Can you sum up your military experience in ONE word?

2015-07-30T09:40:19-04:00

Had an interesting question come into my head while sitting at work today. The question, can you sum up your military experience into just one word? If so, what is that one word?

Think of this as part of an exercise to build your personal elevator pitch you need to deliver when you go on an interview. You want to be quick and to the point. So can you? I know several words come to my mind to sum up my 8. 5 years. Words like crazy, fast, surprising, confusing, exciting, interesting, and terrifying all come to my mind, but if I had to pick just one, I would pick crazy.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jul 30 at 2015 9:40 AM

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FUN!!!!

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jul 30 at 2015 9:42 AM

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Unbelievable!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 30 at 2015 9:42 AM

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Expansive.

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Jul 30 at 2015 10:01 AM

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Bitch'in!

Response by Sgt Jerami Ballard made Jul 30 at 2015 10:01 AM

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Juvenile.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Jul 30 at 2015 10:08 AM

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"Damnlucky" (I had to create a word in this instance.)

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Jul 30 at 2015 10:08 AM

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Strange.

Response by CW3 Stephen Bacon made Jul 30 at 2015 10:18 AM

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Adversity

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Jul 30 at 2015 10:20 AM

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Fortunate

Response by MSgt Alan H made Jul 30 at 2015 10:31 AM

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Exciting!

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 10:38 AM

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Exhilarating.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 10:41 AM

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Costly...

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 30 at 2015 10:50 AM

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Can I use a somatic gesture? I would go with:

*Wipes forehead* Sigh....

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 10:58 AM

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Dicks.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Jul 30 at 2015 11:05 AM

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Lifetime

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 30 at 2015 11:20 AM

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HOOAH!

Response by MSG Tim Gray made Jul 30 at 2015 11:28 AM

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Flexible

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jul 30 at 2015 11:39 AM

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Painful

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 11:40 AM

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Strange

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jul 30 at 2015 11:41 AM

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vast

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 11:52 AM

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outstanding

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 12:10 PM

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Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Jul 30 at 2015 12:17 PM

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Phenomenal...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 12:34 PM

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Unique...

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 30 at 2015 12:41 PM

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Proud.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 30 at 2015 12:51 PM

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Educational

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Jul 30 at 2015 12:56 PM

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Captivating

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jul 30 at 2015 1:19 PM

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Marriage.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 30 at 2015 1:55 PM

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Service SGT Ben Keen
Serving this nation as a soldier was a childhood dream that was fulfilled in more ways that I could ever have imagined.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 2:00 PM

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Rewarding

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jul 30 at 2015 2:06 PM

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Wheeeeeeeeee!

Or something like that. The older I get, the more awesome those 7 years become.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 2:07 PM

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Sure, but I'm going to have to invent a brand new word to do it. =D

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 2:12 PM

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Educational.

Response by SGT Neil Chandler made Jul 30 at 2015 2:17 PM

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Rewarding

Response by Cpl Robert Lehto made Jul 30 at 2015 2:39 PM

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"No"

Response by PO1 Brian Schletty made Jul 30 at 2015 3:07 PM

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Eye-opening

Response by PO1 Michael Fullmer made Jul 30 at 2015 3:15 PM

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Educational.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 3:23 PM

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Interesting

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 3:43 PM

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Experience

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Jul 30 at 2015 3:48 PM

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eventful

Response by SGT Christopher Churilla made Jul 30 at 2015 4:49 PM

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No.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Jul 30 at 2015 5:13 PM

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Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 5:19 PM

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Paradox

Response by CPL(P) Bret Farritor made Jul 30 at 2015 5:24 PM

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Defining

Response by SSgt Donnavon Smith made Jul 30 at 2015 5:42 PM

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Truncated

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Jul 30 at 2015 5:57 PM

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Interesting! at least. With the places, I have been, people I have met, things that I have done. the only other word that comes to mind is AWESOME! Their have been bumps and bad experiences but over all good.

Response by SFC Darrell Woods made Jul 30 at 2015 6:26 PM

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Honor

Response by PO2 Kevin Peine made Jul 30 at 2015 6:28 PM

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blurry

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 30 at 2015 7:05 PM

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Diverse

Response by SSG Keven Lahde made Jul 30 at 2015 7:56 PM

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SGT Ben Keen SGT This is my comment.....lool

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jul 30 at 2015 7:59 PM

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Amazing!

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Jul 30 at 2015 8:04 PM

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Awesome!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jul 30 at 2015 9:44 PM

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Prodigious (had to look that little hooker up).

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Jul 30 at 2015 10:14 PM

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Transforming

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 31 at 2015 12:25 AM

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Victorious!

Response by MSG Marcel Guaring made Jul 31 at 2015 4:43 AM

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Honor

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2015 4:57 AM

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Explosive

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jul 31 at 2015 9:13 AM

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No.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2015 9:40 AM

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Nuclear.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2015 10:16 AM

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Demanding.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2015 10:35 AM

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roller-coaster

Response by CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA made Jul 31 at 2015 10:46 AM

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Growth

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Jul 31 at 2015 11:46 AM

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Awesome !!!!

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2015 12:04 PM

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Unpredictable

Response by MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht made Jul 31 at 2015 12:07 PM

2015-07-31T12:07:43-04:00

It is like you said, it can be very hard because you are evaluating a certain time period. However, if it was just one time period or instance it is more simple. Examples: you were told to report to the CO. Scared, terrified, etc. Your first emergency (any kind) scared, etc. If I had to say one word and be half way professional, I would say' Enlightening. Otherwise BLAST!!

Response by SMSgt Tony Barnes made Jul 31 at 2015 12:42 PM

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Intriguing

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2015 12:56 PM

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Interesting.... ;)

Response by SPC Allison Joy Cumming made Jul 31 at 2015 1:04 PM

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Altering.

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made Jul 31 at 2015 1:29 PM

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Futility

Response by MSgt Doug P. made Jul 31 at 2015 1:51 PM

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Tiring.

Can't really sum up my experience in just one word, but that's what first comes to mind.

Don't get me wrong... I enjoyed my 21 years working some really interesting & challenging missions. But most of those years were full of quick-turn, rotating 12-16+ hour shifts, having to manage multiple additional duties/work loads due to persistent lack of manning & resources, and losing my metabolism (medical issues) about half-way through my career really drains the energy out of you. If I could have stayed in longer (which I wanted to do) I would have. But I now I'm taking time to rest and recover from a fulfilling career.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jul 31 at 2015 2:06 PM

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Resilience

Response by SrA Andrea West made Jul 31 at 2015 2:08 PM

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Educational.

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Jul 31 at 2015 2:30 PM

2015-07-31T14:30:25-04:00

well like many others here yeah I could come up with a few just from my short 4 years and counting. But I think I would have to say "maturing".

I am the baby in my family and my mom's only daughter. I always had people telling me what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. So what is different than being in the military? Well I already had the "obey the order" lesson pretty well learned. Now, I needed to learn how to think for myself, how to stand on my own two feet, and how stick up for myself and others around me. Coming out of basic training really opened my eyes to the fact that I didn't have to take crap from just anyone anymore. I was part of an elite group who worked hard to get through a very taxing training (before they really sissy-fied the Air Force training). They say that we are part of less than 1% in our nation since we joined, and as a female even a smaller number than that.

So I definitely matured in that sense, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Yeah I go through ups and downs with my career but without this experience, I would definitely not be in a place that was using my full potential. Thanks for the opportunity to share this.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jul 31 at 2015 2:48 PM

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Challenging!

Response by SSG John Erny made Jul 31 at 2015 2:50 PM

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Retired :)

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2015 4:31 PM

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Sexy

Response by SSG Ricardo Marcial made Jul 31 at 2015 4:36 PM

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Does F.U.B.A.R count as one word.

Retired works for me.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2015 6:25 PM

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Exhaustion

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jul 31 at 2015 9:04 PM

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Missed.

Response by Maj William Gambrell made Jul 31 at 2015 11:00 PM

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Changing

Response by PO1 Matthew Murdock made Aug 1 at 2015 12:48 AM

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Painful

Response by SPC Joseph Jones made Aug 1 at 2015 2:30 AM

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Explosions.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 1 at 2015 7:19 AM

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Long.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2015 12:10 PM

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Priceless

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2015 12:10 PM

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Shenanigans

Response by SrA William Giraldi made Aug 1 at 2015 12:33 PM

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Awesome!

Response by TSgt David L. made Aug 1 at 2015 3:22 PM

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Tense, because of my job, or Tents, because of the deployments! :D LOL

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2015 3:47 PM

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Global

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 1 at 2015 6:07 PM

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Extraordinary, SGT Ben Keen.

Response by Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce made Aug 1 at 2015 8:07 PM

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Support

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2015 8:12 PM

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CLOSECALL!

Response by CDR Laurel Meadows made Aug 1 at 2015 8:23 PM

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Unforgettable!

Response by SSgt Everett Jones made Aug 1 at 2015 9:05 PM

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No, there was far to many things that happened and that I learned. Not to mention all the places I went and the things I saw and did. Far too many experiences to even try to sum up in one word

Response by 1SG Jeffrey Grice made Aug 2 at 2015 12:35 AM

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Proud (to have had the honor and privilege to serve).

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2015 1:59 AM

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Enlightening.

Response by Cpl Toby Dodd made Aug 2 at 2015 5:46 AM

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Manhood

Response by SGT Michael DeLaGarza made Aug 2 at 2015 11:47 AM

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FAMILY........

Response by MSG(P) Rafael Aguilera made Aug 2 at 2015 1:07 PM

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Variable

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2015 1:24 PM

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Conflicting

Response by MSgt Karl Mayfield made Aug 2 at 2015 2:27 PM

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Transforming

Response by TSgt Kevin Miller made Aug 2 at 2015 2:55 PM

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Exhausting!
I'm glad I served and I would do it again. There are many words of description but this is the overall word that most comes to mind.

Response by SFC Kay Gee made Aug 2 at 2015 8:33 PM

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Educational!!

Response by SGT Tama Treat made Aug 2 at 2015 8:37 PM

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Fullfilling

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2015 9:00 PM

2015-08-02T21:00:39-04:00

SHENANIGANS!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Aug 3 at 2015 4:59 PM

2015-08-03T16:59:20-04:00

Duty. As a cold war vet, I did my duty to my country to honor those who came before me.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 6:50 PM

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Rewarding!

Response by SGT Eric Dziekan made Aug 5 at 2015 2:45 PM

2015-08-05T14:45:24-04:00

Rewarding

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Aug 5 at 2015 2:53 PM

2015-08-05T14:53:12-04:00

Unregretable.

Response by Cpl Gregory Hajder made Aug 6 at 2015 11:06 PM

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Wasteful

Response by SGT Christina Wilder made Aug 7 at 2015 2:21 PM

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Enlightening.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 3:21 PM

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Laudable...

Response by PO3 Ronald Letourneau made Aug 7 at 2015 3:22 PM

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Great.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 12:33 PM

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Politics.

Response by SGT Jonathon Caldwell made Aug 24 at 2015 7:44 PM

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Resiliant

Response by LCpl John Filiatrault made Aug 24 at 2015 8:25 PM

2015-08-24T20:25:03-04:00

I think it's impossible to do in one word because there are so many different things to consider.

Response by CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner made Aug 24 at 2015 8:55 PM

2015-08-24T20:55:04-04:00

Fulfilling!

Response by SGT Frank Leonardo made Aug 25 at 2015 2:57 AM

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awesome

Response by SFC David Davenport made Aug 25 at 2015 11:36 AM

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Worthwhile

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Aug 26 at 2015 2:54 PM

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Relationships

Response by SPC David S. made Aug 28 at 2015 1:02 PM

2015-08-28T13:02:56-04:00

Too easy - oxymoron

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Apr 1 at 2016 3:36 PM

2016-04-01T15:36:12-04:00

Valuable

Response by PO2 Derek Moody made Aug 26 at 2016 4:20 PM

2016-08-26T16:20:23-04:00

Spotcheck

Response by CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter made Jun 15 at 2018 1:53 PM

2018-06-15T13:53:32-04:00

Adventure

Response by SGT Charles Whited made May 11 at 2023 8:29 PM

2023-05-11T20:29:57-04:00

Humbling.
Learning your craft and doing it well. Learning teamwork and the importance of it.