How has your time in the military changed you and your life's path - for both the good and the bad?

Question

I am asking this to gain information to use as part of a persuasive speech for my college class. Obviously, I am looking for answers from active duty, reserve, national guard, and any retired servicemen and women. Anything that you have to say will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much, not only for your help with my speech but for all the things you do and all the sacrifices you make (trust me, I know. the love of my life is a 2LT in the Army).

Answer 1

I joined the Army straight out of high school, age 17 with parental consent.

Basic training was just a walk in the park compared to active duty with the 7th ID at Fort Ord. We were the light infantry, hauling our gear on our backs. The discipline and sense of duty I gained in that unit changed my life immeasurably. Without the military, I probably would have ended up in jail or worse.

I was a bit of a hoodlum in high school, just doing boys-will-be-boys stuff, but not doing anything good with myself.

The Army whipped me into shape. If it wasn't for the leaders in my unit, I would not be nearly as successful or honorable as I am today.

Answer 2

Good question.... The NAVY was the best time of my life. i spent 4 yrs in and went to college while in... They paid for my bachelors and 2 masters after that.... I saw the world, got a free education made new friends, became a man, I would always recoment military service  

Answer 3

I was born and raised in Brooklyn New York. At the age of 18 I enlisted in the Navy, left the borough and never looked back. Over the next 25 years I got to see parts of the world and experience things which my childhood friends could only dream of. During that time I lived for eight years in Japan. It helped me avoid what I term the "ignorance born of insularity".

Since 1985 I have lived in a 3-bedroom home in Southern Nevada which has a covered patio with a built-in bar, a swimming pool and a spa. Many of my childhood friends are still in rabbit warrens masquerading as apartments. I had the golden opportunity of rising through the enlisted ranks of the Navy to gain a commission and retire as a commissioned officer. Few nations on this planet afford such a chance to do that with no thought given to class distinctions.

More importantly, my 25 years in the Navy gave me a deep appreciation for our nation, its Constitution and its representative democracy. Having been to nations which do not enjoy the sort of freedoms we take for granted has heightened that sense of appreciation.

I don't know if you are familiar with a movie entitled "Saturday Night Fever". To me it is one of the saddest movies ever made. Because, if I had not left the borough of Brooklyn to experience and enjoy the world outside, I would have wound up like the characters in that movie. Stuck in a rut and confined in a universe of a few hundred square city blocks. (BTW, I returned to Brooklyn in June of 2001, some 44 years after I left. That disco used in the movie was still going and still attracting the same crowd of well-dressed people who were cloaking crushed dreams).

The Navy's current recruiting slogan is "Accelerate Your Life". They should add "Expand Your Horizons" to that slogan.  

Answer 4

It has opened so many doors for me. Chances to go to the parts of world that some people never get to go, education benefits I couldn't get in the civilian world. It helped give me leadership skills that I couldn't have got anywhere and helped me land quite a few jobs. It gave me a sense of pride in doing my job and knowing I was following in my family footsteps.

Answer 5

The military gave me my biggest life lesson.  I am a white girl who grew up near Detroit with Affirmative Action, Riots, high crime and had a neighborhood who had a problem with non catholics let alone blacks.   When I joined the service, I discovered that I was not prejudice and also men and women could compete technically 1:1.   I was fortunate to be taught a very good trade and I've made quite a nice life for myself these last 30 years off of that very trade.