What did you lose during your military service? Was it worth it?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 15:19:29 -0400

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 15 at 2015 3:23 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 15:23:50 -0400

I lost a connection to a lot of civilians who have never worn the uniform, in some ways it is a good thing, in some maybe not so much as I want to choke the hell out of a lot of them during the course of a normal day!!!

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2015 3:29 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 15:29:11 -0400

Gained more than I ever thought lost....

Response by SGT William Howell made Jun 15 at 2015 3:29 PM

SGT William Howell — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 15:29:16 -0400

My ability to not to call bullshit when I hear it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2015 3:33 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 15:33:03 -0400

Self-respect. Ambition. Friends. Family.

But I'd do it again in a heart-beat.

Response by CPT Bruce Rodgers made Jun 15 at 2015 4:07 PM

CPT Bruce Rodgers — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:07:32 -0400

I lost the use of my legs, but wouldn't hesitate to do all again!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 15 at 2015 4:27 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:27:14 -0400

I lost my passion for life, but I am stable and for that, I am grateful.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 15 at 2015 7:29 PM

PO1 John Miller — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 19:29:41 -0400

My sense of patience for stupid people.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2015 8:41 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 20:41:27 -0400

Children's birthdays, Holiday's, friends, the chance to set down "roots", the opportunity to know someone for more than 4 years, the chance for my kids to have life long friends or a 'home town", the ability to run and breath, the ability to fully hear in one ear, anniversaries, time with my wife, two dogs (got orders had to get rid of), my Mom and Dad (have to accept that I will only see them 1-2 times a year if i'm lucky for the rest of my life, at least till they get to sick to travel and then I will only see them on their "death bed" however many times that happens and then the funeral....course my sister and her kids get to see them every day because they relocated to live next to here upon retirement since "i was still mobile and in the service" (no bitterness towards her just one of the hidden costs of being in the military), at least two cars because of the multiple miles put on them driving cross country to see relatives, the opportunity to actually move up the chain my whole life instead of being dropped to the bottom the second I retired, and so much much much much more. Now to your questions do i regret it? Yes......would I do it all over again Yes.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2015 9:06 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 21:06:26 -0400

Time... something you can never get back. Time away from family. I have no regrets and am proud to still be serving.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Jun 15 at 2015 11:13 PM

SGT Richard H. — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 23:13:52 -0400

I lost:
-The ability to do nothing for hours on end and feel as if I had accomplished something.
-The misconception that going in circles was direction.
-The belief that where I was and what I was doing was "enough".
-The ability to tolerate mediocrity in myself.
-The willingness to stand idly by instead of getting involved.

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made Jun 16 at 2015 3:05 AM

SSG Kevin McCulley — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 03:05:59 -0400

..my mental health, my friends, and basically everything I spent my youth working for thanks to the current president.. No.. It was not worth it. Thanks to Obama, nothing the US Army has done since 9/11 was worth it.

Response by SGT Chris Lawrence made Jun 16 at 2015 6:51 AM

SGT Chris Lawrence — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 06:51:50 -0400

A significant part of my soul, my youth, the memory of significant life events due to not being around (for example: my father's wedding wherein I was to be the first man, my brother and sister's graduations from high school and college, family vacations, my full mental functionality due to TBI, some physical functionality due to damaged cervical and lumbar spine, being able to even walk sometimes without my knees hurting, some functionality in both shoulders, most of my hearing in one ear and enough to also need a hearing aid in the other. All that was incurred before I was 26. That being said, I would ABSOLUTLEY do it again, and I would make sure I was able to do more. I wish, almost on a daily basis, that I could be back in the fight. In my opinion nothing will ever matter so much as to train and fight for your country.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Jun 16 at 2015 8:27 AM

CDR Terry Boles — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:27:26 -0400

My youth, time with my family due to too many deployments and PCS moves across the globe with a two military spouse family. Aging much to fast. The ability just to kick back and not think about tomorrow, next year, next PCS. Time has been my greatest enemy, growing old before truly living and experiencing, sharing life with my loved ones. I and they will never regain those lost precious moments and therein lies the struggle, was it worth it to my family.

Response by MSG Wally Carmichael made Dec 11 at 2015 3:12 PM

MSG Wally Carmichael — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 15:12:16 -0500

I lost nothing and gained much, to include experiences that I otherwise would not have even thought of. I also gained joint issues, tinnitus, narrowing of my c6/c7 vertebra in my C-spine etc. All of which I'm dearly compensated for.