Career satisfaction, if you start your career over with another branch of service, would you?

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 17:46:08 -0400

My father retired from the Army and my grandfather served too, so my choice was easy, but my mother wanted me to go Navy or Air Force, sometimes I wonder how my career would of turned out in another branch of service but I have no regrets about my Army career. I'm curious as to how others feel about their branch of service and their career.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 23 at 2015 5:51 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 17:51:51 -0400

My Father (Donald) served in the Army and fought in the Korea, his twin brother (Ronald) served in the Air Force and was in the Vietnam War, and his oldest brother (Robert) served in the Army and fought in the Pacific during WWII. I'm proud that I served in the Army for (37 years) and wouldn't change if I had to do it all over again.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Jun 23 at 2015 6:43 PM

CDR Terry Boles — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 18:43:35 -0400

Interesting question! I have served in 3 different branches of service (USN, USAF, USPHS) and although each branch is distinctive they all share a common thread of service albeit different missions.

It is difficult for me to select one branch of service that would be better than another. Each branch of service provided me different career opportunities. As an enlisted sailor in the Navy I was able to see the world and grow into a man. The Air Force provided the opportunity to become an officer and experience a totally different level of leadership and responsibility; the Navy was downsizing my career field. The Public Health Service (PHS) opened a world unknown to me with opportunities to serve all throughout the Federal government to include DoD and DHS.

I am just as close to my Navy buddies as I am with my Air Force buddies, the only difference is my Air Force buddies for the most part are still active duty like myself. I have attended 2 Navy reunions and will attend another one this Fall. Of course the majority of my PHS buddies are still active duty, however I am seeing a lot more Mustang officers retiring and I am not far behind.

I think the family more so enjoyed the quality of life improvements each time I changed a branch of service, from Navy to Air Force to PHS. Career wise, each branch of service provided me opportunities I did not think existed and made me a more well-rounded officer today where I can easily move between military and federal government duty assignments without an overwhelming feeling of being over my head. Bottom line, it has been an interesting journey; some good career moves, some not so good career moves, but that is the nature of the beast with any employer. I would not hesitate to advise someone to make a career move to another branch of service, it happens more than you might believe, if it would benefit them career wise. I’m proud to be a veteran of 3 different branches of service and serving both enlisted (nearly 17-years) and as an officer (18+ years and counting).

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 5:46 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 05:46:54 -0400

Good question. I'm not sure I'd necessarily pick another service, but rather make a few different career decisions. Choice of locations, specific jobs, volunteer opportunities (would have squeezed in more), or even where my family and I lived may have been a few areas where a tweek could have improved my time in the USCG and USAF. Timing of a few decisions would have helped too.

Response by PO1 Charles Norris made Jun 25 at 2015 1:00 PM

PO1 Charles Norris — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 13:00:44 -0400

I tried joining the Army but the recruiter never showed up. Three seperate appointments and three failures to show so I joined the Navy and never looked back. I loved my carrer and IF I would do anything over it wouldn't be joining another branch. There were failures in my career, some were mine and some were failures of Navy leadership, but I have no regrets at all. I am a Sailor through and through, for better or worse.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 25 at 2015 7:38 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 19:38:07 -0400

I did combat arms then went finance/logistics. I would not change that as leaders need to suffer with the troops.

Response by MSgt David Haupt made Jun 26 at 2015 8:30 AM

MSgt David Haupt — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 08:30:24 -0400

I can trace my family history all the way back to the Revolutionary War with military pride...ok we were on the wrong side (Hessains) during the Revolutionary War but still. Since then every war has had a Haupt or Bower (mom's side) serving. When it came time for me to make the decision I talk to my dad and two cousins (Navy), two uncles (USAF) and grandfathers (Army). Plus my dad told me if I joined the Marines he would of broke both my legs. Stupid Navy Corpman!! It came down to the USAF. If I had to do it again I don't know if I would have changed my mind. I served with all branches as a Military Working Dog Handler in time of war and peace. Each branch has is differences and similarities. So would I have changed my service NO! As I said I loved working with the other service but no thank you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 12:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 12:44:35 -0400

Coast Guard

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 26 at 2015 9:19 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 21:19:16 -0400

I wasn't cerebral enough for the Air Force, crazy enough for the Marines, did want to be stuck on a Navy ship, so the Army tank was perfect for me.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 9:33 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 21:33:08 -0400

I am glad of my choice even though I had lots of input.
my uncle was an island hopper so marines was out after two story's me vomiting and never looking at him like this old gentle giant I always knew.
Father was 25th ID Veitnam he and two other cousins told me story's and things they hated about how the Air Force was better.
Grampa Jake was Army Air Corp and he loved his time flying over Germany and that became the clear choice for me.
No regrets either.

Response by PO1 Shahida Marmol made Jun 27 at 2015 7:12 AM

PO1 Shahida Marmol — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 07:12:18 -0400

To be honest, you always hear people saying "Oh, I should have went Air Force, because it's so easy." I thought that way for a long time. In all actuality, I don't know what they do on their day to day schedules. I do know I have great training, I have a cool ass job and even if it were easier, I'd probably wish I were back in the Navy.

Response by CA Ralph Felt made Jul 11 at 2015 11:04 AM

CA Ralph Felt — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 11:04:59 -0400

yes, most certainly

Response by LT Louis McKellar made Apr 28 at 2016 1:58 PM

LT Louis McKellar — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 13:58:51 -0400

I enlisted in the USAF out of high school. I worked on my college degree using tuition assistance and needed two semesters to graduate so I transferred to the USAFR. I was accepted to the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps OCS programs. I didn't apply to the USAF because I had a non-technical degree and didn't have the time to wait for a slot (had wife and two children to support).

I attended the Navy OCS and became an Ensign. I chose to go to the TAR program (Training and Administration of Reserves) instead of augmenting to the USN. As I became a TAR, the new admiral in charge of the Naval Reserve had spent time on ships - commanding a couple of them, and that became the new career path. I received a letter from my Readiness Commander when I was in command of a reserve center congratulating me on being one of the few TAR officers selected to attend Naval Postgraduate School. However, the detailer said MY PG school would be the Navy's Department Head school and back to sea.

I think if I could do it all over, I'd wait for an opening in the USAF. I'm not sure how that would have ended. Either way, I would have retired from the military.

Response by TSgt Wayne Johnson made Feb 14 at 2019 11:38 PM

TSgt Wayne Johnson — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 23:38:08 -0500

No way I loved the Air Force and wish I was still in.