What takes you back?

[M-11]

This morning I was out on the range when the wind shifted and blew the gunsmoke from 35 students M-4's into my face. The smell triggered such vivid memories of every time I have smelled cordite in the last 15 years that I felt like I was watching a film reel of my military career.

What makes you remember those times?

M-11

[janego10]

The smell of jet fuel (JP-5, etc) always brings me back to my flying days. That and oil and grease almost like a mechanic's garage but a bit different. the smell of some large machinery usually makes me think back to the engine room of Navy ships. I was checking the phone company on an alarm run and as soon as I stepped inside the smell made me feel like I was down in the decks of a Navy ship.

[Bearcat357]

Walking around the MP Station at Schofiled Barracks today as I did a eval of the Garrison LE......

So much the same....but so much is different.....

[JTShooter]

same deal on the firearms range...

any sort of "explosion" out of the ordinary

when we speak of the more "gruesome" side of this line of work...

[JTShooter]

oh, and the building we conducted active shooter in reminded me of a building I had a similar experience with...

[Airforcop]

Probably the most vivid memories came a month or so ago during our annual AR-15 requals. Having been in the Air Force and always having fighters at the bases I've been deployed at, the few times we've had them in the area it always brings back memories.

[Unit453]

I had a female that I dated contact me on facebook recently. We haven't spoke to eachother since 1998. We exchanged about 20 emails and eventually I called her and we spent 3 hours on the phone that first night. We talked about all kinds of stuff and I actually missed her. We laughed our ***es off telling stupid deployment stories about people we knew.

I saw a liveleak video of a bunch of jackasses over in Afghanistan and it made me laugh and think about a lot of stuff from the past. I forgot how fun it really was to be deployed. I forgot how close you get to your squad and how well we knew eachother. I forgot how goofy we could get.

[creolecop]

Before going in the Army I was active Marine Infantry and started in a AAV company. When I am behind a diesel truck that exaust reminds me of sitting in the back of an Amtrack with the "air" on burning my eyes with Diesel exaust. It reminds me of long treks in the back (longest was 12hrs on water, we got lost) dark, cramped but comfortable enough to sleep on the buttstock of your weapon as you rock back and forth with the swells of the sea. Hooorah!!

[11b101abn]

For me, it's sometimes a smell, like diesel, or the smell of CLP or something like that.

In all honesty, just seeing one of these young soldiers reminds me of those days. Especially when I see a 3ID or 101ABN patch. I still have the last set of BDU's I wore while out processing, pressed and starched, along w/ my last pair of Corchoran jump boots, still holding a shine, hanging in my closet.

[LaPlaca]

The smell of jet fuel (JP-5, etc) always brings me back to my flying days. That and oil and grease almost like a mechanic's garage but a bit different. the smell of some large machinery usually makes me think back to the engine room of Navy ships. I was checking the phone company on an alarm run and as soon as I stepped inside the smell made me feel like I was down in the decks of a Navy ship.

+1. And, believe it or not, the weather. Cold days with a low fog layer and smell of wood burning stoves reminds me of Korea and Kosovo. Heat and dirt, Iraq. I work right next to Ft. Hood and the helicopters remind me of my FE days. Not so much anymore though. But like certain temps and wind conditions will remind me of a lot as well. We had range quals this week and sitting in the desert on the bleachers and night fire took me back to basic.

[CAleo]

The smell of Simple Green (cleaning solution).

Gun oil

Diesel exhaust.

[Mstangfk]

diesel fuel

clp

urine

cordite/gunpowder

a ripe fart

smell of burning plastic/rubber

instant coffee (you know that smell)

[FJDave]

CLP, RBC, instant coffee, orwhenever I get into my ACUs and go to drill/AT.

[CAleo]

diesel fuel

clp

urine

cordite/gunpowder

a ripe fart
smell of burning plastic/rubber

instant coffee (you know that smell)

LOL, aint that the truth.

[bikecop136]

For me, it's sometimes a smell, like diesel, or the smell of CLP or something like that.

In all honesty, just seeing one of these young soldiers reminds me of those days. Especially when I see a 3ID or 101ABN patch. I still have the last set of BDU's I wore while out processing, pressed and starched, along w/ my last pair of Corchoran jump boots, still holding a shine, hanging in my closet.

Air Assault....................................