What are the top five things you are thankful for experiencing as military service member?

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 04 May 2015 16:17:44 -0400

I am most thankful for the following.
1. My daily and eternal salvation. I fought against it for many years; but, thankfully God was very patient with me.
2. My marriage and four sons. I would not have met my wife if not for my military service and my sons would not exist without my marriage.
3. Lifelong friendships formed and forged under challenging circumstances.
4. Opportunity to work for, with, and over some of the most dedicated and honorable soldiers this country has ever produced.
5. Superb training throughout my military service. Three of the best are USMA [United States Military Academy] at West Point, NY; IMPOC [Infantry Mortar Platoon Leaders Course] now known as IMLC at Fort Benning, GA; and ORSA MAC 1 [Operations Research Systems Analysis Military Applications Course I] at Fort Lee, VA.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 4:20 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 16:20:33 -0400

The honor of serving my country.
Traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Getting my education funded.
Life saving military medicine.
Hopefully a solid retirement fund, if the politicians don't screw it up!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 4:23 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 16:23:26 -0400

1. First and foremost my wife and children without there support I would have never made it this far.

2. The comrodary of Soldiers within the units that have always made me feel part of a something bigger.

3. My deployments I am glad that after years of good hard training that I was able to lead Soldiers in combat with out any loss.

4. Leaders that took the time to keep me on track and point me in the right direction when I would veer off.

5. The opportunity to serve my country allong some of the greatest Soldiers in the world.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 4:49 PM

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 16:49:47 -0400

1. The support of my wife, who, for all intents and purposes, served my country with me...just in a different uniform and MOS. I'm only beginning to learn the breadth and depth of the sacrifices she's made.

2. The mere opportunity to serve. It's been a blessing to have the opportunity to put my life on the line and be there for my brothers and sisters in arms...to protect the constitution, and to honor those who went before us.

3. The training I received. This will undoubtedly stay with and benefit me for the rest of my life. From practical things, like self-discipline, to the actual combat training, it's all been the finest available.

4. The places I've seen and opportunities I've been given. I never would have imagined 25 years ago, that I'd be where I am today, that I would have done some of the things I've done, and seen some of the places I've seen.

5. Last, but certainly NOT least, the friends I've made along the way. The very nomadic nature of our profession makes it difficult to keep long term relationships with fellow service members, but the ones we do keep...the friendships that were forged by adversity and hard times, make for lifelong friendships.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 5:54 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 17:54:06 -0400

1) Being able to accomplish things no one else can or wants to

2) Being given the opportunity to lead others.

3) Having worked with some of the finest human beings on the planet

4) Getting to see other countries and cultures (even if they were trying to kill me)

5) Having my children be proud of their Dad

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 6:32 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 18:32:24 -0400

1. Travel (all over the world)

2. Ability to serve my country for 30 years (of active duty)

3. Great people I have met and worked with over the past (almost 40) years

4. Languages and cultures I was able to learn and experience

5. Education (college classes and degrees) I was able to pursue during my time in the Army

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 7:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 19:41:27 -0400

1. The legacy of those before me.
2. The support of those who love me.
3. The leadership of those above me.
4. The camaraderie of those around me.
5. The example I leave after me.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 8:20 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 20:20:45 -0400

The chance to get a college education

The chance to see another country

The training as an engineer

The great people

Discharge and retirement

Response by MSG Morgan Fiszel, CPCM, CFCM made May 4 at 2015 9:26 PM

MSG Morgan Fiszel, CPCM, CFCM — Mon, 04 May 2015 21:26:22 -0400

People, places, memories, opportunities, education.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 11:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 23:47:45 -0400

I'm thankful for:
The chance to experience the lifestyle of all that came before me.
Having a job that I can better myself and become a technical expert
All the free training that comes on a daily basis
The people I get to meet and interact with
My marriage, my wife helps me stay on track with everything and being in the military helps us build an even stronger bond.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Oct 23 at 2015 6:35 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 18:35:51 -0400

1. For 30 years, I was able to do exactly what I wanted to do with my life, be a Soldier. It did not go as planned but I am able to say, "I became a Soldier."
2. Working with some of the finest Americans alive today. From all social strata, they volunteered to do something most Americans will not do, put the nation before themselves.
3. The love and support of my family while I was headed off to Iraq and Afghanistan several times. It never got easier on my mother, it was difficult for my son and daughter, and leaving a wife of 7 months for my last tour was extremely hard for both of us.
4. Traveling to places and doing things that I would not have been able to do otherwise. 3 years in Germany, 2.5 years in Alaska; TDY to Egypt, Nepal, Italy; Climbing Thorang Himal in Nepal and Denali in Alaska; Deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar. Amazing experiences that will be with me for the rest of my life.
5. Finally but most important is God's providence watching over me in all of those 30 years. Despite the extreme risks of what I did and where I went, I am physically and mentally strong and that is due to Him.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Oct 23 at 2015 9:02 PM

LTC John Shaw — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 21:02:01 -0400

Amazing that I have been in the NG or Reserve close to 30 years, I spent no initial time on active duty, I have only been on active for the schools and deployments. I so thankful the Army has allowed this type of opportunity for me and many others.
1) Learning to jump out a perfectly good airplane
2) Learning to rappel off of perfectly good helicopters
3) Experiencing part of the world I would have never known existed (some best left unknown.)
4) Firing weapons and using some of the coolest equipment ever conceived.
5) Continuous education and challenge to stretch myself physically, mentally, spiritually

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Oct 23 at 2015 9:28 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 21:28:17 -0400

1. Brotherhood-in-arms - not national, but international. Made great friends from other countries.
2. Learning how to deal with stressful situations and yet completing the job.
3. Re-enforcing my own values in the Army Values.
4. Leadership abilities and lessons learned. How to lead from the front.
5. The ability to give back to my country.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 12:46 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 00:46:29 -0400

1. My training. The army sent me to DLI to learn Korean. Decades later I still speak Korean, married a Korean woman and consider the ROK as my second home.

2. Discipline. Without my military background I would not have had the strength and willpower to accomplish all that I have.

3. The privilege of command, which I very much hope to have again at the BN level. B

4. Many friends, who drift in and out of my life, but are always in my heart.

5. I reserve number 5 (and many more numbers) for whatever comes next in my military career because after 31 years I am far from finished.

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Oct 26 at 2015 6:13 PM

MAJ David Vermillion — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 18:13:07 -0400

1. Christ who died for me. 2. My wife. 3. Marriage, November 1, 2015 we will be married 50 years. 4. My two children and four grandchildren. 5. My health.

Response by MAJ Scott Meehan made Oct 26 at 2015 7:59 PM

MAJ Scott Meehan — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 19:59:50 -0400

I like all five of your choices!

Response by SrA Andrea West made Oct 26 at 2015 9:49 PM

SrA Andrea West — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 21:49:30 -0400

1. My faith.
2. Lifelong friends.
3. The chance to see Japan and Italy.
4. Two tours at DLI to study Russian.
5. An experience that most of my age group never had.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 29 at 2015 3:55 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 15:55:28 -0400

1. Serving the country.
2. Serving with the soldiers and NCOs.
3. Giving me a well rounded education.
4. Being in a position to help the soldiers.
5. Getting projects that have never been accomplished.
6. Making me a more empathetic and compassionate.

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Oct 29 at 2015 8:49 PM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 20:49:19 -0400

1 The ability to share with my Soldiers
2. The ability to continue in what I never thought I would ever be able to do for the Army. And being all that I could be.
3. Having military Friends for ever
4. Helping out wherever and whenever called upon even after I retired . Have helped many with recommendations for VA claims.
5. Letting Good help me as I went from PVT to LTC in a span of more than 32 years.

Response by LTC Gail Daras made Nov 5 at 2015 3:17 PM

LTC Gail Daras — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 15:17:00 -0500

1. I met my husband on a TDY to Fort Huachuca from Fort Ord. Neither one of us wanted to go since we had both just graduated from there, he from the Advanced Course and I from OBC.
2. Opportunities to challenge myself, I look back on deployments that I gained confidence from such as my deployment to Western Sahara, Africa with the United Nations.
3. I loved doing different jobs, I get bored once I master a job so I loved having new assignments and having new challenges.
4. I loved being a role model for soldiers and junior officers. I keep in touch now with some of them on Facebook and I am so proud of the people they have become.
5. I loved serving my country, it was an honor to serve and I hope I have represented the Army well for people who are considering entering the service. I enjoy sharing stories about the military with young people who may consider serving as well.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 31 at 2016 3:18 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:18:30 -0400

1. Training and going into combat with better men than I.2 surviving my tour.3 attaining the rank of SGT.4 giving my knowledge of what works and what doesn't in a live fire environment.my brothers on the Wall and those of them still kicking around in the World