Starship troopers rumours

[BFalcon]

If I recall correctly, in the UK you had a choice to become RAF reserve for longer - in which case you got paid a bit each year, but had to do refresher training each year too (to keep your skills fresh). I think it follows with all our armed forces in much the same way - although it may only be certain grades/skills that get the offer...

Don't know if they still do it that way or not or if it's only 5 years as you say... I'd be surprised if it is, to be honest - ok, after 5 years you'll not be front-line material, but you'll still know the basics of the job so could be reactivated as a training instructor...

 

[Rick]

I'm pretty sure it is this way, but in both the US and UK systems you can voluntarily extend the period as you say. I had a friend of mine who left the RAF with some very specific training and for the next few years was expecting to be called up to use it - he said that he's now 'off the reserve list'.

 

[barnest2]

I had a friend of mine who left the RAF with some very specific training and for the next few years was expecting to be called up to use it - he said that he's now 'off the reserve list'.

Recently off the reserve list, specialist training... maybe runway attack with those cluster munitions dispensers? We're not allowed to use those any more.

not indefinately - it's only about 5 years, I believe

Ah, thank you. I thought it was longer than that.

 

[Egil Skallagrimsson]

Not sure if police and firebrigade were dangerous enough to count for citizenship, the alternatives (just had a quick look at the recruiting office bit in the book) seem to be "field testing hazarous gear on Titan", and various difficult and dangerous mining operations in antartica, under the sea or in space.
l

You realise the recruiter was mainly trying to scare the crap out of juan right? Because later we hear of a camp currie drop out who was doing his term as a cook on a navy ship. He wasn't an MI, he wasn't in a dangerous position, but he was going to get his citizenship.

Yeah, I realised that there was an intention to scare the recruits (disabled veteran etc), though at that point Heinlein seems to be suggesting that service is dangerous as the reward (citizenship) has to be earnt the hard way, but had forgotten about the MI drop out/cook. To be honest, I don't think Henlein thought the idea through very logically.

Egil

 

[Rick]

Recently off the reserve list, specialist training... maybe runway attack with those cluster munitions dispensers? We're not allowed to use those any more.

Almost the opposite in fact - using some specialist equipment to turn roads and other unprepared ground into a runway! From what I gather it was a bit more specialised than that, and much more involved than bulldozing it flat!

 

[BFalcon]

Not sure if police and firebrigade were dangerous enough to count for citizenship, the alternatives (just had a quick look at the recruiting office bit in the book) seem to be "field testing hazarous gear on Titan", and various difficult and dangerous mining operations in antartica, under the sea or in space.
l

You realise the recruiter was mainly trying to scare the crap out of juan right? Because later we hear of a camp currie drop out who was doing his term as a cook on a navy ship. He wasn't an MI, he wasn't in a dangerous position, but he was going to get his citizenship.

Yeah, I realised that there was an intention to scare the recruits (disabled veteran etc), though at that point Heinlein seems to be suggesting that service is dangerous as the reward (citizenship) has to be earnt the hard way, but had forgotten about the MI drop out/cook. To be honest, I don't think Henlein thought the idea through very logically.

Egil

Well, in all fairness, it might be that all crewmen on board are considered to be doing dangerous work... if there's a risk (as in the films) of ships being lost...

But yeah, I do suspect that you're right - Nico's father is a businessman, so is only working for himself, but firemen, policemen, heck probably even beaurocrats and dustmen are doing their bit for their community, so are probably going to get their citizenship after so many years of service (probably as a reward for low pay but still contributing to society).

I see it less as "how much danger did you expose yourself to?" so much as "did you help the war effort?" and "if you couldn't serve in the military, due to injury or lack of fitness, did you help to free up someone else who could?".

 

[Lincolnlog]

US Service personnel are committed for 8 years on their initial enlistment. Any active reserve or active duty time is subtracted from the 8 years. The remainder of your committment is spent in the IRR (Inactive Ready Reserve). So, if you spent 4 years in the Regular Army or Navy, etc... you would spend 4 additional years in the IRR. By the way, many IRR personnel were recalled during the 2nd Gulf War and not only linguists.

When I served back in the late 70's early 80's it was a 6 year committment, raised to 8 years in the mid-80's. I didn't receive my honorable discharge until all 6 years were completed (they mailed it to me). By then I was already serving another term in the National Guard (my minimum committment in the NG was only a year since my IRR time would have expired before my year in the Guard).

Rico bumped into a police officer when on pass in Vancouver, and was impressed when he read his ribbons. At that point in teh book he says police and firemen are select veteran reserved jobs.

 

[zozotroll]

Indeed 8 years total commitnmentin the US. Active is subtracted from the total, the rest in Reserve or Ready Reserve.

And we dont like calling them back up. One of the best recruiting sources is Johnny to go back home when he is done and tell his younger cousin, man there was some bad parts, but mostly it was good. Call him back and not onlyu can you chave a disgruntled worker, he can also go back and tell the cousion, man that stuff sucks. And cousin believes johnny over any recruiter.

For US retirees, it is until you turn 65 that that you can be called back. I have been retired for 8 years and still have many to go before they cant bring me back. But, I am not up on current systems, sure cant run like when I was twenty, Dont think I have anything unique enough they would do that. But, still possible.

And just as an aside, being an Army recruiter in Los Angeles was worse than being innthe gulf. For one trhing I got shot at more.....

Owen

 

[Rick]

I see it less as "how much danger did you expose yourself to?" so much as "did you help the war effort?" and "if you couldn't serve in the military, due to injury or lack of fitness, did you help to free up someone else who could?".

Actually - I see it as something slightly different. I've not been in any of the services, but I have family and friends who have - they and others like them will always have my admiration and respect. The key word is 'serve' - the armed forces and emergency services serve the public: they put the safety of others before their own - if someone has done that, no matter in what capacity, then it would be of 'service'.

 

[barnest2]

In the words of Rico's history and moral philosophy teacher, they have put the safety of the body politic above the safety of themselves.

I wish I could say I had the book next too me... but I don't...

 

[locarno24]

though at that point Heinlein seems to be suggesting that service is dangerous as the reward (citizenship) has to be earnt the hard way, but had forgotten about the MI drop out/cook. To be honest, I don't think Henlein thought the idea through very logically.

Agree with other responses; any crewman on a Warship in service at time of war - be he a gunner or a deckie - is by definition 'in harms way'. If the ship's lost, he's just as dead as the MI he's serving beef and beans to. A significant percentage of any military, even those on active service, don't actually man the walls shooting - in fact Henlein has a bit of a rant about divisional wedges elsewhere in the book.