When you stop to think about your career, do you think you did all you could and wanted over the years? If not, what stopped you?

2021-09-19T20:56:14-04:00

Can you still achieve that goal or why won’t you do it anymore

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Sep 19 at 2021 8:59 PM

2021-09-19T20:59:16-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I Believe that I did all that I could do when I was in the Army.
(I have mentioned this before on Rally Point: in the Army- I was a Squad Leader; a Graduate-with-Honors; a Sports Director; and, I was a Sports Director for Dependent Youths.)

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 19 at 2021 9:06 PM

2021-09-19T21:06:25-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I achieved much more than I expected. Accepting a Peter Principle promotion was the close to my military career, by then, my zeal for the military had shrunken immensely.

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Sep 19 at 2021 9:44 PM

2021-09-19T21:44:00-04:00

I was able to do everything I ever wanted.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2021 10:11 PM

2021-09-19T22:11:31-04:00

I did well. Only regret is leaving for five years. I'll feel completely content when I can finish my Bachelor's degree.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2021 10:33 PM

2021-09-19T22:33:57-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I served four years in the Marine Corps and did not re-enlist because I was unhappy with the bad drug problem. I regret the friends that were lost. After I was discharged, I obtained my degree while working at a chemical plant. With my degree, I began a 33 year career on the Space Shuttle Program. I retired one month after the last Space Shuttle Flight, so I accomplished everything that I set out to do.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Sep 19 at 2021 11:54 PM

2021-09-19T23:54:09-04:00

Personally the only negative part of my time in Uniform was that I didn't get tp leave on my terms. Being medically retired forced me out before I was ready to leave.

But other than that I did exactly what I wanted to do with my career. I fought for the duty stations I wanted and it resulted in a successful run.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 20 at 2021 1:12 AM

2021-09-20T01:12:33-04:00

I didn't look at it as a doing thing. It was making the most of what came my way. I've been to places and done things I never would have dreamed of. Some nightmares along the way, but overall a worthwhile journey that I don't have to play the what if game on in retirement. I left on my own terms and moved on with other adventures.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2021 1:40 AM

2021-09-20T01:40:53-04:00

By all accounts, I have done way more than I thought I ever would or could. Supremely honored and humbled by that. Before this ride is over though, I definitely want to jump out of some planes on the Army’s dime and have an opportunity at organizational-level leadership in the Army’s enterprise. If neither of those happens, I am certain I have done my part to inspire many, as those before me have inspired me; hopefully serving as the steward of the profession that Army expects me to be.

Response by PO1 Gary Bell made Sep 20 at 2021 2:40 AM

2021-09-20T02:40:05-04:00

Money, pay was not enough as E-5 over 6yr. service. $7k didn't go far in '79.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Sep 20 at 2021 6:54 AM

2021-09-20T06:54:52-04:00

Due to physically being beat up I was not ever able to really compete for a CSM position. That's about it.

Response by Donald Halcomb made Sep 20 at 2021 10:37 AM

2021-09-20T10:37:06-04:00

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Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Sep 20 at 2021 10:56 AM

2021-09-20T10:56:54-04:00

I re-enlisted for an MOS. Did 10 years in that MOS prior to retirement. I did VERY little within the actual MOS, spending far more time rated in a completely different MOS. And half of the time I was rated within that MOS, it was an admin role (staff work at echelons above reality) and not actually working the MOS.

I would have loved to have "gotten my hands dirty" within the MOS. My most fulfilling 6 months out of the last decade was my deployment to Afghanistan as an individual augmentee to an SF unit. I was *still* doing admin, but it was DIRECTLY related to the MOS, provided important support to the operators in the field, and gave me the opportunity to learn and grow exponentially. But after that, I returned right back to echelons above reality to do meaningless staff work.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 20 at 2021 11:44 AM

2021-09-20T11:44:50-04:00

I ended up doing far more than I ever thought I would when I first joined.
It was 1999, there were no wars, and I figured I would do a couple of years, get my college paid for and move on with my life.
22 years, 7 deployments and 14 overseas years, a wife and 2 kids later and I have retirement orders in hand and I'm about to transition to my new career, teaching, and I'm not at all where I thought I would be back in the 90's...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 20 at 2021 12:44 PM

2021-09-20T12:44:15-04:00

I am very content with my army career. I was in aviation, armor, finance/budget, National Disaster Planning. I believe I was a well rounded soldier.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 20 at 2021 2:03 PM

2021-09-20T14:03:31-04:00

I appreciated the opportunities to lead soldiers. I loved them which means I took care of them and their families. I created a culture of professional and personal growth. I really can't sing the praises of the NCOs I worked with enough. They bought into my vision of the culture and the organization. Thus, they did much of the leading and planning. The NCOs made things work, they were the glue. I did not have to be Type A a lot. I also wanted to be a conduit of positive change. Saying thank you, having fun, and boosting morale was important to me.

I matured in the army. The army values became guiding principles. I learned to always do the right thing and my words were always gold. The army enlightened me about the importance of having a sense of empathy and compassion. I obviously had more rank in the units I commanded, but I wanted to show the soldiers I was not too good to work with them. For example I helped dig fighting positions, did spring clean up, and did gate guard with the soldiers after 9-11, and led the funeral teams.

The greatest honor I felt was taking care of the sons and daughters of this country.

Response by SPC Robert Bobo made Sep 20 at 2021 4:43 PM

2021-09-20T16:43:30-04:00

Over 42 years , I successfully achieved the highest level position possible within the corporate arena (SVP), although over my last 12 years I established enough credibility within the C suite to laterally assume a different critical role that became available upon a friends retirement, I didn't pursue the opportunity as I planned to retire in a few years myself and had no intention of relocating.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Sep 21 at 2021 10:38 AM

2021-09-21T10:38:18-04:00

I had to be doing something, it was good