So I have watched a lot of war movies recently (Full Metal Jacket, Black Hawk Down, Saving Private Ryan) and I know what you see in the movies isn’t real but it has still raised a number of questions about the military to me. I am only 15 but i am starting to plan for the future and my older brother was in the air force and that seemed to work out rather well for him. As far a current skills go, I am well educated and I do very well on tests, I have tons of experience with computers (I’m sort of a huge geek), I am an excellent shot with pretty much any rifle (pistols not so much but I’m still decent). I’m not in the CAP but I still know the fundamentals of flying a plane and have logged close to 100 hours on my simulator in planes ranging from small Cessnas to the F/A-18 Super Hornet and even some time in larger planes like the C-130 Hercules and Boeing 747. I can also fly pretty much any helicopter. I am disciplined and willing to receive orders. However I am not in the best of shape (I weight about 200 pounds) and i can’t really run very long distances. I can however run very quickly for a very short distance. Based on these skills and weaknesses, I would think being a pilot in some branch would be my best bet. I feel that as a pilot I could serve my country well, but I doubt with my physical short-comings if i could make it through basic training. Also in the movie Full Metal Jacket they made it look like you didn’t learn most of your necessary skills in basic training. It seemed all the other men besides private Piles knew how to make a bed military style and knew the various marching commands. During the marching scenes in the movie I have no idea what Lee Emery is saying to the men. He just sort of sounds like he yells incoherently and everybody does the same thing. Is there any place I could get a list of these commands before going to basic? I tend to understand people better if i know what to listen for, like i can hear the lyrics of a song more clearly if i know what they are. Does it sound like the military is for me? The way I see it I have several skills so I have plenty of options and I would like to look into them all.
In Saving Private Ryan, during the D-day scene a soldier banged a magazine on his helmet before putting it in his rifle.
I have seen this in several movies and I wondered if it is common place in the real military and if it is just a ritual/superstition or does it actually serves a purpose.
Also in Letters from Iwo Jima, the japanese soldiers banged the grenades on their helmet before using them.
I was watching the Saving Private Ryan rerun on TNT and I always had one question regarding weapons references – when they get to the small french town & bridge towards the end that they decide to stay & defend, the american soldiers who have been defending the town up til then mention that they got damaged badly by "german 88′s". There are several other mentions in the film of german 88′s. What is this weapon. I am thinking maybe the twin cannon large caliper machine type gun that the germans carry around on a small trailer behind trucks and half-tracks. I think this was also an anti-aircraft gun but could be cranked down horizontal and used for shoot vehicles or soldiers as well. There are scenes of that occurring during the final fight for the little french town. I was trying to find a photo of that weapon on the internet but couldn’t. If its the one I am referring to it is an extremely large caliber shell, more like a cannon or anti-aircraft gun you’d see mounted on a naval ship. Hopefully someone can clarify what a "German 88" weapon is, or point me to a photo of one on the internet possibly. Thanks.
Holy cow, I looked at the links. That is one nasty large gun, no wonder when it was turned down and used for vehicles and personel there was nothing left of them, a body disintegrator. Thanks to all who answered the question – good and fast responses.
Were they still allowed to shoot lefty? I’m a lefty and no way could I shoot right-handed. You know that sniper (Barry Pepper) in Saving Private Ryan shot lefty. Did you know that?
to learn about the pro's and con's of each as well as the biggest mistake all the "heavy artillery" guys make when choosing "terminator ammo"!
(Hint: It has nothing to do with "stopping power" but it's nearly as important to your family that you get this right! Not doing so could cost you a lifetime of grieving that no law-abiding family should suffer...EVER!)Read More...
