aircraft and knew I wanted to do something associated with them and it’s also been in my family for generations.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

XTCNAGT:  It’s probably a 3-way tie between the pride I felt dedicating myself to a country I love, the friends that I made during my time, and being able to work on fighter planes everyday and get paid for it.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

XTCNAGT:  There was a lot of politics to play.  I would rather my work speak for me rather than buddying up to the right people.  If you’re good at your job, you get screwed over a lot with late nights, working weekends and being called in early when someone else can’t troubleshoot a particular problem.

MM:  Best Memory?

XTCNAGT:  Man, there are WAY too many.  I spent 2 years in Europe being paid to travel around to different countries. There’s absolutely no way to narrow down all my experiences to one “best memory”.

MM:  Can tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

XTCNAGT:  I would have to say it would be my Uncle.  He did the same job I ended up doing and gave me a lot of insight into the career.  He helped me a lot when I changed bases, and was always able to give me assistance when I needed it.

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MM Screen Name:  98FireyGT

Name & Rank:  Chris Penchoen, HM3

Years/Months in the Service:  A year and a half

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

98FireyGT:  Parents gave me an ultimatum, join up or get out.  They didn’t want to pay for my college.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

98FireyGT:  Meeting new people, learning new stuff.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

98FireyGT:  Politics, beurocracy, the current philosophy of going to war with everyone we label as ‘terrorists’.

MM:  Best memory?

98FireyGT:  When my Cheif retired he told me to not take anyones bulls**t.  If I truly believed in something and that I could be someone that would really do something amazing, whether it be in the military or out.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

98FireyGT:  My best friends dad. He worked as a med tech for the air force but was also always around for me as a stand-in dad when mine was gone

MM Screen Name:  Norcalam2

Name & Rank:  Evan Whitaker, AM2/E-5

Years/Months in the Service:  6 yrs.

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

Norcalam2:  Needed a change of pace, wanted to do something bigger than myself.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

Norcalam2:  Travelling to different  countries with dozens of close friends.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

Norcalam2:  Politics in the upper ranks.

MM:  Best memory?

Norcalam2:  Pulling back into SD after a 6 month deployment and seeing my family waiting for me.

MM:  What is your favorite Military movie?

Norcalam2:  I have 2, Platoon and Three Kings.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

Norcalam2:  AM1 Caruso. He taught me nearly everything I know about being an AM, and getting ahead in the military.

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MM Screen Name:  Mr_Will

Name & Rank:  SGT Will Crutcher

Years/Months in the Service:  6 yrs

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

Mr_Will:  To do something with my life.  My entire family has been either Government, Military, or LEO.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

Mr_Will:  It was one of the most fun jobs I have had.  You see a lot, and learn even more.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

Mr_Will:  You can’t be disabled and be in the Military.  In turn I am medically retired.

MM:  Best memory?

Mr_Will:  Too many of these to list.  If I have to name one probably be being S-3 NCO for School of Information Technology at Ft. Gordon.  I got to meet a lot of people on that tour.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

Mr_Will:  SGM Strickland, this man is the one responsible for me re-enlisting the first time around.  He told me never to judge the Army by the unit, job, or the people I work for because it will always change.  He was 100% correct on that.

Sadly he worked in the Pentegon when it was hit and didn’t make it. This man gets every bit of my respect every day.

MM Screen Name:  ChrisJ

Name & Rank:  Chris Jobe

Years/Months in the Service:  4 Years Enlisted 4 Years Inactive

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

ChrisJ:  At that time in my life I was going down the wrong road, My Grandfather told me to make something of myself and stop what I was doing.  So I joined…

MM:  What do you like most about it?

ChrisJ:  I loved the travel, loved the life style, loved knowing I was a part of something so much bigger then myself.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

ChrisJ:  The time away from my family and friends.

MM:  Best Memory?

ChrisJ:  Plane touching down in Baltimore.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

ChrisJ:  Out of all the people I can think of I would have to say Mr. Larry Wallman.  He is a retired MSGT and is a GS.  He was my boss and a damn good one.  Taught me more about the military then any school could ever try.  He is a salty retired MSGT.  Anyone that has been in will know what Salty is.

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MM Screen Name:  Riceburnin03

Name & Rank:  SGT SPARKS USMC

Years/Months in the Service:  7 yrs

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

Riceburnin03:  Wanted to go to Iraq/Afganistan.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

Riceburnin03:  Pretty much everything.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

Riceburnin03:  Not being able to yell at people in charge.

MM:  Best memory?

Riceburnin03:  Can’t talk about it.  lol

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

Riceburnin03:  Probably my old company commander he was the best leader I ever worked for still to this day, Major Grissom.

MM:  What is your favorite Military movie?

Riceburnin03:  Heartbreak Ridge.

MM Screen Name:  Molitor

Name & Rank:  Bryan Molitor SPC E-4

Years/Months in the Service:  3 years and 11 months

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

Molitor:  I did a paper on “what I want to do when I get older” in the 8th grade, it was on Combat Engineering.  Ever since then I knew I was going to join the military.  The biggest reason I think though was my brother.  He too joined, and I look up to him more than anyone really knows.  Plus I can’t ever let him out do me.  Currently I’m in the lead to E5,  just waiting on an open slot lol.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

Molitor:  I get to blow stuff up.  That is my job and I get paid to do it.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

Molitor:  Paperwork by far.  I just sat in a line for 4 hours to fill in one sheet of paper.  I’m sure I’ll have to turn in 3 more times.

MM:  Best memory?

Molitor:  Too many to recall! I have made so many brothers in the service.  We spend everyday and night together and nothing in the world could replace the memories we made with each other.  I’d give my life for them in a heart beat, as would they for me

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

Molitor:  My brother.   I must out do him on everthing and he feels that way too.  I wouldn’t be as far as I am today if it wasn’t for his help.

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MM Screen Name: M.P. Cobra Fan

Name & Rank: SGT James Kleinheinz

Years/Months in the Service: 3.5 years

MM: What made you want to join the military?

M.P. Cobra Fan: Every male in my family has served.  After years of regret from not serving, I finally decided to join.

MM: What do you like most about it?

M.P. Cobra Fan: The bond that you build with fellow soldiers and the knowledge that you might have made a difference in even one life while serving.

MM: Biggest dislike?

M.P. Cobra Fan:Time away from loved ones.

MM: Best Memory?

M.P. Cobra Fan: I have many.  I will list three that are on the top of the list.  Watching a 40 year old man cry when he finally learned how to read and could read the Koran for the first time by himself.  Watching another grown man cry when he read in the Iraqi paper that Obama won the election and he worried the Americans would leave too soon.  Playing matchbox cars with a 4 year old Iraqi child named Muhammed, and even though we really could not talk we sat and played for over an hour, and then having his mother come up to me thanking me for being so nice to her child.

MM: Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

M.P. Cobra Fan: That is again hard to pick just one.  I could say my father who was a SGT in the Air Force, my grandfather who retired as a BG from the Air Force. However, I am going to pick my old Battalion Commander.  During a promotion ceremony when I got promoted to PFC, I introduced him to my girlfriend at the time.  When we were about to leave for Iraq, he showed up at our going away ceremony.  Now keep in mind that I had never seen him after that day when I got promoted and this was about 4 months later.  He walked up to me and my girlfriend and said “Private Kleinheinz, Mary Jane, (my girlfriend’s name) how are you two doing?”  That impressed the hell out of me.  From that day I have made it a point to learn everything I can about the folks serving with me and under me.

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MM Screen Name:  00vabchgt

Name & Rank:  MM1(SS) Danny Maldonado
(Spoken “Machinist’s Mate First Class, Submarines”)

Years/Months in the Service:  9 years, 4 months, 1 day in the World’s Finest Navy

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

00vabchgt:  I was at a point in my life where I had no direction.  I had dropped out of college during my third semester and had made a real mess of my life.  I wanted something better for myself, and I had always wanted to serve in the military, so I made the decision and joined the Navy

MM:  What do you like most about it?

00vabchgt:  What I liked the most about it was being a part of something bigger than myself,  being a part of something that matters, something with a long, proud history.  It’s a thankless job, really, but those that answer the call don’t do it for the thanks…

MM:  Biggest dislike?

00vabchgt:  Being away from my family for months on end with little to no contact with the outside world (I was on a submarine)

MM:  Best Memory?

00vabchgt:  Too many to choose from.  It’d have to be the men that I served with.  You get to be a pretty tight group when you serve on a submarine.  Those guys become like your brothers.  I got to see some pretty amazing things and places, all on the Navy’s dime, and I got to do it with some of the finest (and craziest) guys in the country…

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

00vabchgt:  It’s probably EM2(SS) Marlon DeLeon, the guy that introduced me to my wife 7 years ago. It was a blind date, sorta, Long story…

MM Screen Name:  Cale2006

Name & Rank:  SSGt Cale Brennan

Years/Months in the Service:  7 years

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

Cale2006:  I joined the military because I always wanted to serve. I’m a military brat.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

Cale2006:  I love to travel.

MM:  Biggest dislike?

Cale2006:  I dislike power hungry people … period.

MM:  Best Memory?

Cale2006:  My best memory in the service was helping out some kids that had a broken down scooter in Baghdad.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

Cale2006:  My father, Daniel Mitchell, who served in the Navy.

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MM Screen Name: Doc8224

Name & Rank:  Pickney,Matthew PFC

Years/Months in the Service:  1yr 4mo

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

Doc8224:  Serve my country and to learn an advance skill in aviation so I could take care of and support my family.

MM:  What do you like most about it?

Doc8224:  I work on Apache attack helicopters!! Need I say more?

MM:  Biggest dislike?

Doc8224:  It’s the Army and anyone who is in or has ever been will tell you the same thing.  It’s doing the crap stuff that you really hate doing and doing stuff that you might like just having to do them when you might not want to.  Case in point, 0530 PT!! I love PT I love being in shape and working out, I just have no desire to do it at 0530.  Other than it’s being close to the bottom of the barrel in rank that sucks the most.

MM:  Best Memory?

Doc8224:  I was on a FARP (Forward Ammo and Refueling Point) for the first time and my MOS is the pad chief that directs pretty much everything.  I remember seeing the first Apache of the mission come over the hill towards our FARP and the rush of it as it landed mere feet from me, as I hooked up to it with the blades whizzing above, the next one landed on the other side about the same distance from me.  Now I’m on the radio with the 2 officers in the first bird discussing the rockets,missiles, and 30mm rounds we are loading while 2 of the baddest attack helicopters in the world are just a few feet away from on either side with their rotor blades about to blow me off the pad.  This is by far the most amazing rush of adrenaline, fear and accomplishment I’ve ever felt, and is only overshadowed by the feeling I got as both of them lifted off almost at the same time and flew off into the distance.  I’d say so far that’s gotta be my best memory.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most?

Doc8224:  SFC Garrett (the roaming gnome) he was a platoon leader that gave me some of the best advice about leadership and being a good soldier, he motivated me to take on leadership positions that would help me to understand how to be a good NCO later in my career and is just one of the best darn NCO’s you’ll ever come across, I’d go to war with him anytime.

MM Screen Name:  yeah_itsa_v6

Name & Rank:  SrA(E-4) Ginn, Philip

Years/Months in the Service:  3 yrs

MM:  What made you want to join the military?

yeah_itsa_v6:  Love of my country

MM:  What do you like most about it?

yeah_itsa_v6:  Knowing people who come up to you and thank you for what u do and knowing I’m helping to protect those people and america

MM: Biggest dislike?

yeah_itsa_v6:  Cant get the base you want on your dream sheet, I guess thats why they call it a dream sheet ha!

MM:  Best Memory?

yeah_itsa_v6:  Probably when I bought my mustang.

MM:  Can you tell us about one person in the service who has affected your life most

yeah_itsa_v6:  Yea my best friend who I met at the base I am now, his name is Michael and he is like a brother to me, I help him out and he helps me out no matter what it is, and he is always there for me.

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