If someone asked what could you have done differently in your military career, what would you have chosen?

I would have sought out mental help assistance after the incident aboard USS IOWA, April 19, 1989. I spent over 20 years suffering from PTSD related to that incident because an officer told me to "suck it up and get over it."

I would have done ROTC my first go around in college. I'm slated to be a cadet later this year but I lost some time.

I would have opted to stay in the reserve. I loved my MOS, and could have put in 20 years, without any regrets.

Actually, if I had been on my game, I'd have gone for the reserve band while finishing college. That alone would have given me confidence. However, when the time came to choose the MOS, I think maybe I should have at least auditioned. If I didn't make it, I could still have gone for the MOS groupings I was considering during the recruiting process. One thing I do honestly believe: My recruiter actually was trying to look at for me and my family. Both he and my counselor listened to my concerns about family issues and used that to guide me toward specialties that worked to that end. As a result I landed a peachy MOS that gave me family time. However, I would have thrived in the band and later learned that Band units give comp time to soldiers as well as a few other perks I would have loved. Still, it worked out. No time for any real regrets.

I wouldnt have been a party animal as a Marine...When i left the Corps i tried the Army navy and air-force i wouldnt have done that i should have stayed Marine and retired...i Retired Active Army...

I would have taken the Boot Camp offer of OCS and flight school that I received and probably put in twenty years.

Kept my knee problems to myself and I would still be in

If I had the ability to do it over again, I would reenlist and reclass. Getting out when I did may have been the worst mistake in my early adult years and I allowed a negative attitude to affect my decision.

I am a Marine and before I retired from Law Enforcement my partner was an Army Ranger and we used to have this conversation all the time. It basically revolved around 3 scenarios.

1) do better in high school, get appointed to a service academy, get commissioned into an intel MOS and then jump to the CIA/DIA

2) The special ops tour, Go to the Army first (easiest access to selection) become Ranger, SF, Delta (if possible) in first contract. Then jump to Navy, go to BUDs and earn Trident, Next stop USMC Amphib Recon school, last stop USAF and PJ school. Granted you have a training record that would look like a phone book but it would be an exciting journey.

3) Go in USMC, get combat Medals, CAR, Bronze Star or above, then move over to the USAF in some fast promoting MOS and live like a demigod.

Honestly, that's a really interesting question...I'd seen you'd listed 100% total perm svc-connected disabled (SCD), I am also, just figured I'd mention for perspective (really long story, obv)...anyway, I'd made one biggie bollix-up when I'd gone in, I'd gone line accidentally, instead of on the clinical side, as I'd wanted (also another really long story), which, needless to say, caused me untold beaucoup heartache, misery, grief, and aggravation later on, of course...my wife and I are obv also stable now, thank God, however, I'd just figured to relate at least that much, if only as your thread got my mental gears rather whirling, as it were, if nothing else, you know? Really well-phrased question, actually, for real, as I'd said....