In your opinions, what is the ideal attitude a Soldier should have about their job in the Military?

I appreciate most anybody with an optimistic outlook. Younger service members do well to foster optimism because almost everyone reacts positively to optimists--even pessimistic people. "I love how bad it sucks here" is difficult to get mad at.

In SEP '72, I actually had my draft notice in my left hand when I signed NG papers with my right. First 4 months before basic I got to observe in blue jeans. Lots of attitudes and people complaining about the chose they made 4,5,6 years earlier. No idea why, but I developed the attitude of "I'm here for 6 years, why fight it?" Guess it was a "Be All You Can Be" attitude. LOL Attitude was up and down and sometimes I wondered why I was doing it, but I have never regretted it. I'm quick to point out that my NG, Reserve time does not even come close to the Reserve and NG of today. My hats off to young people today that choose any branch. They will never hear "mobilize", but they may hear "deploy" many times.

Reserves (and Guard) are tough. They are tougher when you are an E-4 and below. Drill weekends are a freaking scramble. You have no idea how many (Company, Bn, Bde & above) Staff Sections have been bartering for your available time. Your best bet at your current Rank is to remain optimistic and acknowledge the fact that you are barely a Sprocket on a Cog in a much larger machine. Your observations of common attitudes is spot on. "Full Boot", "corporate" and "politic" are pretty much your three choices. Most Reserve units don't need a mindless Boot or a person with a Part-time attitude. They are in dire need of those you deem Political. There are two Classes of those Political animals. Those for themselves and those that want the best for their Organization. Your actions and attitude will place you in any of the aforementioned Classes whether you want to be in that Class or not. Since you volunteered, why not do the best for your Organization?

Your statement, (which displays your attitude) that you are "but a Reservist" tells me that you are at your correct Rank. Another thing you alluded to was "The Golden Boy" mentality. You would be an arrogant fool to think your shit don't stink and you are one of the ones that "seem to get everything right without a single hitch along the way".