USMC--582 hrs combat (not counting combat support) in 4 years as a tanker guy. That said, I heard a lot of radio chatter about helos taking fire. Those guys have gonads that clank.[/quote]

Like I said FFLS - I'm not about to get into a contest with you over "combat" time. I'll concede that you have more time in theater than I do - and probably just as many more hours than I do. All I can compare 582 hours too is that it is about the same as the number of miles I was behind enemy lines
But seriously - that is like the guys now days walking around with their 100 combat missions patches who haven't even seen a shot fired in anger. Granted they may once in awhile get to employ, but like many saw on the PBS show 'Carrier' - when you are just out there holding for a few hours in circles not doing much of anything when the helos guys are taking some serious ground fire on a daily basis it just doesn't carry the same weight; would you really stand next to helo guys at the bar and spout off about your combat hours? I know I wouldn't. I'd tip my hat and make sure they didn't buy a drink all night long.

By the way.....I have even more hours than 582 in theater but they don't count for this discussion since they were spent on the ground setting up airbases/FOB/FARPs and running convoys (Well...at least my command. You know they don't let XO's have much fun)