How would you want to leave your mark on your time in service? Would it be a universal mark? Or a personal mark?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 15:33:39 -0500

No judging will be done on my part, I’m just curious on how people want to effect change within the community, because in essence, the more people that promote positive change, the more accepted and widespread it would become.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jan 6 at 2018 3:44 PM

TSgt David L. — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 15:44:56 -0500

I guess at the end of the day it would be nice to know that you made a difference. Whether to an individual or a community. I can say that as EOD, we see a tangible goal or outcome. I know not everyone gets to see that all of the time. It's tough to say how many troops DIDN'T die because of your actions, but I'm satisfied that we make a difference when a guy gets to go home at the end of a convoy or mission.
As far as leaving a mark, if folks don't know they could've been injured or killed then I've done my job. It's what DIDN'T happen that I consider a lasting mark.

Interesting question, SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member. Looking forward to reading other's comments.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2018 5:16 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 17:16:51 -0500

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member In my four years in the Marine Corps and my civilian career, I did the best job that I could and made a positive impact in the work place and mentored others, so that they could enjoy success. I am proud of my military service and my civilian career, and that is all that matters to me.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 6 at 2018 5:51 PM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 17:51:16 -0500

I would invent a hat that the entire US Army would love... probably edible.

Response by GySgt Dj B made Jan 6 at 2018 5:53 PM

GySgt Dj B — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 17:53:45 -0500

Some people spend their entire lives wondering if the made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem. ☺

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jan 6 at 2018 6:10 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 18:10:26 -0500

I went IRR 18 yrs ago. I am still known by my nickname by those that came in 8 yrs after I left.

Response by Cpl Kent Mitchell made Jan 6 at 2018 6:24 PM

Cpl Kent Mitchell — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 18:24:24 -0500

No Russians or Chinese attacked when I was active.

Response by SFC Christopher Taggart made Jan 6 at 2018 6:29 PM

SFC Christopher Taggart — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 18:29:54 -0500

You'll know if you made a difference while in military, if your old buddies try to make contact with you years later, after you've left.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jan 6 at 2018 7:26 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 19:26:12 -0500

As an enlisted man, I knew that I would never be able to rewrite policy. I did know that I could do my best for my guys though. I gauged the mark that I left on the military by the ways that I taught my Soldiers to be better than they were when I first met them. If they can say that I taught them something that they didn't know before, that I helped them through something that was difficult, if I gave them an opportunity that no one else would have given them, it is stuff like this that I measured just how much I impacted the military. My guys, and their subsequent success was, and still is, how I measure how well I did. The highest rank that I ever held was Sergeant E-5; many of my Soldiers have been Staff Sergeants for quite some time now. I like that. I can't wait to see them put on E7.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2018 7:56 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 19:56:12 -0500

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member I can't speak about wider impact but personally it was the greatest privaledged to be apart of the US Navy it took me around the world to places I have never thought I would ever go to I mean that in a good way. Now I serve in the greatest army in the history of the world doing a job I'm passionate about it's been great so far I don't have a care to do really anything else right now.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jan 6 at 2018 9:02 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 21:02:53 -0500

My mark will be left on the airman that I supervise. I hope that what I learned from those before me will be passed down to those who follow me. They in turn will pass it down to others. In that way, the traditions, good leadership skills, and honor will continue through time.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jan 6 at 2018 11:51 PM

TSgt David L. — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 23:51:00 -0500

President Reagan said it best.