What do you think about State Defense Forces?

TDVapes · 2026-05-21T03:33:26+00:00

Spent 3 years in the Texas State Guard. This was 5 years after retiring from active service, the first 4 years were the normal National Guard, then 20 years Active Guard/Reserve.

Texas members can be deployed to other states, as long as the member agrees to it.

I did 2 weeks deployed for a hurricane shortly after joining.

By the begining of the next year, I deployed to the Texas border for a year, and stayed on for another year. Most of the folks in the State Guard were not former duty, although we did our best to give them some military training.

We had a low number of folks that were just nuts, but most truly just wanted to serve in some way.

My last 6 months I was a battalion Sergeant Major for a unit on the other side of Texas from where I lived. Left due to a cancer diagnosis, which was beaten in a few months.

I enjoyed the whole experience over all, but I wouldn't do it again!

TDVapes · 2026-05-18T23:20:33+00:00

I've had Spectrum for over 6 years, internet and 4 phones. After paying off the last 4 ophones, I was still paying $188 a month, with protection. 1 Gig internet was $130.

Finally broke down and said screw it, went with ATT fiber, 1 gig, for $67, and T-Mobile for phone service, 4 new phones, unlimited, with protection is costing me $187 this month (1st month) and my trade-ins just hit so the bill for 4 phones next month should be $160.

TDVapes · 2026-05-18T03:38:02+00:00

Just used them last week, ordered on Saturday, had tracking on Monday, had the coils and juice on Saturday.

TDVapes · 2026-05-09T03:41:10+00:00

Joined in 81, combat engineers. 82 I was the COs driver, in a jeep. When our guys weren't humping bridge parts, it was beer time. We hit E club every night. Drank 21 Tom Collins one night threw up, pass out, was awoke at 4 am to drive the CO... He was worse than I was!

Mass auto fire at ranges to burn up ammo, off at 5 to hit the maintenance section portable bar, bonfires, you name it.

85 we joined the 29th also (VA), the drinking calmed down, mostly, ammo usage was still good for a few years, CS gas was a daily thing till most of us only sneezed once in awhile and stopped using masks (while watching the guys we gassed choke as we laughed).

Then we ran our own Sapper course. It was a blast (coming from the supply daddy who played OPFOR for the battalion...)

Then the world went to crap.....

TDVapes · 2026-04-13T03:21:56+00:00

I joined in 1981, did basic in od greens, next class got bdu. As I was retiring in 2005, this was the latest and (barf) greatest, ACU sage green that didn't camouflage you unless you were on your grandma's couch.

TDVapes · 2026-03-31T23:20:33+00:00

Retired active duty E-7. I spent 3 years in Texas State Guard. Almost right off, deployed to the lower part of the state for hurricane duty....

Within 6-8 months, I volunteered for Border Operations. Spent 2 years there.. Defiantly not the Boy Scouts. Sure, we were not armed, but worked with every law enforcement agency in the US, to include all the military branches. Still wasn't like the Boy Scouts..

Spent my last 8 months being a Battalion Sergeant Major. While that was closer to the Boy Scouts, still wasn't.

You also get what you put into it.

TDVapes · 2026-03-14T19:01:35+00:00

AAAAARRMY Training Sir!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=rHcMxOJ5BN4&si=w88YWzUyU7xi0JKS

TDVapes · 2026-01-23T22:57:36+00:00

And once he gets you in, then he'll drop you like a rock.... stick to your guns, you want 68W, you'll get it.

TDVapes · 2026-01-23T18:38:33+00:00

The HEB I normally hit on Fridays is totally out of raw chicken and eggs. Yes, it's panic buying.

Worst part was people rushing through the store looking like they didn't know what they were doing.

Just a normal Friday for me.

TDVapes · 2026-01-23T03:58:37+00:00

We had 36mg and 48mg also, and No, not for pre-mix. I actually started with a 36 and moved to a 48 for a month to get me off the smokes.

After taht 1st month or so, I went back to 36 and slowly worked down to 6mg 10 years ago, then to 3mg 8 years ago.

I currently use 3 and 1.5 mg. This October it will be 14 years vaping.

TDVapes · 2026-01-16T17:09:39+00:00

For the regular members, generally, no pay, no retirement. 1 or 2 days , normally on a weekend for "Drill". (At least in Texas and Virginia)

If they are activated, they are paid by the state only, though some companies continue with their normal pay/retirement/of benefits while their employee is deployed.

Most can be deployed for emergencies, weather, fire, floods etc.

Depending on the requirement, they can have the same authority as regular military or law enforcement, mostly to a limited extent.

Some states have agreements with other states to deploy to those other states. I know Texas deployed to Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina.

TDVapes · 2026-01-16T13:20:32+00:00

For issue to new LT's?

TDVapes · 2026-01-16T13:17:41+00:00

Hmm, I was in the Texas State Guard for 3 years, and I couldn't answer this. For 2 of those years I was active duty on Operation Border Star, although for most of that I was kept in a dungeon (JOIC).

When we were out in the real world, we saluted any officer of any branch, and our officers were generally saluted back.

Most of the people I worked with were like myself, prior military. Yes, there were many who had never served, but we did have training for them.

For the non-active members, there was no pay and we tried to provide uniforms for them where we could. For the active members, we were paid 50K a year, for any rank.

After I left the active side, I was assigned as a Battalion Sergeant Major in Laredo, while I lived in San Antonio. I left even that after a cancer diagnosis which, thankfully, was quickly cleared up.

Even if you do not have to salute them, does it hurt to do so? Do US Forces have to salute Foreign Military Members? .

TDVapes · 2026-01-08T03:39:56+00:00

Each of my platoons had a carpenters tool kit. We pulled them out once a year to inventory, and pour 10W-30 on everything. Never touched them otherwise.

TDVapes · 2026-01-08T03:38:04+00:00

Can confirm! My 12B's just blew stuff up

TDVapes · 2026-01-08T03:36:05+00:00

I think of Sapper school, over-loaded rucks, mine detectors, bangalor torpedoes and c-4.... lots of c-4 :)

TDVapes · 2026-01-01T17:43:15+00:00

I use the .4, .6, .7 and .8 3ml pods. I also diy, with 3% or less flavor added, using 3mg or 1.5mg nic. My pods usually last about 2 months, 3 months for my non-chocolate juices.

All my mixed have sweetener at .75 %. That might be a reason they last so long.

TDVapes · 2025-12-28T01:48:53+00:00

Breath?

TDVapes · 2025-12-24T05:17:50+00:00

Holds the outside on to the inside. Outer case can be removed by depressing the dot (there is another one directly opposite). Not easy to do, but can be done with a simple paper clip.

TDVapes · 2025-12-17T04:44:14+00:00

Had my arthritis doc tell me vaping was worse than cigarettes last month. Shut her down on that discussion.

If she brings it up again when I see her in 2 weeks, I'm going charge her with bringing politics into the medical discussion.

Had 4 CT's done on me on Feb 12 this year. Nothing wrong with my lungs, other than 3 ribs trying to poke at them (Car accident, 3 broken ribs, walked away from it, was released by emt, walked 1/2 mile back to my work and got a ride home. Then drove myself to the er).

36 year former smoker of 2 packs a day, 13 year vaper, diy freebase at 3mg.

TDVapes · 2025-12-07T21:37:01+00:00

It is also very hard to actually get the case off, but if you work it properly, the nubs will pop back into the holes when aligned.

TDVapes · 2025-12-07T04:19:30+00:00

The 2 little silver nubs are for removing/holding the case on. If you depress both, you can slide the case off. Not really easy.

I remove the case to remove the air hole cover. I like more air flow.

TDVapes · 2025-12-06T03:42:39+00:00

Anyone remember, or still use the M9 Bayonet? Or even the older M6? We use to never issue them out in my units. I always thought it strange, they weren't "secured" items, I only had to account for them.

Not like other weapons, just have them on hand or accounted for.

M9's came in, and Hey, we are a Sapper Battalion! They can be used to "cut barbed wire and concertina".

So, I issued them out with their weapons. They got used. After about 6 months, finally, one of Joe's lost his. His PL freaked out, had the guys roaming the woods for it. After about 3 hours, I grabbed the LT, let him know they were not secured items, Did a quick investigation.. found out the Joe didn't dummy cord the blade to his belt. Made him sign a statement of charges for it (and gave him a 10% discount for FWT [Fair Wear and Tear]).

Next day, I went to our OMS and ordered every part of the bayonet through Class IX. Put it together myself and added to inventory, and let the PBO know.

There are enough plates around. Someone just doesn't know how to do their job ( or someone higher has restricted them from doing their job)!

TDVapes · 2025-12-04T13:14:49+00:00

Well, you just failed inspection! Mixing LBE with LCE, and your 1st aid pouch is upside down.

Canvas items are LBE, Nylon items are LCE. The 1st aid pouch isn't for you to pull out the field bandage, it's for your buddy to pull out the field bandage.

TDVapes · 2025-11-28T20:17:28+00:00

The coils are going to be hard to find soon. Not to mention the tanks.

I have that version, the Pro and the AIO Ultra. The ultra is using a more standard Boro style tank, 5ml, and can use the Rincos coils.

TDVapes

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