Any Army brats from the late '80s to early/mid '90s?

Posted by luvisgreaterthanfear@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 14 comments

Curious to see if there are any Army Brats here?

My father was in the Army and I spent a good portion of my younger life in some interesting spots.

Mannheim, Germany from infancy up until approximately 1987
Fort Bliss (El Paso), Texas from approx. '87 to '92
Karlsruhe, Germany for about 2 years then Mannheim, Germany for 1 year.

My folks ended up getting divorced around the time my father was leaving the military, after which I ended up back in the states with my mother, around 1996.

I ended up joining the Army myself but only served for 6 years. Recently I looked up some of my old friends from those days and noticed a decent amount of them ended up joining the military as well. Must be pretty common.

Would love to hear from any others who may have spent the same years in those spots, or who have had similar experiences. Who knows, perhaps we crossed paths at one point.

[-]

Joshua_R_Sims_Art@reddit

I was an Army Brat.

Katterbach in Germany (85 to 88). I remember the transition from Heman to Turtle mania when the cartoon came out. I still like both though. Been watching Thundercats lately for research purposes.

Fort Bliss, El Paso 89 to 92; I remember being friends with my neighbor Melanie and another kid on the street named Nick. I don't remember their last names. Melanie's older brother got me into gaming when Mario 3 came out. I loved playing before occasionally but then this is when it became an obsession for little kid me.

Monterey Bay from 92 to 93. I remember going to the aquarium a lot and loving it. And yes, I ended up taking a Marine Biology class at one of the colleges I eventually went to. I never buy soda anymore but if I do see those plastic things, I cut them up for the turtles. I love seeing on this subreddit that I'm not the only one that has been "programmed" for it.

Finally ended up at Fort Polk from 93 to 98. I remember disappearing into the woods with my friend for hours, Calvin and Hobbes style. I still equate that experience to why I almost never get lost and have a "sense of direction".

It was a unique experience although I haven't met any other military brats my age ever since my Dad retired. I wonder where we all ended up?

Oh also: I considered making a post everytime I hear about "how did that Marilyn Manson rumor spread before the internet?!"

I think it's OUR fault. All us military brats trying to be cool in the new school by spreading weird unverified "facts". I personally spread it to at least four different southern states. I imagine the combination of all of us doing it is probably one way it spread.

I also ended up joining, but went to the Air Force at my Dad's recommendation.

toogd4urgramma@reddit

Brat here. Father was USMC but we never went out of the country.

New River > Pendleton - Bangor > New River > Pendleton 85-98. Parents divorced 00’ back to Pendleton.

2nd Gen Brat as well, both grandparents were US Army.

Kinjos@reddit

Air Force brat

Seymour Johnson AFB North Carolina 83-85 Grissom AFB Indiana 85-89 Anderson AFB Guam 89-91 Barksdale AFB Louisiana 91-92

At the time I hated it always moving, leaving friends behind not seeing extended family very much. In retrospect though it was an incredible experience not many people get to have and I appreciate it.

LassieDear@reddit

I'm a Navy brat but we spent a couple years in Germany and one in England (also two in Iceland but that one actually was a Navy base). We were in Stuttgart when the Berlin Wall fell which was a pretty cool time to be there

0peRightBehindYa@reddit

Born on Ft Benning (technically twice, since I was born again hard there in 2002).

Went to Germany.

Back to Georgia.

Move to Nebraska.

Basically grew up outside of Fort Carson.

Finally moved to Michigan.

All before I was 15.

Mecha_Cthulhu@reddit

I think I’m the only army brat that didn’t get to live somewhere cool like Germany or South Korea or something. At least my dad chose North Carolina instead of Ohio.

Sufficient_Turn_9209@reddit

My dad was Army, but retired when I was 5 because they had me when they were older. His next career brought us all over the US, so we still moved 6 times between 5 and jr year of high school. Then I married an Army brat who became career Army, and kept moving around. Now he has retired, and I'm finally HOME. The plan is to travel until we are too old to go anymore. 🤣🤣

worksnake@reddit

A girl I dated in high school (hi, Amie) was born in Ankara, Turkey. I remember her telling me that the first time. Sigh.

BenSkiBoard@reddit

Air Force brat here. Was at Ramstein from 88-92.

ljofa@reddit

Yes. British army. Only lived in Münster, Hohne, London.

BritOnTheRocks@reddit

Another British army brat checking in. We lived in Germany twice but my Dad got out when I was five. We lived in Wildenrath I believe, which is apparently an RAF base but my Dad was definitely Army, some Signals regiment.

WildRaspberry9927@reddit

Does Air Force count? Before graduating high school i had lived in five u s. states, and three foreign countries. from 7-12 grade i went to five different schools in two states, Germany and Sicily. Both my dad and older sister retired full birds. i am only now coming to appreciate the absolute privilege i had growing up in so many diverse areas. glad to be part of the survivorhood.

nomadicexpat@reddit

Army brat here too. Born in 82 in NC, spent a year there before 2 years in Leavenworth KS, 7 years Ft Ord CA, 2 years AL, 3 years Cairo Egypt, then Ft McPherson and area GA for high school until my dad retired in 1998 or so. Very good times although I never really wanted to join the military myself (fleeting thoughts here and there but I'm too old now anyway!).

DarthBster@reddit

Present. Dad was in the army. Was born in Germany but left when I was 6 weeks old. Lived in VA until he retired in '89 then moved to TN to be close to family.