Veterans

usaf-vet

(7,109 posts)

15. Here is how thousand of military age men (and maybe) women started.

Wed May 16, 2018, 11:33 AM

May 2018

October 1965. Boot camp. Texas. Drill instructor on the first morning standing in front of what was to be home for 8 weeks.

Drill instructor ok here is how it works. "Twice a day those that smoke get a 15 min smoke break outside in designated area.
the rest stay in the barracks polish boot, clean, straighten lockers, read training manuals... STAY BUSY and AWAKE!"

Drill instructor "OK HOW MANY OF YOU SMOKE? TAKE ONE STEP FOWARD! LAST CHANCE ANYONE ELSE?" I became a first time smoker on that day in that very minute.

I then smoke for 8 years and stopped the day my son was born. Cold turkey. 45 years as of last month.

I know my two brother-in-laws have similar stories of when and how they started.

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Ya know - After 3+ decades of smoking [View all] The Polack MSgt May 2018 OP

congratulations.. That is a huge accomplishment. nt Fresh_Start May 2018 #1

40 years of three packs a day and it wasn't easy... TreasonousBastard May 2018 #2

Well, for some it does go away completely. JayhawkSD May 2018 #40

I'm still scratching my head over how people start in the first place. Aristus May 2018 #3

I always wondered why cigarettes are seen as "macho"... Foolacious May 2018 #13

Here is how thousand of military age men (and maybe) women started. usaf-vet May 2018 #15

That's awful. Aristus May 2018 #23

Tobacco manufacturers got permission to add smokes to the rations for soldiers Marthe48 May 2018 #24

Yeah, C-rat packs came with a little mini-pack of smokes. Aristus May 2018 #25

and my husband said cigarettes were super cheap at the PX Marthe48 May 2018 #31

Cigs were sold in the Commissary and Exchange without taxes The Polack MSgt May 2018 #36

I think I'm a bit older than you. JayhawkSD May 2018 #41

I don't remember what they cost back in my 1st enlistment (Joined in 82) The Polack MSgt May 2018 #44

Yeah, I'm older than you. JayhawkSD May 2018 #48

Probably not Top - Probably not The Polack MSgt May 2018 #56

John (my husband) U.S. Army Marthe48 May 2018 #52

Ex camel straight pack a day smoker myself Canoe52 May 2018 #4

I don't think I would argue with that. JayhawkSD May 2018 #47

Stay strong brother! Glamrock May 2018 #5

Take about 10 really deep breaths when the urge hits you rurallib May 2018 #6

It's one of THE most difficult addictions to kick, physiologically and psychologically. TygrBright May 2018 #7

I know you have a craving right now but if you give in flamin lib May 2018 #8

bravo, glad you could quit heaven05 May 2018 #9

Glad you can talk about a bout with cancer in past tense. Congrats back to you The Polack MSgt May 2018 #28

Good for you - packman May 2018 #10

39 years and now COPD. Off to the doc on Friday. Faygo Kid May 2018 #11

My mom quit MFM008 May 2018 #26

I quit with Chantix too lunatica May 2018 #12

Spouse stopped smoking 20 years ago - cold turkey, with the help of Tic-tacs and jerky. haele May 2018 #21

Cigarette smoke makes me nauseous now lunatica May 2018 #42

That is what it's all about. Your brain wants to smoke, NOT YOU. Tikki May 2018 #34

The California anti smoking laws helped me too lunatica May 2018 #45

The craving never goes away. jimmil May 2018 #14

Don't give in! Ohioboy May 2018 #16

My dad finally quit when he went on oxygen. Hell of a way to go. jalan48 May 2018 #17

You got to admit: you feel better now than you ever have in a long time. Butt, Smoke Pit..... marble falls May 2018 #18

Perhaps another way to get motivated to quit PoindexterOglethorpe May 2018 #19

The exception Runningdawg May 2018 #38

You were the only smoker out of how large a class? PoindexterOglethorpe May 2018 #54

Well you kinda of nailed that one Runningdawg May 2018 #61

Oh, my! PoindexterOglethorpe May 2018 #62

Still BigOleDummy May 2018 #20

Chantix raises blood pressure, so that may be why The Polack MSgt May 2018 #32

ROD SERLING, THE SMOKER WHO HATED SMOKING Jimvanhise May 2018 #22

Thank God you quit shenmue May 2018 #27

Cinnamon red hots Marthe48 May 2018 #29

I always kept one thought in mind: quitting smoking won't kill me. byronius May 2018 #30

Take up another harmless addition instead. Doodley May 2018 #33

Congratulations! jmbar2 May 2018 #35

Glad you have managed to Quit! CountAllVotes May 2018 #37

Congratulations Gothmog May 2018 #39

Congratulations! stpetegreg May 2018 #43

Thanks Stpetegreg The Polack MSgt May 2018 #46

Good job Soxfan58 May 2018 #49

For me it was over 50 years. You will have moments but they will become less frequent over time. appleannie1943 May 2018 #50

please stay strong!! handmade34 May 2018 #51

Congrats! Stick with it vlyons May 2018 #53

Thanx Man. The Polack MSgt May 2018 #57

Posted earlier but wanted to say, it's easier to NOT have a cigarette now, Canoe52 May 2018 #58

This is where meditation comes in. WhiteTara May 2018 #55

You know the old saying: BobTheSubgenius May 2018 #59

I quit using Chantix and 5 months into the quit I stopped craving. I never want applegrove May 2018 #60

Well done! DashOneBravo Jun 2018 #63

I evaluate communication technicians and systems in field exercises The Polack MSgt Jun 2018 #64

That's a pretty cool sounding job DashOneBravo Jun 2018 #65

After I retired I tried to go civilian for a couple years The Polack MSgt Jun 2018 #66

You hit the 10 ring Top DashOneBravo Jun 2018 #67