At what point at when you made that leap (i.e. OCS, WOCS, 1SG Academy or SGM Academy) did you actually have the feeling "I BELONG?"

CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 10:16:19 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 10:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 10:21:59 -0500

I would have to say when I left my first unit to support the airport security mission. That showed me the National Guard was much more than the unit I signed up with. If not for that initial period of active duty, I would have left in 2002 with 7 years of service.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 10:23 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 10:23:18 -0500

It was, for me, the day I raised my right arm and did my oath.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 12:40 AM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 00:40:22 -0500

Are you talking initially, right after joining - or are you talking about finally coming into my own?

As soon as the NEW Cherry/Boot got to the unit after me, I felt like I belonged after initially joining. When I finally made Chief Petty Officer, I didn't feel it for about a year - when I had to have a closed-door meeting with a temporary duty, O-4, XO. I marched in, shut the door, and ate him up for doing some REALLY stupid crap that was destroying morale and would have long-lasting impact on the unit. As I walked out, I was both amazed that I had the balls to yell at an O-4 like that - AND that I fully expected him to listen to me. That was when I felt like I could properly fill my boots as a Chief.

He did listen to me - and thanked me for it afterward.