What was the deciding factor in your decision to become a member of the armed services?

I've said this a few times before on RP. I wanted to be a pilot since I was in grade school. I oriented my life in that direction including joining the Civil Air Patrol and picking a university with AFROTC. I volunteered for pilot training, passed the physical, completed the year-long course, and in July 1970 my wife pinned the silver wings on my chest. First part of my dream was complete.

I joined during the Vietnam war. I wasn't a popular war, but I believed I should defend my country. Fortunately for me, but unfortunately for my career, I wasn't ordered to Southeast Asia. I plunged into the Cold War as a C-130 pilot and later on as a staff officer. I wouldn't trade my military experience for anything.

Military service was a vital family tradition with the guys on my dad’s side. All of them served in a war and all were 11B prior to my dad. Service wasn’t push on me by my father, but it was something that I was passionate about doing for myself.

PV2 Aidan Piombino-Mattis: My deciding factor was that I was homeless. I stayed in a warehouse; before I joined the Army in Fresno, California. I am very successful now; however. I coach six groups on Facebook; help people with my love and I am a photographer. -Most Triumphantly, Margaret C. Higgins U.S. Army Retired: Coach/Photographer