Posted on Oct 1, 2022
SP5 Charles Gould
1.59K
21
8
7
7
0
For me, I grew up in the New England woods. Played, hunted, and camped there a lot. We played Army games all the time, and even had BB Gun ‘wars’ in the thick woods. Learned to listen-really listen- to the sounds of the woods. Tracked animals and my friends. Became my second home.

Enter Vietnam. All those skills transferred to my time in ‘Nam. Recon for me was a natural fit. Saved my life, and my team members, several times noticing, hearing, and smelling the jungle/woods. Extension of my childhood.

So what do you think you brought with you to the military from your childhood, civilian lives?
Avatar feed
Responses: 8
CSM Richard StCyr
3
3
0
I was an Eagle Scout and an apprentice Mason.
Map reading, orienteering, stalking, first aid, physical fitness, hiking, mountaineering, and marksmanship; all things we learned in scouting were useful. The intangibles of good ethics, morals, discipline and courtesy also helped.

I enlisted as a 51B in 1980 which is now a 12W Carpentry and Masonry Specialist. All my civilian training as a masons apprentice directly transferred to my MOS. I also took drafting and machine shop in high school which was really helpful in blueprint reading.

Growing up in northern NH in Coos county, where there were more cows than people and we had free reign of the woods, brooks and Connecticut river didn't hurt either.
(3)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Carlos Madden
2
2
0
I was pretty young when I went in, 17, and I grew up in a diverse area - both racially and socially economically. That was the only thing I ever knew but I really came to value those people skills when I got into the military because it wasn't the first time I'd been part of such a diverse group of backgrounds. In contrast some of my peers were a little shellshocked in basic since they'd never lived with people of difference races or sexualities.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
LTC Eugene Chu
2
2
0
I finished business school in 2015. Along with high level classes, I also learned about civilian project management and improved my Excel skills. During a mobilization for COVID, I used those MBA talents during a logistics mission.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close