Military Personel of CS (May I pick your Brains?)

[Red_Dazes]

I am currently working on a story for a writing challenge.
It's a 15 years Post-Apocalyptic Zombie story, if you were wondering, and it's a pain in the butt.

ANYWAY, As an extra challenge to myself I decided to add a character that is far beyond my normal "comfort" zone. So I made him Ex-Army Special Forces ((at least that is what I am leaning towards thus far))

As I began to write the chapter where he is introduced I realized something truly terrifying... nearly ALL of my "Military Knowledge" comes from the bowels of Hollywood. (in other words it's mostly crap). I want to have a character that is believable not one that just walked off the set of some movie.

I'm not gonna ask for war stories or memoirs, I was just wondering if some of you would be willing to let me pick your brains from time to time when it comes to some of the technical stuff, how he would act or talk, terminology he might use. Or if maybe you'd be willing to give his scenes a read through when it's closer to done and tell me what a moron I am lol

I'm also open to suggestions on books and or text I could read to get some very basic knowledge...

Cause I just read through the 2 pages I wrote and I'm sitting here going..."no way in hell you were ever a soldier dude."

^_^ I appreciate any help in advance. *hugs*

[Architectus Assistantus]

I would recomend to read "The Zombie Survival Guide" by Max Brooks. It is really informative as to surviving the zombie apocolypse. It is written in a serious way.
I have served in the Norwegian army. So if you want to ask about something, just do so. I do not know all there is, but I know some.
But I am not sure of how much help I can be as the Norwegian military life is a bit different from the American one. But ask if you want too.

[Barracuda]

Read Tom Clancy novels. His writing is very realistic with regards to the military. The Bear and The Dragon, Executive Orders, and Debt of Honor. Another good author to read is John Ringo and either the Looking Glass series or the Posleen War Series. While they are science fiction, the way the military is portrayed is very accurate. Both series for Ringo are available to read online free with links in the Wikipedia article for John Ringo.

[Frantic Freddie]

For sheer blood & guts (don't say I didn't warn you!) the Rogue Warrior books by Dick Marcinko are good,he's an actual ex-Navy Seal that has "seen the elephant".

[Red_Dazes]

^_^ Thanks, good book list

I would recomend to read "The Zombie Survival Guide" by Max Brooks. It is really informative as to surviving the zombie apocolypse. It is written in a serious way.

Had this at one time... someone borrowed it and it vanished... I'll go grab it again.

Read Tom Clancy novels. His writing is very realistic with regards to the military. The Bear and The Dragon, Executive Orders, and Debt of Honor. Another good author to read is John Ringo and either the Looking Glass series or the Posleen War Series.

I'll have to give Tom Clancy a go. I actually own the Looking Glass series (or the Beau does) So I'll start on that first.

For sheer blood & guts (don't say I didn't warn you!) the Rogue Warrior books by Dick Marcinko are good,he's an actual ex-Navy Seal that has "seen the elephant".

O.o, I do love gratuitous violence....


^_^ thanks for all the ideas!

[kpzra]

I'll help if I can, hubby is a Ranger and we have a few SF friends.

[wolfie]

Read Tom Clancy novels. His writing is very realistic with regards to the military.

One caution: Tom Clancy novels have some glaring technical errors. While I'm not qualified to comment on the accuracy of military matters, both Sum of All Fears (from time and distance involved, schedule is extremely tight for a team, or for a single keeping 2 log books, but he stops for a sit-down meal) and Debt of Honor (clearance lights don't have that setting) drop the ball completely so far as trucks are concerned.

Almost forgot - the "shuffle" which resulted in another driver smelling the ANFO in the cement mixer in Executive Orders is completely unnecessary.

[terakhan]

Most ZA or post-ZA stories I can think of are within a few weeks, MAYBE months. The only story I can think of that comes close to a 15 year post ZA would be I Am Legend, and those weren't really zombies anyway, in the general sense.

15 years post ZA, you are looking at a generation born with zombies around coming to age, at the same time as you have the generation that was around when it started. There is a lot of things you can do with this project that I can see, and I'm actually kind of excited just thinking about it. Just the setting itself has so much potential that to my knowledge is untapped.

In all honesty, I think the best resources would be your classic zombie movies. With the caveat that as you watch, you are taking notes on all the stupid crap the people do that get them killed, and have your 'hero' NOT DO THOSE THINGS.

Also, perhaps, track down the thread we have here about surviving a zombie apocalypse. Every little bit of inspiration helps, right?

[Salted Grump]

Oh; one other thing; If you pull the 'vocal cues' from, say, the Modern Warfare games, I will reach through my monitor and throttle you. (Nobody says 'Oscar Mike' that often without them actually meaning 'Fuck you, Sir, your wife, sir, and all your kids, sir')

[Meganjo23]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/UsefulNotes

If you go to that page (only if you've got, like, a day or two of free time, mind you) and look under the Military folder, you should find some stuff to help you.

Hope that helps! I love zombies, and zombie fic especially, so I'm happy to do anything that I can do to further the cause, so to speak...

[Red_Dazes]

15 years post ZA, you are looking at a generation born with zombies around coming to age, at the same time as you have the generation that was around when it started. There is a lot of things you can do with this project that I can see, and I'm actually kind of excited just thinking about it. Just the setting itself has so much potential that to my knowledge is untapped.

In all honesty, I think the best resources would be your classic zombie movies. With the caveat that as you watch, you are taking notes on all the stupid crap the people do that get them killed, and have your 'hero' NOT DO THOSE THINGS.

That was my main reason for wanting to try it. Everyone tells about WHEN it happens, but no one tells us what happens AFTER the fact. I've been doing a lot of research about energy resources and such that would still be available after 15 years of no maintenance and it is actually shocking what you could do. I'm having a lot of fun with the story so far.

And yes... I have busted out ALL my old Night of the Living Dead movies ^_^

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/UsefulNotes

If you go to that page (only if you've got, like, a day or two of free time, mind you) and look under the Military folder, you should find some stuff to help you.

Thanks ^_^ I'll check it out on my day off. lol

Oh; one other thing; If you pull the 'vocal cues' from, say, the Modern Warfare games, I will reach through my monitor and throttle you. (Nobody says 'Oscar Mike' that often without them actually meaning 'Fuck you, Sir, your wife, sir, and all your kids, sir')

LOL. Thanks. That is EXACTLY what I am trying to avoid. I don't want someone reading it and thinking "Jesus this person is parroting Hollywood and Video games..." >.<

[RayvenQ]

I'm not military but please please please don't have the military character interchange the terms clip and magazine, sure, have the civvies do that ('cause they be dumb that way probably) but not the military guy.

[Mytical]

Zombies are fun, but IMO they are a bit too wimpy for my taste. Lol, my idea of zombies would be a lot lot worse then those from 'dawn/day/night/land etc'. Oh wait, this is about SF guy..not the zombies lol. Just remember SF guys are human also. Don't be afraid to have them be human.