"If I knew then what I know now"

SFC Anabel Cepero — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:47:19 -0500

I hear this saying a lot, I have used it a couple of times myself. I have even heard some say, they probably wouldn't have served if they knew what signing up meant.

If I knew then what I know now, I absolutely would have done it all over! I am proud to be a Soldier and a Leader. I have experienced hardship, but also greatness. I have a lot to thank this country for, as I was born in Cuba and endured living in a communist country. I have questioned if joining the service was right and I always go back to the same answer...Yes.

If you could change the choices you made in your career what would they be? And would you have not joined at all?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2014 9:50 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:50:26 -0500

I would have gone to college out of high school and I would be a LTC now....yet it is hard to dispute the path I have taken and the life experiences I have gained. I think it is best to not look back, just look forward and focus on the now.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2014 10:08 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 22:08:59 -0500

I try not to look back on the past too often because I don't know how things would have worked out. I could easily say that I wish I'd gone to college right out of high school and become an officer, but who knows if that would have worked out. For all I know I may have gotten hurt playing some intramural sport that I certainly would have been playing and ruined any chance I had at being in the military. Recreating the past to me is very similar in trying to predict the future. There are too many scenarios that could play out and I may have ended up in a worse situation instead of a better one. I am happy with where I am in my life professionally, socially, and spiritually. I feel like I am satisfied because of the hurdles and wrong choices I had to overcome to get here.

Response by SFC James Baber made Feb 19 at 2014 10:09 PM

SFC James Baber — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 22:09:36 -0500

I loved my job and everything I accomplished during my career, but if I had known then what I knew now, I would've have joined the AF, as it would been better for my progression and education experiences, but I probably would have not met my wife, so that is the biggest plus as to where I ended up and finished my career the way I did. I have everything I wouldn't have if I had gone the other route, so I got the better of the two choices.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Feb 19 at 2014 10:48 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 22:48:26 -0500

When I joined at 17, "If I knew what I know now", today would have been an altered future then what it is now. truth is that I would not be able to know what kind of life I would of had today. But it wouldn't be the same as the present time.

I enjoy life though, and I enjoy my present life, I figured that with my response my son wouldn't exists today, so since he's present, I wouldn't change anything, because he added meaning to my current life. :)

Thank you for your thread SGT Cepero.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Mar 26 at 2014 9:24 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 09:24:51 -0400

I would have enlisted in the Reserves in HS and been an SMP during all 4 years of ROTC, not just the last 18 months.

I wouldn't have spent several years in the IRR.

I wouldn't have married my first wife. :-)

Other than that, it's been a good ride.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jul 5 at 2014 12:27 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 12:27:05 -0400

If I could, I wouldn't change anything because everything that has happen it happened for a reason. God still blessed me with a family and career, it is all in His control and couldn't be my will at all.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Jul 5 at 2014 1:02 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 13:02:05 -0400

As a veteran of the all volunteer Army and having served with 2 different generations of soldiers I would still have signed up both times. The only change I would like to make would have been continuing on active duty instead of getting out and joining the Army Reserves and National Guard. I love my country and support with words, deeds in my community, and through involvement with 3 different veterans organizations the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen/women, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines who have, do and will serve this country without hesitation. My only current wish is that I had not broken my back and could still be out there doing it. If I had stayed in from my original enlistment and kept reenlisting I would today be well into year number 34 and may even be thinking about retiring. Military service was something I wanted to do from an early age, my dream was to follow in my fathers footsteps and serve my country, I reached that goal but unfortunately I was unable to retire. Such is life. I hope this answers the question adequately on my behalf. Thank you SFC Anabel Cepero for your service to this country. And may God bless you in your future life.

Response by GySgt Cornelius Cunningham Jr. made Mar 29 at 2017 12:13 AM

GySgt Cornelius Cunningham Jr. — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 00:13:01 -0400

I was drafted. Today I am glad it happened.