What motivated you most to make it to retirement?

I am not going to blow smoke. I was a Young Dumb 17 year old kid going nowhere fast. My Mom and Dad had divorced and I guess I pretty much didn’t care about anything. US Army gave me a way out and it was there I really grew up. Lifelong friendships came to me during this time, a marriage and babies. My wife convinced me to get out and move back home so she could finish Nursing school. She graduated less than a Year later and joined the Navy, I wanted to get back into the Army but was so afraid to be stationed away from her so I joined the Marines (as well as the Army was not taking Prior enlisted that had a DUI). Throughout the years we were stationed mostly on the same bases and overseas as well. My main reason for staying in and retiring was I really liked my job and family stability.
If I had it to do again I would have stayed in the Army, Being Airborne is one of the personal best things in my life. But I am glad that the path led me the way it did, the retirement is pretty good as well as the Med insurance and most of the people I served with are without a doubt , the Best!

Some jacka$$ E-7 that swore he was gonna run me out of his Navy........ On the anniversary of that comment I made a point of finding him and letting him know it wasn't just HIS Navy......

Three Simple Words: Duty, Honor and Country first and foremost. Secondly security of a stable job. Lastly would be the benefits from ACS,education and travel/friendship to go 25 years and 3 days to the finishline