Ever ask yourself... Why did I join the Armed Services of The United States of America? Well, why did you join up?

[The Rooster]

Greetings all. For those that joined and volunteered for our armed forces...

why did you do it? What were the main reasons at the time, that you put your

bacon on the line and raised your right hand and took the oath?

Because the volunteers joined of their own free will, or in some cases even in my lifetime

it was a choice between the armed forces or jail for some people... lol

But I've always wondered what were the reasons people signed up for

of their own free will. I was wondering it myself today.

I'l post my reasons latter.

Cheers!

[atb]

Joined the Army to avoid the draft after giving up a student deferment.

[JohnK83882]

Never did but there are excellent benefits for as little as a two year stint. Just the ability to buy a house without a down payment makes it worthwhile. 

[collectsmedals]

I joined the Navy in 1977. I was in my first year of college, I was passing, but too immature and unfocused to really do well. My father was an Army veteran of World War 2, and I had always seen the military in a positive light. I spoke with recruiters from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The Navy had this thing called the Nuclear Power program which seemed like something I would be interested in and could lead to a good career. It was a six year initial enlistment, but the first two years were school. Best decision I ever made. My six years in the Navy led to a wonderful career in the civilian Nuclear Power Industry. (Note - I did eventually go back to college receiving a Bachelors in Nuclear Engineering and an MBA)

[Rakkasan187]

I joined out of Patriotism to our Nation and to follow in the footsteps of many in my family who had served since the Revolutionary War. In addition to that I was bullied badly in school, and I wanted to prove to others that I was capable of being a Soldier, and a good one at that. Out of my graduating class, there were 12 who enlisted. When I went home on leave a year later, I found out I was only one who stuck it out and all the others had either bad conduct discharges or couldn't make it through basic training.  So, I proved to others that I was capable of what they said I couldn't do.

 

I served 23 years as an infantryman and retired as a Senior Noncommissioned Officer (Master Sergeant), never thought of the post Army benefits that I was entitled to such as VA or school, but when they were made available to me and since I earned them, and I was entitled to them, I took advantage, received my bachelor's degree, went on to a career as a firefighter/medica and retired from that career only to start a third career as a Museum Curator for the US Army...

 

Leigh 

 

 

 

   

[The Rooster]

8 minutes ago, Rakkasan187 said:

I joined out of Patriotism to our Nation and to follow in the footsteps of many in my family who had served since the Revolutionary War. In addition to that I was bullied badly in school, and I wanted to prove to others that I was capable of being a Soldier, and a good one at that. Out of my graduating class, there were 12 who enlisted. When I went home on leave a year later, I found out I was only one who stuck it out and all the others had either bad conduct discharges or couldn't make it through basic training.  So, I proved to others that I was capable of what they said I couldn't do.

 

I served 23 years as an infantryman and retired as a Senior Noncommissioned Officer (Master Sergeant), never thought of the post Army benefits that I was entitled to such as VA or school, but when they were made available to me and since I earned them, and I was entitled to them, I took advantage, received my bachelor's degree, went on to a career as a firefighter/medica and retired from that career only to start a third career as a Museum Curator for the US Army...

 

Leigh 

 

 

 

   

Fantastic! Keep em coming.

I too was one of relatively few to join out

of senior year in high school.

Nov7th 1981. Hardly anyone was going in.

[The Rooster]

Mine was Patriotism. And all of this other stuff. Grandpa Dad and Uncle all served, Moms side had some vets too.

The guard convoys going down the highways when we were on vacation...

the time I was 12 at the airport in Bakersfield California in 1976 and a squdron

of Army Hueys landed and the crews walked through the airport in their pressed pickle suits with black boots and black

gloves. When I was real little like 4 5 and 6 there were alot of Sailors Army Marines and airforce in public at the train stations in the airports...

Vietnam War was going on.....

Movies... War movies.... Being in the cub scouts the boyscouts all added up to me inevitably joining up.

I was a Army Guardsman. Infantry. Part timer. I liked the idea of being in but still being a civilian.

But I had no idea that the part time thing would take up so much space in my mind and free time even just thinking and preparing

, that it was not until I got out,

that my civilian occupation flourished.

I was Signal Corps, Infantry, Anti Armor TOW, spent a year in a MI battalion out of Ohare Airport in the army Reserve.

Spent a little time at a DI unit in the reserve.15 years active guard, a year in the Army Reserve and 2 years inactive.

Never was deployed for anything. I dont get any benefits but I call it luck. Because I was never deployed.

Without being deployed....for over 90 days federal service.... you need 20 years active service in guard or reserves to qualify for bemefits.

That equals 4 years active duty.

But I never joined for benefits and had no intention of staying in so long.

It just kinda happened. lol

lol

 

[atb]

1 hour ago, atb said:

Joined the Army to avoid the draft after giving up a student deferment.

Did three years, Jan 70-Jan 73. Got out, but stayed in active Army Reserve. Re-uped in Regular Army in 74, retired in 91 after the post Desert Storm stop loss ended Then did thirty more years as a DA Civilian employee.

[atb]

30 minutes ago, atb said:

Did three years, Jan 70-Jan 73. Got out, but stayed in active Army Reserve. Re-uped in Regular Army in 74, retired in 91 after the post Desert Storm stop loss ended Then did thirty more years as a DA Civilian employee.

Coincidentally with Rakkasan, had a four year assignment with Army Museums, and then my DAC job was with the same.

[Rhscott]

Well, joining was what my internal direction lead me to all along.  Cant say one thing or the other was “the” factor, just always knew I was going to.  Idealistic? Yea most likely.  Patriotic? Yes, very. Wanting a sense of belonging and friendship.  Yes I suppose; turned out that was the biggest thing looking back.

32 years later (22 active,10 Guard) with several deployments, 4 MOSs, a bunch of schools and a great wife; I would not have changed a thing.  My youngest is now serving as a 11B3P Master Gunner.  Proud but not overly excited as a parent.

I will say that by the end of my second Afghan deployment any lingering idealistic notions were long gone.  The mission creep, waste, apathy, destruction and loss of 17 young Soldiers destroyed that completely.  

[Brig]

Like the majority of my generation - 9/11

 

Like I always told my students, however, the reason one joins is usually different than the reason one fights.

[Dave]

When I was four, my dad bought two surplus jeeps at the local school district auction. One was a 1943 GPW, the other a 1954 M170. He and my older brother restored them and in the process of restoration, we befriended a major collector of military vehicles to assist with getting parts. He had a collection that was _amazing_ of not just vehicles, but everything else military-related, from firearms to medals. When I was 11, I started buying uniforms at the thrift store and the military "bug" bit me. Not only was I a collector, but I couldn't fathom any other job than being in the military. As soon as my graduation from college was set, I went to the recruiter and signed up for OCS. Twenty three years later, I retired. Joining the military was the best decision I ever made, without a doubt.  

[Scott C.]

To fly. I was born into a family of pilots (I was the only one that took the military path) and airplanes were ubiquitous in my upbringing so there was never any doubt about my future.  Loved every minute of the 21 years I spent in the USAF.

[bigschuss]

For me, it was almost quite literally my destiny...or in my DNA.  Growing up listening to all my family members talk about the military and the wars in which they fought...I knew from a very early age that I would serve in the military, and at 17 I enlisted.  

 

My father was in Vietnam

His mother (my grandmother) served in the WAVES during WWII.

Her husband (my grandfather) was in CBI during WWII

His father (my great-grandfather) served in France during WWI.

One of my grandmother's brothers (great uncle) was a WWII vet and a B-29 navigator post war...another served in combat in Korea.

My grandfather's cousin was KIA on Iwo Jima.

 

There was no escaping it for me...not that I wanted to.  

 

 

 

 

[m151mp]

in 1969, i was drafted. i went to vietnam as 11B, but when i arrived i was assigned to an MP unit that did convoy escorts with gun jeeps and V100s. eleven members of my family have worn the uniform somewhere. when i finished my two years, i went back and completed my interrupted apprenticeship in the glaziers union. serving in the army made it much easier when i applied to be a US citizen. some of you may not be aware that legal residents, with a green card, were subject to the draft, though at the time, i had been told that we were not eligible to join. i learned later on that this was not the case.

[atb]

39 minutes ago, m151mp said:

in 1969, i was drafted. i went to vietnam as 11B, but when i arrived i was assigned to an MP unit that did convoy escorts with gun jeeps and V100s. eleven members of my family have worn the uniform somewhere. when i finished my two years, i went back and completed my interrupted apprenticeship in the glaziers union. serving in the army made it much easier when i applied to be a US citizen. some of you may not be aware that legal residents, with a green card, were subject to the draft, though at the time, i had been told that we were not eligible to join. i learned later on that this was not the case.

There was a French guy in my BCT company who had been drafted. If my memory is working right, he had already done his French compulsory service, so it was his second time being conscripted.

[Marshallj]

I never asked myself why I joined. My question is why others did not join. (Health reasons aside).

[USMCR79]

I was in College and working (always broke and undisciplined) and life in Massachusetts just sxxxxd the life right out of me. I was raised in a middle class family but my Dad grew up in a poor family and joined the Marines when he was 17 in 1951. 

 

I guess I was looking to make a change (and had no money) and do something worthwhile with my life.

 

Never had any regrets about joining the Marine Corps in 1979. The Corps gave me direction and discipline that I needed to face my life challenges.

 

Bill

[Neil Albaugh]

I debated with myself about publishing this story here. I did not want to appear to be an egotistic A-H but I thought that telling a realistic, personal story about what it was like to enlist in the US military may help some young men make the same decision... so here goes.

 

Enlisting In the United States Army 1960

 

Since I had made a mess of my college career, it was clear that I could not continue to live at home much longer. I needed to get a job of some sort and provide for myself like a grownup.

Earlier I had visited the local US Army recruiter in Buckhannon, WV and we had discussed options that I might consider. In those days- 1960- young men had two options concerning the military. They could voluntarily enlist for three years or they could wait to be drafted, a two year term. Some used another option and enlisted in the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, or Air Force. None of these had a draft. When it came to the Army, there were definite advantages to enlisting- having some choice in what type of job you wanted. There was no guarantee but it was better than being assigned at random.

 

After a couple of weeks without any decision being made on my part, I received a call from the recruiter asking to see me to discuss what he thought might be a good opportunity. I saw him that afternoon in his office and he explained that the Army had just opened up a new field and was looking for qualified applicants for training in “Nuclear Weapons Ordnance Electronics”. To make their offer more enticing, they offered a written guarantee that if I were to enlist, I would be sent to that school- providing that I could pass the required tests, of course.

 

This was an exciting opportunity; I had no doubt that it was something I could do, and do well. I had been involved in electronics since the seventh grade as a hobby and had had my amateur radio license since the start of high school. I discussed this new development with my Mother at home in the evening (my Dad was in Korea at that time) and we agreed that it sounded almost perfect for me. The next day, the 18th of August, 1960, I signed the necessary papers to enlist in the US Army. Since I would be required to have a security clearance, I had to provide additional paperwork showing everywhere I had ever lived, had a job, or visited a foreign country. Since I had grown up as an Army Brat, living all over the US and even Japan and Germany- plus traveling extensively in Europe, getting this information together was not easy! We reconstructed a timeline and we discovered that I had attended twelve different schools.

 

After submitting my documents I was told by the recruiting Sergeant to report to an Army Recruiting Main Station in Fairmont, WV, about 35 miles away in a few days. At home I prepared to leave, saying goodbyes to my family and friends and wondering a bit apprehensively about what lay in the future for me. On the designated morning, I left home on a bus to Fairmont carrying a small sports bag with a change of cloths and a shaving kit.

The Army Recruiting Main Station was a one story yellow glazed-brick building with a small group of young men wandering around in front on the sidewalk. From my experience of being a Brat, I knew that the proper thing to do first was to report for duty. I went up the few steps into the front door, and announced to the Sergeant behind the front desk that I was “Neil Page Albaugh” and that I was reporting to the Station as ordered. He extended his hand and took the paperwork from me, looked at it briefly and said to wait. So I joined the small crowd milling around outside.

 

After a while that Sergeant came out and formed us into two lines and we stumbled along into the front door, down a hallway into a large auditorium. We were seated for a short time before an officer came into the room. The Sergeant shouted “Attention!” and we all shuffled to our feet uncertainly. The officer explained that we were about to enlist in the United States Army and with that came grave responsibilities, etc, etc. We all raised our right hands and repeated the oath to defend our country “So help us, God”. Congratulations, you are now members of the United States Army. We all looked at each other, sensing that something had changed within us.

 

The next step was to take a written test- I assumed this was to access our level of education and basic learning ability. We would be taking many other tests later but this was the first one. An enlisted man passed out a test sheet, a pencil, and a sheet of blank paper to each of us. We were told to complete this test in a certain amount of time- I forget how many minutes we were allotted- to guess at the “best answer” if we did not know it, and to do any needed calculations or other work on the blank paper provided and both would be collected at the end of the test and graded for accuracy.

 

A timer was set and we were ordered to “Begin”. The test involved English language usage, basic math, spacial relations - visualizing geometric shapes in different orientations- and questions with hypothetical situations designed to test our judgment and ability to reason. Other questions related to basic electricity and mechanics. The test was pretty easy and I finished early. After going back over my answers to check for dumb mistakes, I sat waiting for the test period to be over. Sitting in my chair was boring so, to amuse myself and help pass the time, I used the blank sheet of paper to sketch a few drawings and explore a couple of cartoon ideas.

 

Finally the test time expired and we were instructed to write our names at the top of our test sheets and our blank pages, “last name first and first name last”. We would get used to this way of writing our names for the next few years. Our tests and papers were collected and the enlisted man disappeared down the hallway. We talked about the test among ourselves and I was a little surprised that some of the guys had struggled to complete it. We were left alone for a short time and then the door burst open. “I'd like to see the test score of the man who had time to do this!” he announced to us all and he held up a piece of paper to show the offending work-- it was my blank page with my drawings! I wisely kept quiet and he stormed out, back down the hallway.

 

After siting in the auditorium for a long time, the door opened and the Sergeant read off my name from a paper he was holding in his hand. I rose from my seat, wondering why I was being singled out, and followed the Sergeant down the hall and into an office with “Captain Gerard B Overman, Commanding” written on the door. Whatever was about to happen was something important so I stood at attention in front of his desk and waited. Captain Overman introduced himself as the Commanding Officer of the US Army Recruiting Main Station,Fairmont, held up my test and scratch paper and asked me if it was mine. I swallowed hard and answered “Yes, Sir”.

 

“Albaugh,” he said, “In my whole career in this job I have never seen anyone achieve a perfect score in this test.” Maybe the relief showed on my face; even the Sergeant smiled.

Next month my Dad in Korea received a letter from this Captain reaffirming what he had told me and he also mentioned my later test scores and he offered his congratulations. He confirmed that the Nuclear Weapons Ordnance Electronics Course that I had signed up for would commence on October 21st. It was a very considerate thing for him to do.

 

All of us collected our bags and were placed on a Greyhound bus to Fort Knox for Basic Training, a 10 week training period for young civilians to learn how to become soldiers.

 

And so it began.....

 

[Gear Fanatic]

Hey ya’ll, I know this isn’t necessarily the right thread to post this in, but you are all experienced and probably the best audience for the question. Do I just started high school and have thought about the army as career path for aviation specifically. Many of my relatives have been in the military from my great grandfather who was a colonel in Korea to my uncles who were in OIF. So it runs in the family. My question is, why should I join the military? Benefits these days don’t seem to make a difference, heard terrible stuff from all my relatives about how messed up the VA system is and how it doesn’t provide like they thought it would. I’ve also learned that most people seem to join the military because they don’t have purpose or any other career options which is not my case. I’ve been looking at joining the Marines for aviation, or going through the AF academy and getting college payed for. Otherwise my option was Cal Poly SLO for mechanical engineering. I’ve also seen how it destroys people, my uncle was an MP in Baghdad and he is wrecked, and I don’t my want to turn out that way. I know that there are great career options through the military but I’m still on the edge as I have many options. Thanks!

[Rakkasan187]

10 hours ago, Gear Fanatic said:

Hey ya’ll, I know this isn’t necessarily the right thread to post this in, but you are all experienced and probably the best audience for the question. Do I just started high school and have thought about the army as career path for aviation specifically. Many of my relatives have been in the military from my great grandfather who was a colonel in Korea to my uncles who were in OIF. So it runs in the family. My question is, why should I join the military? Benefits these days don’t seem to make a difference, heard terrible stuff from all my relatives about how messed up the VA system is and how it doesn’t provide like they thought it would. I’ve also learned that most people seem to join the military because they don’t have purpose or any other career options which is not my case. I’ve been looking at joining the Marines for aviation, or going through the AF academy and getting college payed for. Otherwise my option was Cal Poly SLO for mechanical engineering. I’ve also seen how it destroys people, my uncle was an MP in Baghdad and he is wrecked, and I don’t my want to turn out that way. I know that there are great career options through the military but I’m still on the edge as I have many options. Thanks!

As I mentioned previously my reasons for joining, you will have to make that decision for yourself and know why you want to join.....But saying that most people join because they don't have purpose or other career options is not accurate and a bit insulting. For myself, I had plenty of career opportunities in graphic arts, and photography but I chose to better myself by joining the Army and be better prepared to go to college after I matured a bit, rather than go to college right out of high school and not be prepared academically only to waste hard earned money. I had no regrets waiting to earn my college degree when I was ready, and through the Army and VA, it was paid for in full, and I paid the Army and VA back by showing my appreciation by graduating Suma Cum Laude in my career field, something that most likely would not have happened had I gone straight to college out of high school. The Army taught me discipline and how to prioritize. 

 

I think you have plenty of time to decide if a career in the military is right for you. You can only find out for yourself and although your relatives may have had bad experiences with the VA, not everyone has had bad experiences through the VA system and if you are going to rely solely on their thoughts and input about the military you may never know the real enjoyment one can have from joining the Armed services. I have been very fortunate with the medical care and treatment I have received through the VA and the benefits they have provided me. We are very fortunate to have the VA system in place and an organization that is a voice for Veterans, and granted there may be issues within the system, just think if there was no VA healthcare system for our veterans? Unfortunately, I do see in today's society a feeling of entitlement from some who have served in the military wanting 100% disability for twisting a knee jumping off a tank, whereas I know combat veterans who have lost limbs that don't rate 100%, so yes, the system has issues, but to take the earned benefits from an amputee and give them to someone who was not in combat is pure entitlement and it's something that angers me with the mindset of some of the folks I meet daily. Based on what you have said I think you are a little bit jaded about the VA. What you hear about the VA and what you actually experience are two different things, and since your experiences are from word of mouth through your own family experiences and not through real world experience, until you know, you don't know. Take a trip to a VA center and have a talk with someone outside your family and get a different perspective on what the VA can do. You may get a better appreciation or understanding about the VA. 

 

Sorry to hear of the experiences that your uncle went through in Iraq, but you can't presume that you will face the same scenarios and end up like him. People deal with and cope with trauma in many different ways and how they cope is on a personal level and you shouldn't assume his bad experiences are something you will experience and that you will end up like him.   

 

We are in different times from when I grew up in the 60's and 70s and like many other forum members of my age group and generation, so the mindsets are also going to be different as to why one would make the choice to serve in the military. I was fortunate and got to see the world, and as a 17-year-old leaving home for the first time, it was one of the most memorable adventures and I have no regrets doing what I did and what I had to do and I am very grateful for the organizations in place today that take care of myself and my family. 

 

  Leigh 

[GAZOO]

I am not really sure WHY ? i suspect it was to get Away from family turmoil (Brother became Sister)  and my world got
turned upside down

Volunteered at 16 (1974) and placed on the delayed entry
until my 17th birthday, Started basic training Ft Polk 1 month after my 17th birthday
That was 1975 3 years Infantry and Artillery FO then 3+ as 67n Crew Chief UH-1H Huey until dec 80

1975  was a very interesting time in the Military NO WAR and the NEW ALL VOLUNTEER ARMY
i watched as all the VIET NAM SOLDIERS were getting out We went from breaking starch to Permanent Press
and a major Vacuum for promotion just about everyone was ETSing

Anyway I considered it the Pretend peacetime army and I am really lucky to have joined during those years
The MEDICAL Benefits were worth the cost of admission and the Education Benefits were icing on the cake
we have still not considered the VA HOME LOAN or other great benefits

 Oh Army Aviation during peace time is the BEST
Pilots need flight time so any given day I would fly up the California coast following migrating whales
or flying to the Barstow McDonalds for lunch. Then of course all the NOE Field training 

Yes the second half of the 70s was a turning point in my life

[Gear Fanatic]

4 hours ago, Rakkasan187 said:

As I mentioned previously my reasons for joining, you will have to make that decision for yourself and know why you want to join.....But saying that most people join because they don't have purpose or other career options is not accurate and a bit insulting. For myself, I had plenty of career opportunities in graphic arts, and photography but I chose to better myself by joining the Army and be better prepared to go to college after I matured a bit, rather than go to college right out of high school and not be prepared academically only to waste hard earned money. I had no regrets waiting to earn my college degree when I was ready, and through the Army and VA, it was paid for in full, and I paid the Army and VA back by showing my appreciation by graduating Suma Cum Laude in my career field, something that most likely would not have happened had I gone straight to college out of high school. The Army taught me discipline and how to prioritize. 

 

I think you have plenty of time to decide if a career in the military is right for you. You can only find out for yourself and although your relatives may have had bad experiences with the VA, not everyone has had bad experiences through the VA system and if you are going to rely solely on their thoughts and input about the military you may never know the real enjoyment one can have from joining the Armed services. I have been very fortunate with the medical care and treatment I have received through the VA and the benefits they have provided me. We are very fortunate to have the VA system in place and an organization that is a voice for Veterans, and granted there may be issues within the system, just think if there was no VA healthcare system for our veterans? Unfortunately, I do see in today's society a feeling of entitlement from some who have served in the military wanting 100% disability for twisting a knee jumping off a tank, whereas I know combat veterans who have lost limbs that don't rate 100%, so yes, the system has issues, but to take the earned benefits from an amputee and give them to someone who was not in combat is pure entitlement and it's something that angers me with the mindset of some of the folks I meet daily. Based on what you have said I think you are a little bit jaded about the VA. What you hear about the VA and what you actually experience are two different things, and since your experiences are from word of mouth through your own family experiences and not through real world experience, until you know, you don't know. Take a trip to a VA center and have a talk with someone outside your family and get a different perspective on what the VA can do. You may get a better appreciation or understanding about the VA. 

 

Sorry to hear of the experiences that your uncle went through in Iraq, but you can't presume that you will face the same scenarios and end up like him. People deal with and cope with trauma in many different ways and how they cope is on a personal level and you shouldn't assume his bad experiences are something you will experience and that you will end up like him.   

 

We are in different times from when I grew up in the 60's and 70s and like many other forum members of my age group and generation, so the mindsets are also going to be different as to why one would make the choice to serve in the military. I was fortunate and got to see the world, and as a 17-year-old leaving home for the first time, it was one of the most memorable adventures and I have no regrets doing what I did and what I had to do and I am very grateful for the organizations in place today that take care of myself and my family. 

 

  Leigh 

I appreciate your post, again these are all just things I’ve heard from other people. I obviously don’t have my experiences. And also to your point about it being insulting saying it was for people without a path, so did not mean that In a Negative light, that’s just what I’ve been told and have seemed to gather from others. None of what I said was to be insulting, I’m just saying that it’s what I’ve heard and was really wondering if that was how it was, I’m also guessing since you guys were in. I really don’t know, I want to check it out as a serious option and am wondering what to pursue, and what you have experienced. Also thanks Rakkasan, that answered a good amount of my questions. Thanks!

[Rakkasan187]

The only way you will really know is to find out for yourself and not take the word of someone else who may or may not have had a bad experience. If you were to listen to someone who had a bad experience and that sways your decision not to serve, you may end up regretting it for the rest of your life not serving, traveling the world for free and possibly experiencing life and history changing events. The experiences I shared with my brothers and Sisters in arms were unique, and my experiences differed quite differently from the men and women who stood right next to me. We saw the same things but reacted differently to each situation and event even though we were standing right next to each other...

 

You have the ability and opportunity to shape your own life and career, and with some positive guidance and mentorship your decisions can be very rewarding.

 

I carved my place in history in places like Panama, West Point, Alaska, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Belize, France, all before I turned 30 years old. I witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, guarded Rudolf Hess, skied the Italian Alps, climbed the Zugspitze in Germany, trudged through the swamps and jungles of Panama and Central America and a day does not go by when I am thankful for all the great times I had. Hard times, sure, had enough of them, but also very memorable ones too. Thankfully I did not listen to those who said I couldn't do it. If I had listened to them and believed what they told me, I would have never known the joys and sorrows of my career and I would have never met my wife of 33 years had I not joined the military. 

 

Leigh 

[Gear Fanatic]

I know some people who have had positive experiences, but maybe it’s because I’m bias, today the military seems to be shown in a negative light which may be why I am here asking questions, I have no doubt there are great opportunities in the armed forces, but maybe it is not my path, like I said I still have plenty of time to think it through. Again at the end of the day It’s whatever I end up choosing. Thank you for your input that cleared up a lot for me. P.S. I would love to here the Rudolph Hess story!