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4 Years USMC 89-93. Served with HQ 7th Marines for three (went to gulf war #1 with them), and 1 year wit Lima battery 3/11 (went to Mogadishu with them).

US Army, 1967-70. Served one tour in Viet Nam.
C Co, 2nd Btn, 60th Inf, 9th Inf Div, Mekong Delta.
11C20

Dep

I spent 9 years in the U.S. Army, all on Ft. Bragg in an airborne unit with just over 100 jumps and seven years in the reserves. I was in both Gulf Wars, returned from Iraq in January of 2004 where I served as company 1st Sergeant.

US Navy 76-82 Sonar Technician.

ORIGINAL: Puukkoo


Translating the Finnish miltitary ranks should go, according to me, like this.

Jääkäri = Private
Korpraali = Corporal
Alikersantti = 'Subsergeant'
Kersantti = Sergeant.

The rank Alikersantti does not properly translate. It is a rank between Corporal and Sergeant, being really neither. A guy who is a alikersantti is usually a squad leader. Sometimes they may be even assistant platoon leaders. Only distinguished squad leaders become sergeants in the Finnish army and they must be officially promoted.

I've let myself to believe that korpraali could be translated as private 1st class and alikersantti would be simply corporal. But like you said:

I just want to say that military ranks are not equally comprehended in all armies of the world. I'm not sure, but Japannese army has even older and younger privates of different grades.

This is so true, that we just have to accept any translations as rough estimates [:)]

-Colonel von Blitz-

I don't know. I've been tenacious with my generic word 'subsergeant' because I don't want to call 'sergeant' a corporal. PFC is, I believe, a term for all soldiers fit for duty and it is lower than Finnish rank 'Corporal'.

Much more of concern are the German 'Sergeants', because it is un-germanic to use that rank to present Unteroffizier or Feldwebel. It is always annoying to me to speak of German Sergeants.

Maybe your generic 'subsergeant' for alikersantti could still be corporal and our korpraali is actually lance corporal ? [:D][:D]

Geez, these comparative ranks are difficult.

-Colonel von Blitz-

Just popped into my mind, Puukkoo, maybe we should settle for those ranks that are used by our own army? Finnish Ranks
[:D]

If we take this table, then korpraali would actually be lance corporal and alikersantti would be corporal

Oh, and by the way, in order to stay on topic: I've also done military service, in finnish navy. My rank is Seaman [:'(]


-Colonel *cough* Seaman von Blitz-

U.S. Army, retired.

ORIGINAL: Colonel von Blitz

Just popped into my mind, Puukkoo, maybe we should settle for those ranks that are used by our own army? Finnish Ranks
[:D]

If we take this table, then korpraali would actually be lance corporal and alikersantti would be corporal

Oh, and by the way, in order to stay on topic: I've also done military service, in finnish navy. My rank is Seaman [:'(]


-Colonel *cough* Seaman von Blitz-

That's just another solution. There's now Slot Machine Fruit Game rolling in my eyes.

I served in the German army in the early 8o's as a conscript, i. e. for 15 month (last rank: Obergefreiter..private first class or so).I was a Jäger, i.e. motorised infantery, and had a G 3 rifle with e telescopic sight (I would not call me really a sniper because there was only on week training for sniper shooting, camouflage etc *s). Jäger were normally equipped with trucks but we had M113 APCs (to increase fighting power *s*). The battalion was situated at Schleswig-Holstein (near Denmark). The heavy weapon company had M 48 tanks instead of the standard "Jagdpanzer Kanone" because the Jagdpanzer could not rise their barrel sufficient to attack enemies on the hills . Consequently the whole tank battalion of the home defense brigade to which my battalion belonged was equipped with M 48s.

The assumed enemies woudl have been Russian paratroops and marines. I had no doubts about the outcome *s* and my only hope was that if the cold war would turn hot the Russian army were at least as bad as the (new) German army.

Geez Zardoz...I would have thought Uncle Sam would have at least sold you guys some M60s. The M48 with a 90MM cannon was pretty weak compared to a Soviet tank. Glad you folks never had to use them!!!! [X(]

Dep

Deputy, the Jagdpanzer Kanone had also only a 90mm gun....; yes, we were part of the "Territorialheer", i.e. part of the army which had rear front tasks, therefore, we got the garbage; the field army had , of course, Leopard 2 tanks and Marder IFVs....

btw: my G3 rifle was two month older than me *s*

Zardoz: I've owned more tha a few H&K 91 rifles (US version of G3) and they functioned flawlessly (unlike a certain black rifle Uncle Sammie still hands out).
My only complaint was the recoil was pretty rough on my old shoulder [:'(]

Dep

68-70 U.S. Navy (USS KING)DLG-10 (Regular). U.S. Army 70-93(Reg INf.)[8|] I was in my whole life it seems. Now retired.[:D]

Police reservist.  Quit after 6 months after one friend died.  It was turbulent times.  On average 4 to 5 police would be killed per week.  Most of them off duty and the perps were mostly never cought.

I seem to have missed this thread.

I was in the US Marine Corps from July 31 1979 to May 31 1995. I was retired medically in late 1999 early 2000, gotta spend 5 years on a med board usually before they retire ya.

I was a Crypto Tech , well until I made Sgt and up, spent 4 years as an instructor at an Army base ( Fort Gordon) 1984-1988. Was great duty, could have stayed another 4 but I didnt join the Marine Corps to " Be all that you can be" ).( After Instructor Duty I was a SSgt and didnt fix much of anything, was section head or other leadership positions) Spent 6 and a half years in Okinawa Jan 81 to July 84 with FSSG and Sept 90 to Sept 93 with Hqs Bn 3rd Mar Div. Was On camp Lejeune twice, first time was with Comm Co Hq Bn 2nd Mar Div from mid 88 to Aug 90 and again with FSSG from Sept 93 to Med board in May 1995.

I missed all the shooting actions. As a tech the chance to be in the right place for such deployments is limited. I left Comm Co Hq Bn 2nd Mar Div kicking and screamin in 90, cause I knew where they would end up. Few Marines left Okinawa for Desert Storm.

Retired as a GySgt. ( E-7 for you non Marines) I loved being a Marine even if I wasnt the best one out there ).

I was in Army Reserve for 15 years here in Australia.
Served with:
40th Independent Rifle Company (later B coy 12/40 Regiment) for 6 years, got to rank of Sergeant.
Norforce (recon force) (voluntry reduction in rank to patrolman (private)) then got to Patrol 2IC (sergeant) for 2 years.
10th Field Ambulance as sergeant in treatment section for 3-4 years.
C coy 51st Btn (recon unit) as Sergeant medic for 1 year.
2 field hospital for 3 years.
then joined regular army as a Doctor with rank of Captain for 5 years.
Got out in 2004 after 6 months in the Solomon Islands.