What changed you from viewing the military as just a "four year job" into making it a career?

Cpl Kevin Henderson — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 17:33:42 -0500

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Dec 29 at 2018 5:39 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 17:39:59 -0500

My first duty station as an officer. I had an unpleasant experience at my ROTC camp and my internship (CTLT), but had a fantastic Battalion Commander in Korea. Although he was forced to retire as a full Colonel, his leadership made military life seem more pleasant. He later became a successful corporate executive with multiple Fortune 500 corporations.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/coloneldavidalee

coloneldavidalee

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2018 5:43 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 17:43:09 -0500

Cpl Kevin Henderson I enlisted with the intent of making the Marine Corps a career, but only stayed four years. With a year left, I changed my plans to: finish my enlistment, move to Houston, get a job, and go to school. Once I had my degree, I would quit my job, and go to work for the Space Program. I was fed up with the military drug problem, and did not think that the Marine Corps was doing enough to fix the problems. The Marine Corps later did work on resolving these problems.

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Dec 29 at 2018 5:49 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 17:49:41 -0500

I enlisted for 3 years, I ended up retiring. I had no idea if I would like the military lifestyle, I did.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2018 6:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 18:00:08 -0500

Every single CSM I have ever worked for told me that when they first enlisted they plan on getting out after their first Enlistment.
As a career counselor, I listen to everyone's plan before they get out of the army. 90% of the people to sit down in my office tell me that they only joined with the intention of doing one Enlistment.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2018 6:03 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 18:03:13 -0500

I joined the Army National Guard not knowing what to expect. Since I had a college degree, I went in as an e-4 specialist. When I realized that I was not too old to become an officer, I was able to go to OCS and be commissioned at 33 years 9 months. I didn't think this was ever possible. Once I became a commissioned officer, then I knew that there was a chance I could make it to 20 years and earn a partial retirement. 24 years later, I'm counting down the days to where I have three years time in grade and I can retire at age 59. One weekend a month and two weeks are in the summer? That was bull crap! I was mobilized three times. 1 mobilization Stateside for 1 year guarding a base in Utah. Ended up volunteering for Duty in Iraq going there with the Idaho National Guard in 2004 and 2005. I had an easy job as a liaison officer in a brigade tactical operations center at forward operations base warrior in kirkuk Iraq. It was surreal because I went to ramp ceremonies of those people killed. Fellow Army National Guard male and female Personnel killed by insurgents or by vehicle rollovers. I never expected to go to Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009. Working at provincial reconstruction team Farah approving projects from $10,000 to $200,000. Trying to shape the fight in Afghanistan with fixing Wells, Building schools and fixing infrastructure to help win the fight against terrorism. The reality check was losing my first sergeant in another part of Afghanistan. He was killed one week prior to coming back home. A suicide car bomber with fuel which meant that he came back a closed casket. He is buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. Never forget First Sergeant Blue Rowe RIP.
Some people may put down the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. Most of us had at least two deployments. Some of us did not come back.
http://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/blue-c-rowe/

Blue C. Rowe

The Times collects the stories of California servicemembers who died during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 29 at 2018 6:28 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 18:28:42 -0500

I found service in the military to be an honorable profession. I firmly believed a strong military would deter wars.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Dec 29 at 2018 7:02 PM

LTC John Mohor — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 19:02:40 -0500

I joined for the career and almost missed it as a career. After the peace dividend lay off I was able to find a Reserve unit thru my hometown Church. Thanks to a retread AGR Major Vietnam Beteran I was able to get that 20 year letter neede for my Reserve Career Retirement plan. With Mobilization I was even able to end a couple years early and call it at 26 years. Just six more years and the first monthly check will start direct deposit;-)

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2018 7:20 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 19:20:16 -0500

I love kicking doors. Didnt want to do anything else, didnt want to get as far as I have. But now I live vicariously through my hellions when I get to let them loose on an objective. Being a senior enlisted advisor to officers is rewarding in a different way though.
On the other side of the coin, I've never understood the PVT that came in and was like "I want to be a CSM!" That's cool and all, but they are brand new and dont even know their own job, let alone the CSMs job.

Response by CPL Sarah Verity made Dec 29 at 2018 7:58 PM

CPL Sarah Verity — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 19:58:16 -0500

I went in to get away from my dad's airfield of F-18s. Ended up on an Army airfield wondering where I went wrong when reviewing my contract. Turns out my contract had this "needs of service can allow the military to do whatever they want with you regardless of what this agreement says" clause. I signed 6-years because I figured if I left early, it'd be with a chunk of money. Plus it's really easy to screw up your life between 18 and 24, so I gave it to the Army knowing they could make better use of those years.

Response by CPL Sarah Verity made Dec 29 at 2018 8:26 PM

CPL Sarah Verity — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 20:26:18 -0500

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Dec 29 at 2018 9:14 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 21:14:23 -0500

No skills, no job and zero prospects. Joined to remedy that status, then go back to the trucking industry. Family background. Had so much fun, kept re-enlisting. The patriotism grew along with my career.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2018 10:04 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 22:04:52 -0500

Getting out and figuring out civilian life is garbage.....back in now and theyre gonna have to kick me out to get me out.

Response by 2d Lt Cinthia W. made Dec 30 at 2018 3:54 AM

2d Lt Cinthia W. — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 03:54:03 -0500

When I joined, it was with the intent to pay for college through the Guard. But my first unit became more like family who taught me a lot about the military and my field. They ended up teaching me about passion for the service and what you do. I have been at 3 other bases since, none of which could replace the mentorship I received from the first. I just passed 11 years in and plan to retire out. On the plus side, my drill weekends give me a break from my day to day life of work and family!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2018 9:42 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 09:42:52 -0500

I never really made that transition. I continually re-evaluated what I was doing in the Army, what my goals were near term, and whether the pros outweighed the cons. And mostly the key was if I still enjoyed doing it. With me, I just really enjoyed doing extremely difficult and challenging things (and even sometimes absurdly stupid things) with other soldiers who could find the humor in the middle of the worst suck.

For example, as a rifle PLT leader in the 82d, I had a squad leader who wasn't sure if he wanted to re-enlist. Sometimes he would say he just was tired of the suck. So one night we are in the field on an FTX and are on a night ambush mission. It's one of the nights at Ft Bragg where it is raining and freezing at the same time. So as we had been laying motionless in the ambush position for over an hour, with the freezing rain actually coating us with ice, it was pretty damn miserable. Everyone is just uncontrollably shaking and teeth chattering, but maintaining discipline. So in the middle of that, my squad leader low crawls over to my position. I look at him, thinking it must be important for him to crawl all the way over. He just looks me in the eye and says " sir, I'll re-enlist for a six round burst if you guarantee that every night will be just like this one. ". Then he crawled away.

I just decided that I wanted to continuing working with soldiers of that quality and that sense of duty and humor combined. And before I knew it, I was in for 22 years before I finally decided not to make the military a career. :)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2018 10:09 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 10:09:20 -0500

To be honest with you, I never the military as a 4 year job.....I knew it would be a career..... Back in 1991 at the age of 12, I was watching news coverage of desert storm on TV. I knew right then, the military was my calling. The recruiters didn't have to come to me, I went straight to them once I turned 17. It's ironic that I was watching the start of a war on TV at the age of 12 and 12 years later, I went to war myself at the start of OIF...........

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2018 2:04 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 14:04:57 -0500

I've been in the army for 10 years now. My first 5 were active duty. Those 5 years of my life were ABSOLUTELY amazing. They created the person I am today. I formed relationships that will last my lifetime. My experiences were legendary. I traveled the world. Married the love of my life. I decided to ets at the end of my tour in Germany, I felt like I was going out on top. I joined the reserve before my exit, I love being able to stay Army and have the freedom of civ life.

Response by SFC Scott Higgins made Dec 30 at 2018 6:00 PM

SFC Scott Higgins — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 18:00:14 -0500

Opportunity to travel. Uncertain economy. But then, I wasn't dealing with the prospect of multiple war zones in various locations. Still there was the allure of retiring at 37. It was a fantastic ride.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2018 9:49 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 09:49:07 -0500

There have been some great answers to this post, but mine is simply the camaraderie and espirit de Corps.