International Military Veterans and BATTLETECH

[Amechwarrior]

Signal Corps in the US Army Reserve and still in, got 15 years down and only a couple more to go. Got deployed once or twice and been all around short of South America and Africa. This is usually why I'm gone for months at a time and my mod doesn't get updated when I'm away from my gaming laptop Liking the Reserve pace, I can take off the uniform and not take any voluntary missions when I feel burnt out after a couple back to back runs. Was already a huge BT fan before signing up, like how the universe portrays the good and bad about service while not taking it too seriously.

 

[Reluctantmartyr]

US Army Infantry here. Deployed to Afghanistan with a Motorized Scout unit riding in MATV and MAXPROs, and then trained in Texas as part of a Mechanized Infantry unit in a Bradley IFV. I've always been a HUGE battletech fan, and even before serving, I have always had a soft spot for the infantry. Combined arms in general has always been the biggest draw of the Battletech universe for me. There is no, one super unit. Every facet has its place. I fondly remember being one of the few players to utilize vehicles in my group, and stunning Clan players with how effective tanks and infantry could really be.

Thank you HBS for this game, and I am excited to see it grow from here.

 

[Bismarck1899]

I was a corporal in the German Army 1st tank division and I know that the US is very militarized these day (1.2 trillion every year is spent on military matters) and tries to get Europe to do the same but could you keep it on your side of the pond.
We really don't need American Jingoism here.
Please find a more appropriate venue for this.

 

[Reluctantmartyr]

We like our veterans and want them to feel appreciated. Asking a veteran to make themselves known so they can be thanked and appreciating their insight to an American made wargame taking place in a fictional universe is hardly Jingoism. If you did not appreciate the game, you would not be on the forum.

Unpleasant moral high ground arguments aside, I was stationed in Baumholder and did some training in Kaiserslautern. Met a ton of nice folks, was able to tour beautiful Germany, and learned to work with and appreciate the Bundeswehr. Thank you Bismarck for your time in service.

 

[Spartakus]

Former German 1. Tank Division member here too. Albeit only basic conscription service. And I for once appreciate this thread as the good Prussian Havoc was the first one ever (outside my unit) who has thanked me for my service.

As for Battletech, I turned (with Sarlic doing all the actual work) the emblem of the 1. Panzerdivision into a Battletech appropriate unit emblem:

It looks gorgeous on the Argo!

 

[Antagonist85]

Active duty Bundeswehr, formerly CBRN Defense NCO, but now a REMF.

 

[D-Day]

LRS team.

That was an interesting Wikipedia read. RIP LRRP and ILRRPS, long live the LRS.

 

[Ciabhan]

[Mod edit: RL Politics]

I don't know about everyone else but I know most of the guys I served with keep it to themselves mostly. None are out seeking thanks and when it does occasionally get brought up in public are uncomfortable being thanked. One because none of us did it for the thanks and two because the people thanking you don't even know what it is they are thanking your for. An acknowledgement by fellow veterans carries more weight.

That was an interesting Wikipedia read. RIP LRRP and ILRRPS, long live the LRS.

Last I heard they were deactivating all the LRS teams outside of the 75th RRC(which while technically still part of the Special Troops Battalion is a Tier 1 asset nowadays). Rolling them into some cav scout thing. So next war they'll have to find a couple old vets to retrain a new generation all over again. We keep doing it over and over with long range recon/surveillance. Needing them, training them, then ditching them later only to find we need em again.

 

[Jade_Rook]

Greetings Mechwarriors!

Please avoid RL politics. This thread is for acknowledging and appreciating all those who have served. Let's keep it respectful.

Some comments may experience jump drive malfunctions and find themselves in the far country to be used as nesting materials by the locals.

Thank you!

 

[D-Day]

We keep doing it over and over with long range recon/surveillance. Needing them, training them, then ditching them later only to find we need em again.

Yep. Sharpshooters and Snipers too.

 

[Gronk311]

I spent 17 years as a Tanker, Combat Engineer, Stryker crew, and Intel (unofficially). 1st, 2nd and 4th Infantry Divisions followed by 1st Armored Division.

I miss my tank

 

[Edmon]

Volunteered for the Jersey Field Squadron for a year.

I was to be taken on fully, but they were making cuts and made medical excuses to not take me on, against the wishses of the CO, the OC, the PSAO and just about everyone else. This was AFTER I passed all the fitness tests, etc. So it was a real kick in the teeth.

I got to keep my Barret & Capbadge, which is usually a thing reserved for those who complete their (12 year) service, so that was nice. There was a feeling I'd done all that was asked and that my ultimate discharge was cost saving bullshit. I wasn't the only one ousted this way, so I can't really feel special about it...

I wanted to do some service and I did it, made some life friends, so that's good .

 

[Average_Gamer]

Ex-Canadian Forces here. Used to be a C-2 driver(Leopard 1) and Armoured Recce. Guy from my unit turned me on to TT games. Started with WarHammer then went to BT......and never turned back.

 

[DutchRits]

23 total years of service; 8 with US Army Reserves and 15 AD with the USAF (still in) as an Air Battle Manager aboard the E-3 AWACS.

I got into tabletop BT in the late ‘80s in Middle School after seeing Robotech on AFRTS (now AFN). I played Crescent Hawks, MW2, Mech Assault, MechCommander, MechCommander 2 (and modded it), and continue to play MWO and BT. I’ve even taugh my sons to play, and my oldest is a huge fan.

I love the BT lore, but for me the universe ends post Clan Invasion. I really get into the tech details, particularly the old Battletechnology article on TTS. The C3 networks drive me nuts, as a TDL guy. The lack of standardization between lances or within companies/units makes me want to scream, but gives me a deep appreciation for units like the ELH.

In the end, I think the gritty realism of the series is what keeps me coming back to it, in between bouts of interest in LotR, Legend of Zelda, and Castlevania.

 

[TripleStrengthMisnomer]

Ex-Canadian Forces here

Nice to see a fellow countryman here!
7 years as a combat engineer for me and even got to play in your world as a Grizzly driver in Cyprus.

Big shout out to everyone here who has served or is still active.

Started with BattleTech board game and MW1. Played a little MW2 and no others until MC1/2 exclusively . HBS BattleTech is a long time to bring back the best for me..

 

[PokeyCA]

4-year active duty USAF 45753A/2A553A B-1B Offensive Avionics Flight Line Technician based at Dyess AFB, TX, 1-year AF Reserve Cargo Loader based out of former Pope AFB, NC, 3-year Army NG 12B Combat Engineer out of Eureka, CA.
Got into Battletech from Crescent Hawk's Inception, then TT, then all others (except the MechCommander series).

 

[Bismarck1899]

[Mod edit: Commenting on moderator actions]

And that the vets (I am one, too. I enlisted 50 day after 9/11) were welcoming isn't a surprise. I'm not saying that the people in this thread are bad people. I'm just not a fan of the [Mod edit: no RL politics]

 

[Prussian Havoc]

TOPIC for DISCUSSION: One of the aspects of BATTLETECH that I've come to appreciate over the years is just how well it makes the distinction between Mercenary and Faction Loyalist game-play.

Jordan has mentioned in the past that he is interested in providing different BATTLETECH game experiences when it comes to succeeding "Major Motion Picture" expansions (as opposed to the more episodic FLASHPOINT and URBAN WARFARE DLCs.) Moving on from #MercLIFE to BATTLETECH-gaming toward a Faction Loyalist perspective, would do just that in my opinion.

Another and different BATTLETECH game experience might possibly be to remain with #MercLIFE but expand past the Lance-limit by incorporating a Vehicle Section (2 Vehicles) or perhaps another 2 BattleMechs or some mix there of, up to and possible an entire 2nd Lance, for a true BATTLETECH Company (minus) experience. While this would necessarily extend the average Mission Duration, it would present opportunities for advances Tactics and more ambitious Schemes of Maneuver.


Of course both these ideas might prove off the mark. What would you like to see, if Jordan's comment does herald a bit of a shift in the BATTLETECH paradigm down the development road?

I would like to see #LoyalistLIFE explored.

All constructive questions/comments/criticisms are welcome. :bow:

And as ever, good luck and good gaming! : )

 

[Rad_man]

7 years US Navy here. Nuke Machinist's Mate on subs. Stationed on the USS Los Angeles(SSN-688) and the USS Sea Wolf(SSN-21). Sea Wolf was a tremendous boat, they should have made far more than 3.

 

[Havamal]

Greetings Mechwarriors,

As we share our roll call of backgrounds here please avoid venturing into posting RL politics, RL religion, sex, or RL history tangents dosed with any of the previous, ect on this Battletech subforum community. Such is inappropriate at well as divisive and is off-topic to the purposes of this forum which is to discuss Battletech with each other. Some of those topics are more at home in the OT or the History subforum.

Posts choosing to ignore this advice will experience Jump Drive malfunctions to the Far country to be used as nesting materials by the locals.

Thank you.