I have a question to all who served in the military or are going to serve in the military?

Kojak

Lets see.....I served 30 years....worked my way fro private through the ranks to captain (exception i was never a CSM)
I was Airborne Ranger Special Forces(Green Beret)

I taught at two Universities
I worked for the Shah of Iran
I fought in Vietnam
I built bridges and schools
I trained police in Barbados
I ran a movie theater
I ran my own Air Crash rescue unit
I fought in Grenada
I was a Drill sergeant
I was a Jumpmaster and Loadmaster
I was a Tac Officer in OCS
I conducted civic action around the world

I could go on....but you get the drift.... YES I enjoyed my career

jlf

Yes, served 21 years, and with a few exceptions, I did enjoy it. Military service offers a sense of purpose and teamwork that is often lacking in the civilian world.

Too Old For Idol

Obviously Nick K has never served. Nor would we want a coward to do so.

To the question. Yes, served nearly my entire life. Greatest single thing I ever had happen to me. I would do it again, and again, and again.

Son serving now for several years and loves it too.

No better life in the world. And never had a Nick K to deal with. Well, actually I did through sights, but that is another story.

Saucy Wench

I served for 12 years and I met some of the best friends I ever had there. The bonds that are created are incredible, I still think back and laugh out loud at some of the things we did (who stole that company's guidon and put it on the roof?!?!?! hahahahahahaa) and want to cry over some of the things that we shared (1 year of hell in Iraq with nightly mortars and rockets, IED attacks on convoys, someone's wife leaving them because they can't handle the stress, the unexplainable relief when that plane touches US soil)
All in all my time served has been a crucial part in making me who I am now. (And that's where I met my husband!)

Larry R

Not all of it... but on the whole I'm really glad I did it.

There are parts that are hard... I was away when my daughter was born, and I knew a major that had only been home for Chrismas twice in the last seven years.

Then again I met some of the best friends I will ever have... and I met a lot of people I am just proud to know. It really was an honor to work where I worked and work with who I worked with.

Best of all... that line from Shakespear's Henry V really is true.

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."

You really do get very tight with the people you serve with, and when I talk to guys who never served... There really is something about how they "hold their manhoods cheap"... they always have to come up with some reason they didn't join up...or "I thought about signing up once..." or they say "My Dad did..." or "my brother was in the..." as if somehow that matters.

I don't need a Porche or a trophy wife or any thing to prove anything to myself or anyone else. I've been there, done that, got the T-Shirt. It is a nice feeling.

Smoker06

26 years here. With the exception of a couple assignments, I've enjoyed being in the Army tremendously. I'd have to say the best part about the Army is the Soldiers. Being part of their lives is extremely rewarding.

The worst part is being away from your family for extended periods and that happens quite a bit these days.

seabee402

Yes. I have served 23 years in 4 different services. I have seen so much of the world that it is un believable. If I had it to do over again I would do it. The sites of this world are unbelievable and beautiful. I spent over half of my life in the military and will miss it and the commrodery that i enjoy now greatly. Everything I have now is a direct result of serving in the militar. Family, House, Money, Pride, and Honor to name a few.

sensible_man

It was an "interesting" experience. I met a lot of great people and have many good memories. Funny, but after you are out, you pretty much forget about the bad things that happened.
Guess Nick K couldn't pass the tests.

Derby Girl

I have 13 1/2 years in, worked with some awesome people, deployed twice,done things I never would have thought I could do, gained so much confidence in myself and my abilities, and I've seen the world; it's been a blast!

Jeff

Absolutely. Living it now. I enlisted as an E1 and now I am an O2E. The Navy gave me the opportunity to leave my small town in central Illinois and travel the world. Through hard work and determination, I even earned my masters degree on the Navy's bill. Not to mention, met my wife and have a successful family covered by the military's great benefits. Set to retire in 10 years.

22steve5150

there are some things i enjoyed but most of it wasnt enjoyable. i do feel very fortunate to have made the friends i had when i served though...it was almost enough to get me to do more than the six years i did. some guys find military service to be a living hell and some guys truly do find their calling so it's one of those things that you have to do before you can tell whether you will like it or not.

NSA

I'm an Army Brat, I spent most of my adult life in uniform. My best friends are servicemen. It's a way of life. My brain still tells me to get up too early.

Military life gave a sense of order, purpose.

I met some nice people. I met some very strange people. I've some very dangerous things in the name of fun. But when you are young you think you are indestructible, until the first bone breaks.

I enjoyed so much of it, I really don't remember the bad parts as bad parts. They are just things that were not as good.

If I could, I would re-enlist.

arbitrary k

i would be serving in 2 years time when im almost 19 not because i want to but because i have to.

stonehands

I enjoyed every minute...even through some rough times. In 22 years, I have moved 13 times which included 5 remote tours. I have been to Europe, central America, Asia, the Pacific and recently Southwest Asia.

I took the time to see as much as I could, experience all I could in all of the countries I visited. I was able to see and do things in these foreign lands that people only read about in magazines. I space-A'd myself from Korea to Travis. I have met alot of really good people from all over and thanks to e-mail and myspace I still keep in touch with alot of them. I played on base-level sports teams overseas where we traveled to other countries...just to play.

I am still having fun!

squier2591

I plan on joining the Navy when I turn 18. My mom will be taking me to see a recruiter on my 17th birthday.

I am not going to join the military just to get a college education, I am doing it because I want to. I don't know whether I am going to like it in the Navy or not, but even if I don't I am not going to complain, because I know its something I chose to do.

AmericanPatriot

I spent over 20 years in the U.S. Navy.
I joined to get out of Delaware and to see the world. I did get out of Delaware, I've been on 5 ships, 6 continents (but not Australia), over 30 countries (stationed in 3), picked up enough of 8 languages to be able to travel, eat, carry on a limited conversation. I can go to 6 countries and not have to stay in a hotel. My family was with me in 2 of the countries. I've been as far south as Antarctica, as far north as Nova Scotia, as far east as Pakistan and as far west as Thailand.
I've had a few crappy jobs in the Navy but I made the best of them. But over all, it was a great career and I'd do it all again if I had the chance.
Three of the guys I work with are retired Navy. I can see the difference in work ethics between us and the non-military who we work with. It's so different it's glaring.
(USN, retired/in-country Viet Nam vet)

robert43041

Overall: yes.

PeguinBackPacker

Some things I wished I did very differently well in the service, but I do not regret it.

TO be honest with you however, I did not enjoy it because I found out I do horrible when working with a team, which is the whole concept of the Army is basic on. Not exactly good.

Hagar

No, because you fought for America's freedom, but you didn't get much. But I have no regrets.
I would do it again because America is worth fighting for.

Nick K

The military is full of homophobes. All homophobes are scumbags. How do you think it feels to be among scumbags?

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