General Discussion

n2doc

(47,953 posts) Mon Jun 29, 2015, 06:47 PM Jun 2015

Is this Green Beret the last Vietnam vet on active duty?

the 1970s, he was among the last Marines sent to Vietnam.

In the '80s, as an Army Green Beret, he deployed into Honduras during the Contra Wars.

In 1991, he was gassed in Iraq.

And after 9/11, he fought terrorists in Afghanistan.

He's an environmental conservationist and holds a master's degree in creative writing.

He is not the Most Interesting Man in the World.

But with 42 years in uniform, 59-year-old Michael Jarnevic is likely the saltiest sergeant major serving in the U.S. military. And when he retires July 8, he'll likely be the last person in uniform whose service record includes a tour during the Vietnam War.

more

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/06/28/last-serving-vietnam-vet-retires-after-service-as-marine-green-beret/29303763/

6 replies

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Is this Green Beret the last Vietnam vet on active duty? (Original Post) n2doc Jun 2015 OP

Billy Waugh served from 1948 to 2001 Ex Lurker Jun 2015 #1

Pretty bizarre career starting as a Marine then finishing in the Army Brother Buzz Jun 2015 #2

Not as uncommon as you might think Ex Lurker Jun 2015 #3

It may be common, but it's very strange in my mind Brother Buzz Jun 2015 #4

The Marine Corps has traditionally had an institutional bias against special operations Ex Lurker Jun 2015 #5

I went from Navy to National Guard Katashi_itto Jun 2015 #6

Ex Lurker

(3,817 posts)

1. Billy Waugh served from 1948 to 2001

Reply to n2doc (Original post)

Mon Jun 29, 2015, 06:59 PM

Jun 2015

in the Army and CIA, including being a member of one of the first CIA ground teams into Afghanistan, at age 71. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Waugh

Brother Buzz

(36,509 posts)

2. Pretty bizarre career starting as a Marine then finishing in the Army

Reply to n2doc (Original post)

Mon Jun 29, 2015, 07:22 PM

Jun 2015

Back in my day, mandatory retirement for an enlisted officer was 55. What with his special skill set, some strings were pulled and he was granted a waiver to serve through age 60.

Ex Lurker

(3,817 posts)

3. Not as uncommon as you might think

Reply to Brother Buzz (Reply #2)

Mon Jun 29, 2015, 07:23 PM

Jun 2015

Especially Marine to SF.

Brother Buzz

(36,509 posts)

4. It may be common, but it's very strange in my mind

Reply to Ex Lurker (Reply #3)

Mon Jun 29, 2015, 07:39 PM

Jun 2015

After decades of listening to Marines bash my sissy Army, I'm trying to wrap my mind around the idea why a Marine would want to join a shitty branch of the service.

Ex Lurker

(3,817 posts)

5. The Marine Corps has traditionally had an institutional bias against special operations

Reply to Brother Buzz (Reply #4)

Mon Jun 29, 2015, 11:32 PM

Jun 2015

Force Recon was small, had few resources compared to other SOF units, and it was difficult to impossible to stay in it for a career. After one or two tours, nearly everybody had to return to a line unit or support billet. That may be changing with the MARSOC Raider detachments, but until recently, if you wanted to be a full time special operator and have access to the coolest toys, you couldn't do it as a Marine. Not exclusive to Army SF; A fair number of former Marines also end up as SEALS and PJ's,

BTW, one of the Delta Force members decorated for the Benghazi rescue attempt was an active duty Marine, so it appears Marines can now join Delta without an interservice transfer.

Katashi_itto

(10,175 posts)

6. I went from Navy to National Guard

Reply to Ex Lurker (Reply #3)

Mon Jun 29, 2015, 11:35 PM

Jun 2015

It was the easiest way to get my lieutenancy

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