In your Military career, which achievement do you consider being the one you are most proud of? And your biggest disappointment?

PO1 William Bargar — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 12:03:15 -0400

I was just curious how others look at their Military careers......Please be honest......I want others to also LEARN from this.......Thanks! All comments, ideas, suggestions are welcome.

My GREATEST moment:

Graduating from Marine Corps Boot Camp, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. - September 20, 1978 - 3rd Battalion, Company "I", Platoon 3060

My WORST:

Not being selected (promoted) to Chief Petty Officer (E-7) in the Navy. A GOAL I "personally" set for myself when I switched branches from the Marines to the Navy.......Fell short, still feel like my CAREER was NOT COMPLETE......I will never be happy with how my career ended on a disappointing note........

NOTE: This is NOT my Boot Camp Photo......I just used it as an EXAMPLE........

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Jun 1 at 2014 12:30 PM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 12:30:46 -0400

You were in Plt 3060? I was in 3070

Response by LCDR Doug Nordman made Jun 2 at 2014 3:53 PM

LCDR Doug Nordman — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:53:50 -0400

My proudest moment was OOD on an attack submarine, doing one of those things we don't discuss and doing it in a most exceptional manner. We got everything that we came for (and then some), and our experience helped re-write a couple of classified warfare publications. I was later praised in a tactical publication that's usually reserved for "Hall of Shame" postmortems. That "moment" represented roughly 10 years of training & practice for 30 minutes of sheer excitement when you didn't have time for leisurely reflection on your next move.

When I was screened "In excess" for XO, I was sorely disappointed. Yet after a few months of working through the five stages of grief, I realized that this was the first time in my career when I could be in charge of my career. I found a new home in the training community at two commands for nearly eight years among the best people I've ever worked with. I also had much more quality family time. Under those conditions it was a relief to "fail" selection to O-5.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2014 11:46 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:46:23 -0400

My most proud moment was getting my FMF badge.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2014 12:44 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:44:46 -0400

Greatest Moment: Being pinned as Chief. That year, I had accepted that maybe I wouldn't be selected - I'd already been up five times. I realized that many people never make PO1 - no mean feat. I had much to learn about myself and the role of the Chief - and my Mess made sure I learned those lessons - that made the Pinning Ceremony a truly amazing experience.

Worst Moment: Standing in front a Disciplinary Review Board trying to explain myself.

Response by Cpl Eric Tavarez made Apr 7 at 2015 11:47 PM

Cpl Eric Tavarez — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 23:47:29 -0400

My greatest moment was actually post military. I had a fellow Marine/ Platoon member reach out to me on Facebook approximately 12 years after I got out. He wanted to thank me for making a difference in his life. According to him, I set him straight and sent him on the right path. I never really gave it much thought. I was just a Fire Team Leader and sometimes I covered for the Squad Leader but I was just doing my job. When everyone did what they were suppose to, everything would be cake and we could be best of friends but when they knowingly made bad choice, they paid the price but I always made sure that they understood why they were receiving "Extra Military Instructions", if you know what I mean?... Apparently this left a life long impression on my fellow Marine and Squad Member. That is the proudest and greatest moment and achievement from my military career.

Semper Fi Brothers
My God bless you and the United States of America

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2015 2:51 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 14:51:10 -0400

Being Pinned as a Chief Petty Officer on the day we returned from an 8 month deployment. A ton of emotions from being home finally and getting pinned into a brotherhood like no other.

Getting a Letter of Instruction (LOI) from the CO for failing to uphold my watch station duties.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2015 3:16 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 15:16:31 -0400

I've been in four years, so I have a lot left to accomplish (and hopefully not too much to screw up), so keep that in mind.

Greatest - Being awarded Top Honor Grad out of 817 trainees at BMT.

Worst - Realizing I blew my time limit on a presentation I had to give at OTS. It was an automatic failure and pretty much killed any chance that I might have had at Honor Grad.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 13 at 2015 1:17 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 13:17:51 -0400

Best: Having units that were like well oiled machines.
Worst: Getting medically retired.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Apr 13 at 2015 4:50 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 16:50:25 -0400

For me it was either graduating from Boot Camp, or when my mom saw me for the first time after boot camp. I was heavy before enlisting, busted my ass to get to where I could enlist, enlisted as soon as I met the minimum requirements without getting into the shape I needed to be in. I got to boot camp, and being the heavyiest of the fat boys in my Boot Camp division I could have been an easy target for the RDCs. I worked harder than I had ever worked before to make sure that I was going to make it. I had issues with the PRT test. At the end I made it through.
My parents did not attend my boot camp graduation. It was not through their not wanting to be there, but I was not sure until just before that I would in fact be graduating. I did not want them spending a mint just to travel to Chicago at the last moment. Because of this, I had to go straight to A School, and did not return home until after "A" School. I flew from San Diego to El Paso Texas. I was not required to wear my uniform, but just for my family meeting me at the airport I did. My mom LOST it. She was in tears. I was fifty pounds lighter, and wearing a US Navy dress white uniform when the last time she had seen me I was far heavier wearing a security guard uniform.

Response by Capt Vickie Adams made Jun 14 at 2016 8:10 PM

Capt Vickie Adams — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 20:10:28 -0400

Serving on Wake Island during evacuation of Saigon. Going from enlisted to officer was big. Being Company Grade Officer of the Year was a highlight. Having my boss retire six months before I left for new assignment was a big negative.
New guy had a thing about women in service. He didn't sign off on my Commendation Medal even though I had busted my ass for my unit for THREE years. SAME assignment. Go figure.