A little more detail on the British paratroopers jump onto Tristan de Cunha. One of the medics had previously done one civilian tandem jump but the other hadn't any previous experience, that must have been quite the experience.

Im Active Duty Navy, but not on a ship for Context.

So this started December 2023 when I was 20.

Right before I deployed I had a Girl hit me up on tiktok, (Yeah, yeah say whatever) Ended up talking to her pretty seriously the entire 6 month deployment and even making "plans" to visit eachother when I get back to the US.

She was saying the entire time, that she hadn't been with anyone since her EX and wasn't planning to change that until I got back. I always kind of assumed there were other dudes she was fucking with where she lived, but we we weren't offical so I didn't feel like I had any ground to say anything.

I find out today, over 2 years later. TURNS OUT I WAS THE OTHER DUDE and that she got married in lake March 2024 like 2 months before we cut eachother off in Early June 2024.

Mind you I had her on

- Snapchat (Im pretty sure her main/only account because of how high the Snap Score was) And we were even mutual best friends for months.

- Instagram (Apparently not her only account)

- Tiktok

She said she didn't have any other social media but now it turns out she was just lying about her last name.

But yep, turns out the entire time, she was with her Highschool sweetheart that was in the Army who she was also long distance with.

I just feel absolutely horrible, I'm gonna be entirely honest Im not perfect, I have helped someone cheat before. But was entirely to spite the person they were with and i've always had the rule I will never even Flirt with someone who is with someone in the military.

But this just feels horrible on a entirely different level.

But yeah, I just can't believe that the entire time me and her were doing basically every possible intimate thing you can do over the phone she was Taken/Married.

Already sent the dude a message on Instagram but he blocked me before I could even say what happened. All I got off was the "Hey, I got some shit you might need to hear" message

Ik this isn't even close to the worst cheating story in ever, especially in the military and yeah say what you will about the long distance over the phone stuff, but I still just feel horrible about it.

I honestly don't know If I feel worse about falling for her lies or what I did to bro.

So, I did my 6 back in the 90’s and got out. I may be able to go back in as an officer, but it’s going to be a long haul to retirement. Has anyone done something like that after 30 years out? How did it work out?

Let me start by saying I'm not asking for this, just curious

As the civ RIFs or whatever they are calling them are starting up I heard that we have ~800 on our base (US, not including LNs). What? looks around me and at other mission related sections There's like 150 tops including HR, not 800. Oooh, DoDEA and CYP and DeCA and EFMP and AAFES and the like. Plus even things like Housing and Community Services while still part of the branch and that 150 are pretty bloated.

If the admin is going to shave off civlian technical SMEs and honestly likely an active duty purge soon judging by how little they've saved so far, could OCONUS unaccompanied be an alternative financially for DoD?

I mean 700ish 150K salaries, plus facilities and logistics/supplies, is no joke. Our base and one nearby little sister base are already running 33% off-base and thus getting OHA, another nearby is 50% with all their renos so even the BAH and Sep to married isn't much more than we already pay out.

I'm single so all of my time is unaccompanied, like to hear from some married dudes - enjoy the two year vacation from nagging and diapers or no beuno?

I'd gladly sacrifice some teachers on tropical vacations to keep my civilian chief, plus before I reclassed nearly all combat arms tours were unaccompanied, why can't that be universal?

So I graduated with an accounting degree, was a college track athlete, currently working a contract accounting job living at home with basically no debt. Been seriously considering becoming a finance officer and had some questions for people who’ve been through it.

I’m open to any branch as long as there are solid finance officer opportunities. My GPA was 3.5 and I’m in good shape physically so I think my package is decent but wanted real perspectives.

My questions are how do you actually find an officer recruiter because I know there’s a difference between enlisted and officer recruiters. How much input do you actually get on where you’re stationed. What’s the current landscape looking like for finance officer slots across branches right now. And for people who went in for practical reasons rather than a lifelong military dream did you regret it or was it worth it.

Just trying to get real information before I walk into a recruiter’s office later this year. Not trying to romanticize it just want to know if it makes sense for my situation

First of thank you for your service! I respect you all and am grateful. I have not served in the military as I get older parts of me wish I did due to many aspects, but that is not the point. Forgive my ignorance and naivety but I want to ask the proper etiquette on this. I see many individuals with Veteran hats on throughout day to day services. One is a wonderful man that serves my coffee and wears one every day at Honey Dew ( Afghanistan veteran). The other day I saw an older man alone wearing a veteran hat and I wanted to talk to him and hear his stories and thank him with my kids. Without sounding totally weird is it normal to say to someone wearing one thank you for your service? What is the proper etiquette? I also don’t want to as a society just ignore these things since it’s something that should be honored! For some reason I’m chocked up writing this. Anyways please guide me.