What made you decide on the job you have or had in the military?

I plead mental imbalance and an admitted talent for breaking things (sometimes spectacularly).

So I chose 11C, Indirect Fire Infantryman, learned to love yelling "Hang it! Fire!" and got to hang out with similarly demented folks while bouncing my way up (and down) the ranks until I conned a few good folks at TRADOC into picking me for a Bootstrap ROTC scholarship. I spent a few more years hanging out with some not-quite-so-similarly-demented cadets and cadre, spent my first couple of years as a lieutenant being mentored by a very smart Ordinance lieutenant colonel, then went all demented again and spent my second summer at the Benning School for Boys running through the woods completing the resident portion of IOBC.

I still haven't decided what I expect to be when I grow up....

I went into the Navy wanting to do something that would translate to a civilian career. I chose Electrician's Mate... after being told "No" on Equipment Operator and Master At Arms (both were closed at the time). I did 6 years on Two Aircraft Carriers and was able to learn a lot from a lot of great people. Flight Deck Equipment, Aircraft Elevators, Food Stores Conveyors, Main Space/Propulsion stuff, Electrical Generators, Electrical Safety, blah, blah, blah!!!

6 years later I got out and went into the Air Force Reserves. I chose 3PO51B, Combat Arms Instructor. I loved working with firearms, teaching marksmanship fundamentals, training people how to take care of their weapons, and maintaining small arms. I was able to fill multiple roles in the Security Forces Squadron and was classified with a Primary AFSC of 3PO51B, a Secondary of 3PO71 (Sec For. Craftsman/Supervisor), and had a special Identifier of 8F000 (First Sergeant). I hurt my knee and was not fit for duty for 6 months and missed my oportunity to go to the First Sergeant Academy, and became the NCOIC of the Combat Arms Instructor Section for my Squdaron. That lasted for about 2 years and I chose to be a Security Forces Trainer and OJT Monitor. This allowed me to mentor more Airmen.

No REGERTS!!!

My grandfather(ww2 European theater) and my great uncle (Korea) were both in the infantry. Proud to have done it but no civilian application.