I joined the Navy in 1970. I spent 5 yrs., then transferred (sp) to the Army Reserves.

I was at that time an E-5. After a few years there, we had to start shooting M-16's, this was no problem as I had as a teen fired an M-1 that belonged to my father.

Well once we started to shoot said weapons, we had to clean them. By this time I'm was an E-6, I had no idea as to how to tear one down and clean, so I had to have a PVT that was with me the first couple of years to help me.

The others kept asking me how as an E-6, I did not know how to clean an M-16.

"What did you do in basic?," they asked. I told them that I was in the Navy during basic and that I had ""GYM'' Class!!

After 17yrs., I retired as an E-7.