Did you have a long-term plan when you joined the military?

For me I didn't really have any long term plans. My initial plan was to do my 4 years and get out like so many do, but then I realized that I really enjoyed it before and after my deployment and ended up re-enlisting for another 4 years. And my plan was to just take it as it went from enlistment to enlistment to see how things go and ended up getting out at 9 and a half years with my wife and two boys beside me

I dropped out of High School to join the Army with the intention of completing 20 years. Best decision I ever made. I sometimes regret I did just that 20 years 20 days, because they where great years and civilian life just doesn't compare.

No, it was 1967, I didn’t even know if I would be alive in another year, but retired in 1990.Go figure

Went in cuz the judge gave me a choice..."Son, you can go with that man or that man..." 6 yrs looked better than 30 days at the time! 4 ships, 3 shore duties, 6 WesPacs, 2-1/2 Meds and 20 years later...no regrets. Hell of a ride! Got to see most of the world that never would have been able to otherwise.

Sure did - I enlisted for 3 years. That was my plan. Then I re-enlisted for four more. Then I got an Active Duty ROTC Scholarship and went back in for four as an officer. I grew up in the Army. Got married in the Army. Saw the world in the Army. Got out at the perfect time.

I wanted o join since I was a child also I joined to serve the same for my grandfather and my cousin. It was a strange way to see Europe. It was fun to a point and I would never disappointed because I served with up most honor. If you're going to do something, do it the right way the first time. I am proud to tell people that I am a veteran.

Service 9 years, was planning on a career. But at Ft. Riley, Kansas where it made me to leave the Army. Lost interest in it.

Not really. I just knew I wasn't ready for college and didn't want a factory job. At least not at that time. I'm very thankful for the Army and all the friends I made thru the years. Retirement is good too, tho. There is life of the 'other side'. God bless all you warriors and thanks for keeping me free. Hooah.

My plan was to serve 20 years and retire.
Mission accomplished.

I had grand plans when I enlisted in the Navy in 1983. I wanted to be a chaplain's assistant for a few years then go to college & seminary on their dime. Unfortunately, that never happened. First off, I was told that my ASVAB scores weren't good enough for a clerical/office job, thus I'd hafta strike for it, meaning I'd enlist unrated and try to qualify foot the position some other way. Then that idea came to a crashing halt less than 2 months into my first duty at a base in Virginia. I told a friend that I might be gay. I was young & questioning my sexuality. I said I didn't *want* to be gay but didn't know how to change. (After many years of trying, I finally realized my attempts were futile.) He didn't take that so well & reported me for it. After months of fighting my premature discharge from the Navy, it became a reality less than a year after I joined. And I was never able to pursue my dream of full time ministry due to a host of other issues after leaving the Navy - including being gay in churches that didn't approve of such things 30 years ago.