Introduce Yourself

MurderDeathKill — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:24:40 -0500

There's usually one of these threads in here, so I figure I'll go ahead and create it... I'm a 1LT pilot in the Air Force, flying out of Cannon AFB in eastern New Mexico. Before this I was stationed at Vance in Oklahoma, and before that the Academy in Colorado Springs. I've been attempting NaNo since around 2005, finally started winning two contests ago and now I'm trying to keep the streak alive. So far my most consistent genre has been Adventure, but I like to fill my head with the notion that I'm writing LITERARY shotgun fights so my projects seem more important than they really are. This year I'm laid up with a knee surgery, and I won't be flying again at least until December if not later than that -- so, at least I can NaNo in peace from my own bedroom. So who are you? Talk a little bit about who you are, where you've been, what you (or your significant other) does, what you like to write about, etc.

Re: Introduce Yourself

A.Rose — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:25:02 -0500

I'm a spouse. My husband is a CM2 in the Navy (Seabee). He's a currently a mechanic for the Seals. He was stationed in Mississippi until last December. He's been in Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, and Africa in the first 6 years of service. We are currently stationed in Germany for a couple more years (he just got back from an exercise in Romania - I'm totally jealous lol) and are expecting baby #1 in January. I've been around the NaNo boards for what seems like forever, but never had the patience to wait until November to start writing. But, I finally waited & won in 2009! I'm aiming for 70k this year as my personal goal, but will be happy with the 50k win lol. I have 2 vampire novels published, and the 3rd/final one is in the editing stage. This NaNo I'm going to give writing YA a try! Still paranormal, though... but I am also switching to 3rd person for the first time. It should be an interesting NaNo! :)

Re: Introduce Yourself

Xanqui — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:26:29 -0500

I just got back from Korea a few months ago, and now I'm headed into Special Operations training (which starts the same week as NaNoWriMo). I really have no idea how I'm going to do this. I've been in the Army for almost two years now, and I did NaNoWriMo successfully last year. This will be my seventh year, and I have no intention of ever stopping.

Re: Introduce Yourself

siegerat — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:34:03 -0500

My third year attempting NaNo, my tenth year in the Army. Last year, I did NaNo in Iraq, and funny enough it was the only one I won. I'm currently hanging out at Fort Lost in the Woods, Misery. Looking forward to chilling in this forum as we go through this month of crazy.

Re: Introduce Yourself

ChavezIsBored — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:52:04 -0500

My sixth year attempting NaNo, I get closer and closer every year. I'll be happy if I break 40k this year. I am stationed on Kadena AB in Okinawa and I am trying to scout the Army, Navy, and Marines on the island to engadge in some cross-service word wars. If you guys know anyone on Okinawa definatly give them my name so we can organize some write-ins on other bases than Kadena as I really do not know what is available on other installations.

Re: Introduce Yourself

DragonGate — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:37:19 -0500

Fifth year of NaNo, have no clue what I'm writing yet. I got into Criminal Minds this summer, and my brain has been stuck, I've actually started writing fanfic, but I will not do it for NaNo. Writing from Vicenza, Italy, hoping to to keep my streak alive. Wins in '08, 09 and '10, did Camp over the summer and won July, but my PCS move killed my August work mid-month. Briefly, Army, 5 years, work on a computer help desk.

Re: Introduce Yourself

WriterSpud — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:56:10 -0500

This'll be my seventh year of NaNo and my first time doing it in the Army. Probably writing crime again this year, as last year's (original) plot needs a total start-from-scratch redo. I've gotten used to having biweekly write-ins (and a dear friend just down the road also writing) and have no idea how I'll do it without that this year. Writing from the world's worst barracks in miserable and rainy Vilseck, Germany.

Re: Introduce Yourself

lizzyespy — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:05:12 -0500

I'm a Navy wife and I just got out of the Air Force, Security Forces. My husband is in Afghanistan supporting an Army mission at a base I'm not allowed to know :-P so I'm entertaining myself with Nano - I usually have 432895237 other commitments during November, so I've never gotten past a week in the years I've tried. This year I'm only working a couple days a week and no school, so I'm hopeful this is the year I actually push past the 3000 word hump and continue right on to 50k!

Re: Introduce Yourself

sunlit x tides — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:39:19 -0500

My name is Adrienne, 21 and have an 11 month old son. I am the girlfriend of a Marine (Active Duty). He is in BCT right now in San Diego. A lot of people think that Ethan is my sons father but he's not. I met Ethan after I was pregnant. I usually write about romance and crime but this year I think I'm going to try something else. Last year I got to 25k which is the furthest I got but I'm hoping to dive right in and write whenever I can.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Hëradïn — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:06:26 -0500

I am actually only enlisted right now. I go off to BCT in January. I'm pretty excited about it. My MOS is 25S for anyone who wants to know. oh and this is my first year of nano.

Re: Introduce Yourself

sunlit x tides — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:55:47 -0500

What branch?

Re: Introduce Yourself

Hëradïn — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:41:05 -0500

Army, not guard or reserve, just regular army.

Re: Introduce Yourself

leest8 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:02:32 -0500

Hello everyone, I am a SSgt in the Air Force, participating in my very first NaNo. I haven't decided on a story as of yet, or even a genre. But I am a procrastinator, so that is par for the course. I am currently stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, where I fly on some ancient C-130s. I will be leaving here in Februrary to go back to Tech School for retraining. Too bad NaNo isn't while I am on student status! Good luck to everyone, and thanks for what you do! -Lou

Re: Introduce Yourself

Bakkuns — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:20:48 -0500

Another Air Force SSgt reporting in. I'm currently stationed in the UK, been in six years and work at the base help desk. My first duty station was actually Cannon AFB. This is my fifth attempt at NaNo and I'm hoping the fifth times the charm! I'm writing a novel about steampunk necromancers and a friend of mine back in the States will probably not be very happy with me if I don't find some time to write it.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Irios — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:28:53 -0500

I'm completing my 12 months service in Finland, and aim on being promoted from Corporal to Sergeant by then (the Finnish equivalents, anyhow). EOD1 trained and teaching the next course at the moment, during their EOD2 training. And yes, in November, we're going out into the Finnish woods, a lot.

Re: Introduce Yourself

DragonGate — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:44:27 -0500

Big Signal whoot! Augusta, GA is a nice city once you get off-post privileges from Fort Gordon. 25B, though it's been a while since I was in Georgia. Turned down Fort Benning as a reup duty station option. Still have no clue what I'm writing, but I have tomorrow off since I work Sundays on another base, so I must plan, around the things I need to do that I don't like skipping work to get them done.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Hëradïn — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:46:01 -0500

that's too bad, my BCT is in Benning.

Re: Introduce Yourself

sunlit x tides — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:41:30 -0500

Congrats on the promotion :)

Re: Introduce Yourself

tanniyn — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:31:37 -0500

I head down to Ft. Benning at the end of February as an 11X. Hope to see you there at some point!

Re: Introduce Yourself

leest8 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:51:10 -0500

I am almost willing to bet that no military personnel write a story about the military :)

Re: Introduce Yourself

Mike Merrill — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:01:44 -0500

This is my second Nano. Enlisted as 11X and headed to Ft. Benning the end of Feb.

Re: Introduce Yourself

sunnan — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:20:12 -0500

Oh, I wouldn't bet that. I'm giving it a go, actually. I'm not in military service, and don't have a boyfriend/husband in the service either. I'm not sure what it'll become, but gonna try it anyways. Not sure either if it'll evolve being completely original story, or will I try to move it more into fanfiction based story. We'll see.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Freya Sylvant — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 07:50:07 -0500

Hello everyone! I'm an Airman in the USAF, stationed stateside, working basically at a help desk. This is my... 5th NaNoWriMo? and my first of hopefully many as being a part of the military. Won the first two years and didn't have much luck with the last two. I'm going to start a new streak this year. I'm entirely sure what to classify this year's novel, its something along the line of alternate historical fiction.

Re: Introduce Yourself

megany — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:13:48 -0500

Hi! I'm Canadian Navy... facing some medical issues and working a desk job at the moment so I should be able to translate that, hopefully, into some on the job writing time (fifteen minute break? 200 words and so on)... I'm not sure what I'll be up to this time but I have a bunch of ideas that need to be narrowed down.

Re: Introduce Yourself

seanna.cullen — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:45:47 -0500

Third year doing NaNo and I'm really wanting the win this year (unlike the last two years). Army National Guard on voluntary CONUS mobilization. Over 20 years in and going to stay in until isn't fun anymore. Two trips to the Sandbox, none to the Rockpile. With my unit's OPTEMPO for November, NaNo is going to be ... challenging.

Re: Introduce Yourself

sunlit x tides — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:29:58 -0500

My bf is in the Marines and I'm actually doing two military inspired novels. Well, one of them kinda is. One is about a military girlfriend having to deal with her daily doings but also the emotional impact of having her bf be gone. Then the other is about a military man away on medical leave. He has a lot of inner demons to overcome before he goes back out into action. He meets a woman and they both fall in love but when she finds out that he has to go back she says she can't live that kind of life. He then sees if there is any possible way to get out of going back or if he can be discharged. In the end he will have to decide between true love or military service.

Re: Introduce Yourself

TheOldOrc — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:45:02 -0500

Greetings to all: 2nd year doing NaNo, Retired (1993) US Army First Sergeant (24 Years) only got 33K words last year will keep trying for the 50K this year. Use Dragon since hands don't work well anymore due to Parkinsons but enjoy the ability now to sit and tell the computer what to do and write. Was Army Aviation but spent most of my time in the 2nd Inf, 8th Inf, 9th Inf and 10th Mountain Divisions. Also 6th US Cav. I write fantasy stories using a bit of knowledge from my time in the service, such as counselling, history and traditions that equate to fantasy worlds.

Re: Introduce Yourself

RachLaurel — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:16:32 -0500

Mine isn't directly about the military, but several of my characters this year are former military. Last year about 1/3 of the story took place while the MC was in the military. -Rachel

Moderator Note

Dragonchilde — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:17:38 -0500

Just as a note, this isn't a forum for writing Military Fiction. :) It's for writers in the military to gather. You'll find a military fiction thread right over here in the Adventure genre lounge.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Kalio_chan — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:46:11 -0500

Have fun at FT Gordon is all I can say. Don't touch the girls and stay away from Washington St there. I went to Gordon last year and my husband is there now. Its where all the 25 series hides out at for their job training.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Kalio_chan — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:56:14 -0500

I'm currently a 25Q (A dying MOS sadly that hardly anyone even knew to begin with). Currently in the reserves up in Ohio. I've been in for 3 years and currently a SPC and working on becoming a SGT. I went to basic training at Ft Jackson and AIT at Ft Gordon. Although I wont have to worry about the military causing me to get busy I do have my husband currently at training until December so it makes me a little depressed but hopefully NaNo will distract my mind enough until then.

Re: Introduce Yourself

The Golden Touch — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:10:15 -0500

I'm currently an Airman in the Navy. I work with EA aircraft in Washington. My squadron is working through inspections currently so I need something to occupy my mind that is not work related! I've been in NaNo for two years, never finished because something always comes up. This year, I'm working on finishing completely. I usually write pretty much anything. This year I'm picking up a sort of CSI story except the FBI is involved and all sorts of things. I think it will be a change from my usual entry.

Re: Introduce Yourself

chrisdwu — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:16:35 -0500

MS4 cadet in Army ROTC - I graduate in May, and will be commissioning as a field artillery officer in the Colorado Army National Guard. It wasn't fully what I was expecting, considering I was aiming for active duty and due to a combination of factors including a sudden decrease in the number of available active duty slots. Still, I'm happy that I get to go to a great unit, and in such an awesome state - Colorado, home of the Rocky Mountains! The only real downside is that I have to find a full time job in the meantime, which puts me in the same boat as everyone else and their mother. It's a little jarring when you were intending on being set with a career right out of college. I've done Nanowrimo six times, won five. I intend to rack up another victory this year, no matter how busy my work gets. Interestingly enough, every single successful novel has had a similar protagonist - a male commissioned officer, in some component of SOCOM (Special Operations Command), usually jaded and with a troubled past, facing strange opponents. I wonder if all those times I wrote about such people in high school inspired me to become who I am today?

Re: Introduce Yourself

leest8 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:00:37 -0500

You work on the EA-6? I fly on the EC-130s. Somewhat distantly similar!

Re: Introduce Yourself

Wrlddomhq — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:58:37 -0500

AF SSgt stationed at Aviano, Italy. Third attempt at NaNo. Keeping the fingers crossed. Italian lessons start next month too. I considered writing a military story in the Sci-Fi realm, but decided not to even try. I think that after dealing with the job all day I'd rather not go home and write about it.

Re: Introduce Yourself

krazyjarzyk — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:41:41 -0500

SPC in the Army and currently stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. This will be my first shot and I am hoping it goes well! I have just recently begun writing as the wife and I decided it was time for our MMO madness/addiction to stop and I found this wonderful (I hope) place.

Re: Introduce Yourself

bills6693 — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:53:56 -0500

Just joined my University Royal Naval Unit (in the UK), which gives me a RNR (royal navy reserve) rank and the plan is to join up regulars right after I finish my uni course. My first NaNoWriMo, looking forward to it if I can find the time between uni work and URNU (weekly training and fortnightly weekends at sea or training). Mine actually is military, although not navy-based. Of course, I can't show it to any of you because it'll look stupid compared to your actual experiences.

Re: Introduce Yourself

StormLyrandar — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:01:37 -0500

Midshipman 1/C, United States Naval Academy. I graduate in May as well; I'm hoping to get sent to a surface ship out of Japan after commissioning. This will be my third year; I won for the first time last year and am hoping to repeat the experience. We'll see whether my classes cooperate, I guess... I might actually write something military related this year. I'm thinking of writing a fantasy story where previously secret forms of magic are revealed to the world and organizations like the military have to figure out how to cope with the changes.

Re: Introduce Yourself

bibliophilicboo — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:50:30 -0500

Hi! Im a SGT in the Army. This is my second nano attempt, I got about halfway through last year. Ill be writing from South Korea this year.

Re: Introduce Yourself

MurderDeathKill — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:29:23 -0500

Incidentally I know a few pilots from either airframe from my JSUPT class -- one of you is very lucky, and the other should watch out. See if you can guess which is which! lol. Golden, are you aircrew?

Re: Introduce Yourself

Asukababy — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:54:54 -0500

I'm currently a QM3 in the US Navy! I'm stationed in Naval Station Norfolk and I've been in 4 years and I am going into the Naval Reserves next feburary to settle down in Texas (Where DH is from). Luckily I go on maternity leave in about a week so my work will not hinder my writing! My college will though. Good to see so many military taking part :)

Re: Introduce Yourself

osmiumantidote — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:17:21 -0500

Last year I wrote a military story. It was kind of disturbing, so I won't be doing that again.

Re: Introduce Yourself

osmiumantidote — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:27:19 -0500

Hello! It is nice to meet you all. I am a retired US Army MSG.

Re: Introduce Yourself

carlos242 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:13:08 -0500

Submarine sailor here CS1 (SS)--and then my name. SS stands for Submarine Service--it's my special warfare pin called 'Dolphins'--a naval tradition. I have been on two 688 Los Angeles class fast attack submarines--one I and one T. And am now on what they call a 'T-hole' or Trident Submarine or 'Boomer'. I like to call it a 'continent killer' because really, that's the honest truth--that's what it can do. So, I cook the food for the guys who 'push the button'. I have also been on a Seawolf class submarine called the SSN-22 Connecticut--the one that can...and I won't say, because I don't want to go to prison forever--not supposed to talk about ships operations. I only have one year in the Navy left and plan on cooking when I get out. I went to the 3month training to go on an IA, but didn't go, because I was an alternate--would have went if someone was injured durring training--and people were, but not the same equal rank as me. I love to write and I don't know why. Am participating in nano this year and am a 37 year old male with two kid daughters who and I grew up in a christian boys home so I am writing about that--fiction YA about my experiences. ttyl

Re: Introduce Yourself

DianaQM — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:22:58 -0500

Hello there! This is my first attempt at NaNo :) Im an Air Force spouse. Husband's a TSgt. We're stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

Re: Introduce Yourself

staceycalderone — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:58:09 -0500

I'm a SrA in the US Air Force (or... I will be as of Sunday), and my husband is a SSgt in the Air Force as well. We are both stationed at McConnell AFB in KS, the first duty station for both of us. My husband is a crew chief for KC-135s, and deploys a lot. He is deployed right now for the second time this year. He is at an "undisclosed location in the south of Spain" providing support for the NATO operation in Libya (Yay, they got Gadhafi! Maybe they can send him home now!). I work as a Network Infrastructure Technician... basically dealing with the physical infrastructure of the base's network. I activate the LAN jack that takes your computer to the internetz! This will be my first time participating in NaNoWriMo, and even then I won't exactly be adhering to the rules. For the past 6ish weeks I've been working on a project and I've got around 20k words, and I'm going to try and finish it by the end of November. Kind of a lofty goal since I'm shooting for 80k words rather than 50k, but eh. I love to write, and I've been doing it since I was about 7 or 8 (am now 25)... I didn't know how to type back then, so I wrote out my stories in my notebooks and my parents would type them up for me on our ancient Gateway PC. Plus in college, I flip-flopped my major so many times, but it was always English/Professional Writing/Creative Nonfiction. I love books, and I love the written word. Anyway, good luck to all of you!

Re: Introduce Yourself

riotreality — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:32:39 -0500

I'm currently trying to get into the military. Should I be here? I'm not sure. I've gotten a seventy-five on the ASVAB, I've got a job in the Army Reserves set aside for me as a health care specialist, I qualified for the max amount of college money, I just got my physical today, and I need to do a psych evaluation. I was pretty crushed when I was told I wouldn't be raising my right hand today. Hopefully it all works out, right?

Re: Introduce Yourself

boomerman9 — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:09:48 -0500

SIR, airman basic boomerman9 reports as ordered! just out of bmt for the warhead on forehead air force, cruising through tech school and found time in all the Hubbub at the super busy and exciting (NOT) Sheppard AFB to reboot my 4 years in the making novel, fall of knight. aiming to get my hat trick this year and keep pushing onward so i have something to publish in the next 6 years. seriously feel free to message me ive soloed nano the past 2 years with no help/advice from other people, it would be awesome to get it from my wingmen (applied to all branches not just the air force)

Re: Introduce Yourself

The Golden Touch — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:23:38 -0500

Growlers, baby. ^^ We are all on the same side, it's all aimed in the same direction.

Re: Introduce Yourself

The Golden Touch — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:24:49 -0500

All of our pilots pretty much rock in my squadron. I'm just a lowly PC- no biggie.

Re: Introduce Yourself

JonathanS223 — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:16:37 -0500

Hey all! I'm a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force in Seymour Johnson AFB. Good to see more uniform wearing Wrimos!

Re: Introduce Yourself

stefrocks — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:12:37 -0500

Signal Corps! Well, not anymore for me, but I spent 9 years Active Duty Army. :) I was a 31F, but I know they've changed all the 31's to 25's (I think that happened right after I got out).

Re: Introduce Yourself

stefrocks — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:15:48 -0500

This is my 3rd year doing Nano and in both of my previous ones, my MC's were prior service. I guess we tend to write what we know a lot...

Re: Introduce Yourself

stefrocks — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:16:43 -0500

I'm doing that this year. It may be disturbing, but I think I need to write it.

Re: Introduce Yourself

camclemons — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 07:24:35 -0500

Senior Airman currently at Osan AB, ROK as a 1N3 Cryptologic Language Analyst. I'll be headed to JB Hickam-Pearl Harbor, HI in August, 2012. It's my first attempt at NaNo though I've been interested in participating for several years. If anyone knows linguists, you could have probably guess that I'll be writing in the Fantasy genre. =P I'd love to hear from some fellow military writers out there. Shoot me a message and I'd be glad to talk, proofread, critique and offer support in any way I can. Good luck to you all!

Re: Introduce Yourself

seanna.cullen — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:17:33 -0500

You absolutely belong here! You've identified the desire to be in the military, started on the path towards it and now are waiting for the last part of the process to get going. That makes you military in my book, as opposed to the wanna-be's and posers. Good luck with your medical evals and when everything is over good luck with Basic and AIT. In the meantime, enjoy the NaNo insanity.

Re: Introduce Yourself

auburnfaerie — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 03:39:41 -0500

Hey all! I'm a Technical Sergeant in the USAF stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. This is my fifth NaNo. Last year I was moving from a remote to pick up my family and head up here so I missed NaNo. It's good to see so many service personnel involved! My genre is Sci Fi Romance. Good luck to all of you!

Re: Introduce Yourself

triangleman — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 10:17:47 -0500

Cheers! I'm the most fearsome thing in the entire military - a 2d lieutenant and a logistician. (To be fair, I pin on 1LT in February.) I tried this last year, but had a bad start, without much planning beforehand, and a bunch of training and moving that kept getting in the way. But my idea was cool, and I'm toying with the idea of recycling it and starting over this year - or just picking up where I left off and writing 50K into it. Currently stationed at Pope AFB, NC (aka No Hope Pope ;) ), recently ingested by the Army to become Pope Field. It's not THAT bad, really. I used to be at Laughlin, which was a nice base but located in Del Rio (known locally as Del Rectum), south Texas/Mexico.

Re: Introduce Yourself

DarkAngel0913 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:32:35 -0500

Not this year. I wrote a military based novel last year for my win.

Re: Introduce Yourself

DarkAngel0913 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:38:43 -0500

I am a SGT in the Army. My MOS is 68W (Health Care Specialist/Combat Medic). This will be my third year doing nanowrimo with hopes of another win. Last year I wrote my novel in Iraq and barely slept. Still forming what my novel is about, but it always comes together before the beginning of Nanowrimo. Good luck to everybody!

Re: Introduce Yourself

DarkAngel0913 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:41:41 -0500

When you go to AIT and begin the sticks (IVs/drawing blood), wear long sleeves when you go off-post. Otherwise you will see nothing but sneers on their faces when they look at your arms. Just a tip.

Re: Introduce Yourself

DarkAngel0913 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:43:03 -0500

Welcome to Nanowrimo MSG.

Re: Introduce Yourself

khedger — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:53:10 -0500

Hello, all! I'm Keith Hedger, once upon a time a SGT in the U.S. Army, where I got to do interesting things as first an engineer (heavy construction equipment operator) and then a Radio Repair Technician (where I got put in a computer shop, and having looked back). In the process of all that I got to see many interesting and exotic locations, like Ft. Dix, New Jersey (Basic Training), Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri (Engineer AIT), Ft. Benning, GA (1st Active Duty Assignment), Honduras (deployment), NTC (Deployment), Iraq (way back when it was a quick in and out, in '91), Ft. Gordon, GA (Signal AIT), Wiesbaden Air Base, Germay (3 years), Kaposvar, Hungary (Deployed to support operations in Bosnia), and then back to Ft. Benning, GA. Got out from Ft. Benning, and stayed in Columbus, Ga, where I've made a living as a network geek, completed a Masters degree in Computer Science: Information Assurance (its security focus, not just making sure the back ups happened), and am still married to my wife of 15 years (who was also a soldier, and is now a science teacher). I'm back to being a government contractor, and things are going well. So much for NCO meaning 'No Chance Outside' ;) This year's nano novel will have elements of military considerations, but it's a fantasy story, so I'm going to try to subtle those elements down (outside of the actual fight scenes). This is my fifth year doing Nano, and, hopefully, it will be my fifth win! Good luck to everyone! Thanks to all of you who have served and are serving!

Re: Introduce Yourself

theLiterator — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:16:14 -0500

I'm not sure I belong here, but I'm crashing the party anyway. I'm a career brat, my dad retired last year from the USAF as a Chief, and I'm currently a civilian working for the Top of the World club in Thule, Greenland. Two words for y'all: Remotes suck. And why isn't there a region for remotely stationed military folks? Surely there's enough of you/us?

Re: Introduce Yourself

riotreality — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:00:31 -0500

Thank you for your encouragement! It means a lot to me, actually.

Re: Introduce Yourself

riotreality — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:01:15 -0500

I didn't mention that the psych evaluation was for previous self-mutilation... is that the main reason they call them?

Re: Introduce Yourself

lvmcdonald — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:14:43 -0500

I just have to throw in here since apparently I'm the first of my service. I'm a Cpl in that most amazing United States Marine Corps. I'll be attempting my 50K from Afghanistan. Errah!

Re: Introduce Yourself

atsammy — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:39:00 -0500

I'm a Lieutenant in the Navy, currently stationed out of Norfolk though I've spent 2.5 year in Japan before coming here (I miss living there...) This is my second year doing NaNo, I won last year, and am hoping to this year aswell. Though I'm in the middle of my master's degree now, which may get in the way. I'm hoping not. But I am on shore duty now, and I won last year while on a ship dealing with that crazy schedule, so, fingers crossed? (also, to the person who bet no military people will write a military story... Mine will be a military story, in part. There is a lot you can do with the life of a SWO... besides read the Broadsides cartoons).

Re: Introduce Yourself

atsammy — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:42:53 -0500

Best of luck your firstie year! And getting a ship out of Japan. I was on Stethem out there after I got commissioned in '07; Japan is a FANTASTIC place to go for your first tour. Yoko is great, being so close to Tokyo, but Sasebo is not a bad place to be either. My first year, my CO took us to Sasebo every time we were underway (which was a lot, on a ship in Japan you'll never have any trouble getting underway time for quals).

Re: Introduce Yourself

michaelkingswood — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:39:21 -0500

Hi! I'm a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. I drive submarines. Or at least I used to. Now I'm an education and training specialist, and I'm the XO of the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa, NY. I've been stationed on two submarines: KAMEHAMEHA in Pearl Harbor and PITTSBURGH in Groton, CT (and Portsmouth, NH). I've also been stationed in DC, Charleston SC, and Bremerton WA. I've done two deployments to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf and one to Southern Command. This is my first time trying NaNoWriMo. Should be fun!

Re: Introduce Yourself

Alameda — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:13:00 -0500

Navy spouse who's husband is a geobachelor at JEB LC. While I do miss living outside of gate 5, overlooking the commissary and Starbucks, it is a wonderful feeling to finally live in "The Retirement House". I won NaNo two years ago when my husband was deployed in Iraq. Last April he was in a car accident in Iraq and was able to come home to recover. While he certainly encouraged me to attend write-ins and take time to write, my heart was not in it and lost. Now that he's mostly recovered and back in Virginia, I hope I can add another win this year! (Although it would be terrible if my husband's presence induced writer's block :P) Good luck and please kick me out of the military lounge if I stay too long! P.S. I was going to include a link to my blog if you wanted to know more about the accident but figured it might be against the rules. My blog is listed in my profile :)

Re: Introduce Yourself

meganarmstrong — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:45:29 -0500

Hallo! I'm an army wife, my husband is 15Y active duty SGT (he does the electrical work on Apache helicopters) and we are stationed in Illesheim, Germany! This is my 2nd yr doing NaNoWriMo . . . started in 2008 where I got to almost 30k, didn't participate in 09 because that was the month my husband was coming back from deployment, and I didn't participate last year because we had just moved to Germany and had no internet access. But I'm here this year and I'm hoping to win! I'm writing about the zombie apocalypse and hoping to put a fresh spin on the cliche by writing my novel from the point of view of the zombie. Lets just hope I can write over the dang roar of all these Apaches . . . I have the misfortune of living on an extremely small base where I live righttt next to the airfield . . . =(

Re: Introduce Yourself

meganarmstrong — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:47:31 -0500

Wow - 70k! Ambitious! What base in Germany are you stationed at if you don't mind me asking? We're in Illesheim, Germany, part of USAG Ansbach down in Bavaria.

Re: Introduce Yourself

DarkAngel0913 — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:19:58 -0500

The bruises and marks that you will get on your arm will be due to mess ups in training during the IV/blood drawing portion of training. To most it looks like you are a junkie. Many in my class came back complaining of the sneers from off-post. Most of the military understands at Fort Sam Houston that if you have that many needle marks and you are not bothered to show it, it means you are a medic or a lab tech. Outside of the military...they assume junkie.

Re: Introduce Yourself

osmiumantidote — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:24:41 -0500

Thank you. This is my fourth NANOWRIMO. Last year I wrote from Afghanistan. I didn't get to participate much in the forums because our internet was spotty at best. I had to update my word count and get off. This year I plan to spend more time here.

Re: Introduce Yourself

ChavezIsBored — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:21:58 -0500

I tried to invite the Marines stationed on Okinawa to join in on some NaNo but I didn't get any response. From what my brother told me about the Marines is that they tend to read a lot during downtime because there is not anything else to do, so I figure writing wouldn't be too far of a stretch. Then again they could have a huge secret NaNoWriMo battle plan and just not share it with me because I'm AF.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Kathy Crouch — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:01:38 -0500

Hi Y'al I'm Kathy I'm a Veteran 1974-1978 Quartermaster. I write all types of fiction. This is my third year to participate.

Re: Introduce Yourself

riotreality — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:31:11 -0500

Oh. I feel really silly now. I've really been stressing over this whole thing. :\

Re: Introduce Yourself

Tia Nevitt — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:13:42 -0500

I'm a veteran--are we allowed in? I served during the Cold War, in the AF as a 431 working on T-37s and T-38s. Nowadays, I write fairy tale retellings. Yeah, go figure. I did draw on my military background to write a spy fantasy that I'm still trying to sell, but for now it's all evil fairies and magic spells. I'm a member of RomVets, a group of female romance writers who once served. Let me know if you're interested in joining. For NaNoWriMo, I'm going to be working on a novella, so I won't be actually shooting for the official word count. I'll be shooting to finish the novella in a month, which WILL be a challenge for me.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Isagirl — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:50:29 -0500

Army brat reporting for duty! Born in Georgia, currently living with my family in Kansas. Fourth year doing Nano, I'm really excited to be doing this again. Of course, I'll have to juggle school and everything else, but all true writers suffer for their art. Right?

Re: Moderator Note

sunnan — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 03:39:35 -0500

I was just commenting leest8's comment about non-military personnel writing a story about the military. I know this isn't the forum for military fiction.

Re: Introduce Yourself

SerenaWolfe — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:37:50 -0500

Hello All! I'm a former U.S. Navy CTT. I served from '88 - '94 and was stationed in Japan, Hawaii, and Florida. I'm married to a former Marine and we live in Upstate NY. I've been writing since grade school...little stories and such. High School was where my love of writing really blossomed. I began my first novel then and still have my handwritten copy of it tucked away. I also had a great English teacher who was a published author and she has been the encouraging voice in my head ever since. I took a long hiatus from writing as I went through my military years. I came back to writing briefly when my children (3 of them) were 5, 3 and 6 months. My hubby had accepted a job in Dubai, UAE and left me with the kids while he prepared our way for joining him. Having no adult companionship, I spent any extra time escaping into my world of writing. I finished my first novel during that three month period of transition. After completing that novel, I again took a hiatus from writing to concentrate on raising the kids. Hard to believe, but they are all on the verge of stepping into adulthood. My eldest will be following in my footsteps. She is part of the delayed entry program and will be leaving for Navy boot camp in Feb. Anyway, a couple of years ago I picked up the proverbial pen and began writing again. I struggled for a while trying to find focus and rediscover who I am as a writer. I have finally settled in and my voice is stronger than ever. I write Urban Fantasy and LOVE writing again. I did NaNo last year, but didn't quite make it. This year... well...we shall see!

Re: Introduce Yourself

SerenaWolfe — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:48:05 -0500

Hey Seanna! Glad to see a fellow RomVet here! Can't wait to get started!

Re: Introduce Yourself

DarkAngel0913 — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:21:12 -0500

Nothing to stress over. It amused some of us. It never mattered the comments that were made because some of us was thrilled at the chance to train and graduate as a medic. A few sneers is not strong enough to break the proud feeling of graduating with the knowledge to one day save your fellow battlebuddies from death.

Re: Introduce Yourself

jalypo42 — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:24:24 -0500

I am currently hanging out in Korea right now. My husband did nano and won last year, but this year he is in classes and doesn't have me with him to help with our children. I am partly doing NaNo so I won't think about not being with my family so much and partly because I want to see if I can do win as well.

Re: Introduce Yourself

seanna.cullen — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 10:37:06 -0500

Hi Serena! RomVets Rock! Kathy and Tia posted their Hello's further down. Looking forward to conquering the NaNo insanity with you.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Darth Arthur — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:37:00 -0500

I'm in the Army, just changed MOS from Field Artillery to Air Defense Artillery and I PCS this month. It seems the Army throws something at me every November, but I'm going for it this year! It will be a challenge, but I don't report in until 30 November at the new unit! It works out in a way... just going to do my best!

Re: Military guy who writes fiction about the military

Jim Miller — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:14:44 -0500

Jim here. I'm a retired Canadian Army officer and I write military mystery novels. I have two up on Amazon right now. Served with the Cdn Black Watch, PPCLI and the Canadian Rangers (not a unit like the US Rangers, the Cdn Rangers are reservists in isolated points across Canada). My main area of writing is a series about an imaginary highland regiment and the time frame is 1964 up to (so far) 1972. For those of you who have the time and are looking for ways to complete a Nano, give the 3 Day Novel Writing contest a shot. It takes place every Labour Day weekend and it forces you to focus on writing. Once you try that and get in around 30,000 words in 72 hours, Nano no longer looks so daunting. This is my second Nano, but I have completed the 3 Day five times.

Re: Introduce Yourself

SerenaWolfe — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:14:29 -0500

Hey Kathy! Looking forward to doing this. May the RomVets ROCK THE HOUSE!

Re: Introduce Yourself

CherryRoss — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:02:46 -0500

Australian Sailor here, been in 10 yrs Husband just shy of 15. 6th year doing nano won 5 times but this year will be a little harder as I am home alone with a 4yr old as husband is currently deployed an am 27 weeks pregnant so we'll see how I go.

Re: Introduce Yourself

maiyashorii — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:22:49 -0500

I seem to be the first Coast Guardsman checking in. I went through boot camp this past February/March. Lovely weather in New Jersey that time of year :p. This is my second NaNo; here's to hoping I actually win this year!

Re: Introduce Yourself

Tin Robot — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:50:12 -0500

I'm an Army strategist with USARCENT, at Shaw AFB in Sumter, SC. As an enlisted man, I was a 25Q. I have an outline for my novel based on Larry Brooks structure books. I plan to use NaNoWriMo to keep me on track connecting the dots I plotted out for myself. Good luck, Everyone.

Re: Introduce Yourself

teckjack — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:19:21 -0500

Hey, I am a no hook private in the RCAF, just finished my QL 3 in Kingston as an ATIS tech (radar, radio, computers...anything else...) First posting is to CFB Trenton. Tried and failed a number of times... Training has thus far stopped me from compleating the last two nanowrimos... (BMQ OCT-MAR 2009-2010) and POET in 2010... looking forward to finishing this year.

Re: Introduce Yourself

teckjack — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:45:23 -0500

Bremerton is a nice town, I had a brother living out in Gig Harbor for three years. Have fun with this, and good luck!

Re: Introduce Yourself

teckjack — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:51:36 -0500

How's it going sailor? You in Esquimalt, or Hali? Know an OS Abraham, or OS Alexander?

Re: Introduce Yourself

teckjack — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:53:10 -0500

Hey, Watertown is a swell place. I'm right over the boarder in Kingston (Trenton now) Good luck with the writing!

Re: Introduce Yourself

noshot — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:19:40 -0500

Previously an 11M e-5 Guardsman here. Spent some time as a gunner on an M2A2 ODS Bradley, then switched to a dismount team leader position. Only had a 7 month paid vacation to Tuzla, Bosnia in 2003 as part of SFOR 13 during my 6 years in. First time doing nanowrimo! My thanks and admiration go to all the military folks on here, especially the infantry (even any of you dirt-darts out there)!

Re: Introduce Yourself

princeofdarkness — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:58:29 -0500

Fourth year doing Nano, CMSgt Retired (2010), Air Force... thanx everyone for your service, at home, abroad, or both:) X

Re: Introduce Yourself

Tegh — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:18:43 -0500

IT3, USN, Yokosuka Japan...reporting in! My job doesn't really offer a lot of down time, but I'm happy to say i managed NaNo last year and am shooting for it again this year. Been Stationed over here about 3 years now, and love the Pacific/Asia/Japan lol. We've had one tough year, so I'm hoping that the writing might bring my stress level down a few dozen notches.

Re: Introduce Yourself

cho12801 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:54:56 -0500

h Darth I am sorry! LOL I have been in an Air Defense Artillery unit for the last 6 miserable years :P Although i am sure it will be differnt for you because you are Air Defense, I am Chem corps and in the maintenace unit so that could play a very large part in it all!

Re: Introduce Yourself

cho12801 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:56:27 -0500

My name is Ashley-Lane i am an Army sergeant stationed in Ft. Bragg, and am the ML for the Fayetteville area! Been doing nano for umpteen million years now and have managed to complete my novels in South Korea and in the sand box (more like the kiddy sand box but still part of the desert) I wish you all the best of luck on your novels this month! P.S. All typos are currently left in place because for the month of december I have made it impossiable to hit the back space... litterly removed the button from my keyboard LOL

Re: Introduce Yourself

celeber — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 22:05:42 -0500

Howdy, I'm a Tsgt in the Air Force and work as an avionics guidance and control technician. I'm married to a Ssgt that works in SF. I have attempted nano a handful of times and have never accomplished the 50K mark. I believe this is my year. I am currently workin on an urban fantasy and will see you all at 50K and beyond. I'm thrilled to see so many military members out there writing. A bit of advice I heard recently, "Writers who don't take risks, who try to please everyone, are failed writers." Good Luck and Write on!

Re: Introduce Yourself

Vincentus — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:59:35 -0500

Hopefully they don't mind veterans posting here! I did four years in the US Navy, honorable discharge as a CS3. Most likely going to push for the reserves in the next year or two if they don't downsize too badly. Shout out to all our brothers and sisters overseas and on ships! Keep our country free and keep your spirts high, we're rooting for you!

Re: Introduce Yourself

SpiderWolve — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 11:39:20 -0600

Hello, I'm an Electronics Tech 3rd Class in the Navy, currently stationed in Annapolis. This is my fourth attempt at Nano, twice won before hand.

Re: Introduce Yourself

shaqofsteel — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:07:37 -0600

Hello all, my names Aviv and I sail for the Israeli Navy. Best of luck with your novels.

Re: Introduce Yourself

zenken — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:35:23 -0600

I'm not sure why I haven't posted here. I've done it in previous nano iterations. LCDR in Submarines. In the Reserves now, but currently stationed in Djibouti, Africa. This is my fourth NaNoWriMo. The past three have been a trilogy, mostly near future/present science fiction with a dash of mythos. This nano I'm going back and writing part 2 of the first novel , hopefully for follow-on editing and submission for publication. Definitely over the years working one story I've gotten deeper research in the story. I am definitely missing gaps of knowledge for my story. Will I come back to it next year? I'm not sure. I have no shortage of story ideas. Most are going to end up as short stories or scripts. The nice thing about nano is that it's become almost a holiday tradition (let's call it a tradition after 5 years..). Hallowe'en ends and NaNoWriMo starts and ends just as the holiday season hits full stride. If you win, you have a sense of fulfillment that lasts for the rest of the holidays. I plan on doing nano for the foreseeable future. It's at a great time of the year where I have a ton of energy some time to devote to creative pursuits.

Re: Introduce Yourself

lcplsnd — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:25:37 -0600

Hello, everyone. I'm (kind of obviously...) a lance corporal in the Marine Corps. I've been in two years, currently in the National Capital Region. I've been writing since I was physically able and will continue to do so until I die. Hopefully. This is my first year doing NaNoWriMo. I'm trying awaken my muse after so many rusty years.

Re: Introduce Yourself

pkibellus — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:55:10 -0600

Educate me - When I was in BCT was basic combat training and to become an officer at Benning it was BIOCC Basic Infantry Officer Candidate Course. We just called it OCS when I went there as an E6. I know things have changed dramatically since I retired as a MAJ SC.

Re: Introduce Yourself

ulyferal — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:10:16 -0600

I'm a retired USAF, technical sergeant (E-6), administrative specialist. Served from 1971-1991. Met and married my husband on my first duty assignment in Washington, we went to Hawaii as newlyweds, North Carolina after that, and three years in Germany after that. Lost my father to early death while halfway through my tour of Germany ... so glad I had my mate to get me through such a terrible time. Assignment after that was Abilene, Tx where my first child was born and my husband took an assignment to Turkey without me. We met up again in Washington once more, coming full circle and still married but with three children now. Ran my own cat grooming parlor after service for 20 more years, retired from that now. Writing since 2006 of fan fiction only. This is my first NANOWRIMO and writing an original novel. Made it to over 50k by 21 Nov. Good luck to the rest of you, hope you make it too.

Re: Introduce Yourself

pkibellus — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:56:03 -0600

Glad to met you. I see you are already a winner - and on yoyur first NaNo - Wow! I wish we had met earlier I would have like to have you as a Writing Buddy. We have a lot in common. I am retired Army 71-91 and was E6 when I went to OCS. I also met my husband at my first commission assignment Ft Gordon GA and spent 3 years in Germany where my first child was born. It was my mother that I lost that my mate suffered through with me and the next year he lost his mother and I was able to repay his kindnesses. We are still married after 30 years with 2 children. I am retired from teaching which I went into after the Army. This is my 5th year in Nano but I have only won once. I could use so tips from the Newbie :)

Re: Introduce Yourself

aam2784 — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:24:33 -0600

Hello all! I am a former Marine with eight years of service under my belt. During those eight years of service I was a Field Radio Operator. My years as a Marine has taken me to parts of the world I would never ever imagined that I would see in my life time. Sadly, I gave up that life to become a college student. Lol, I'm new at NaNo and I am looking for advice on how to start writing short stories. I have lots of experiences that I want to write about but I don't know where to begin. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Other than that I am glad to be a part of NaNo!

Re: Introduce Yourself

Samantha-Aniwaya — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:38:42 -0600

Hi everyone :) I'm a future Soldier, enlisted in the US Army. I'll be in delayed entry until after I graduate high school but I'm very excited (and nervous!) to start my career! I'll be in AIT by the time next November rolls around and I'm not really sure if I'll have the opportunity to write or not. Anyone have any experience writing during training?

Re: Introduce Yourself

mario5157 — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:41:59 -0500

Hi guys, I am Cadet Senior airman Mario5157 and I am currently planning to join the US Airforce as a 2nd Lieutenant.