What was the deciding factor that made you decide to leave the military, stay for the full 20, or come back into the military?

I didn't join to do 20 years. I honestly didn't think I would make it the first enlistment. As the first new private in my unit, I got all the details, took all the crap, I was always wrong, I drank a lot, you get the picture. But one man took me under his wing and started training me on my job. He taught me how to be ready for inspections and to look past the jackasses. He told me if I put soldiering first the day would come I would out rank all of them. I took his advice, I stayed in and made rank. Most of them ended up getting out for different reasons. I never looked past the day I woke up. Twenty years came pretty quick and I like to think I passed on a lot of that man to other soldiers, some who went on to make Sergeant Major or joined the officer ranks.

I was dead set on staying at least 20 when I enlisted. That hasn't changed, really. I've told many junior Marines who hate life that once you get the hang of everything and know your job and responsibilities, the military is a cake walk. The Corps has treated me well so far; got stationed outside the U.S. my first station, I've done exercises in a few different countries, and now I'm on embassy duty and seeing even more of the world. The only box left unchecked is an actual deployment.

The Army offered to pay my student loans. When I join, I entered as an O2 with a direct commission in the Medical Service Corps. I was an Environmental Engineer and could do the job of a Nuclear Medical Science Officer. Originally, I was going to do 3 years, because that was the minimum time required for the Army paying my student Loans. I was deployed on my second year in. While in that horrid Iraq deployment, I decided to get out. However, my AOC manager who was a good friend offered me an O5 position in Germany. That way I could leave my unit 6 weeks after my redeployment and did not had to stay and finish my last year with that f-up unit. I accepted and decided to stay for 3 more years. In Germany, my supervisor convinced me to apply for a Training with Industry program. I did mostly as a dare and because the TWI was in Livermore California. I was selected and I stayed for an extra year, but by then I had insured in an ADSO of 3 more years. However, because I did not take care of myself from my f-up year in Iraq I was sick and was Medically retired at 9 years and 27 days. I loved being a Soldier, but the Army is not for Intellectual women that tell the truth and refuses to kiss behind.