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

Instead of retiring at 20 as a CW3, I would have continued to serve until I made CW4.

I think I would try to be a better soldier for the time I was in.

I would not have let them divert me from Vietnam to the Korean DMZ. And I would never have gotten out after my first 2 years.

The Navy wanted to make me a sub nuke ET. I wanted nothing to do with it. I finally 'failed' ET school. Best move. I have been stationed in 3 countries, sailed on 5 ships on 8 oceans/seas, and visited about 30 countries and learned enough of several languages to get something to eat, shop, get directions and carry on at least a limited conversation. I met my wife at a restaurant in Virginia Beach (slept through lunch Labor Day weekend at Dam Neck). I went to Antarctica where I spent 13 months and learned some Russian from our exchange scientist and had a chance to use some of what I knew living in Portland, Oregon which has quite a Ukrainian/Russian community. My SK training helped me get a great job working with foreign navies for almost 20 years after I retired from the Navy, meeting some great folks and doing quite a bit of travelling. I wouldn't have the wonderful grandkids I have, and wouldn't be a member of the Patriot Guard Riders that my youngest son turned me on to, with the friends I've made. Also, because of my job I held after the Navy, I would be living only on my SS and Navy pension. I worked under a union where I built up enough seniority to receive a life time pension, along with my shipyard small pension. Moving recently to Oregon gave me a nice break since they don't tax SS or military pension, and my 2 civilian pensions aren't quite enough to be taxable in Oregon. Nothing about my life is a coincidence, as far as I'm concerned.
No, I wouldn't change a thing about my career in the Navy.

I would've finished my packet to go to rotary flight. Older me wants to beat the younger me with a stick. Poor leadership in battalion and up and their choices left me with a bitter view. Will never know now so there's no point on dwelling. Dwell on the good stuff like your battle's flavor of fart or some nasty catch at the bunny club.

I had a great career. Are there some things I wish I had done differently in my 23 years of service, "Yes". However, I have great memories of my experiences and I've learned from my mistakes. The military established me for success in my career after the military. It has and continues to help me provide for my family in many ways. I have to remember that the choices I made at a particular time was based on my knowledge or circumstances at that time. HOOAH!!!

I look back sometimes and wonder "what if . . . " But the fact of the matter is that I was a pretty immature corporal after four years. I had a few rough years after I left the Corps but I found the right girl plugged ahead (like the Corps taught me) , had a great career as a sports writer and I'm still married to that girl after 55 years. None of the great adventure would have happened if I'd stayed in. However, my proudest memories are of being a United States Marine.

taken 30 days leave and payed cash to have lipo surgery without my command knowing. Years of heavy exercise and restricted dieting did not help me. Or if it is a time machine, I would have had the damn Military quack check my pituitary gland

I'd not have re-enlisted, just taken the Stop-Loss, deployed again and gotten out.

I've thought about this a lot over the years.

First, I would have gone active duty from the start, rather than joining the Reserves and going active six months later. Would have ended up with a fat enlistment bonus.

Second, I'm glad it happened the way that it happened, as I've been happily married now for 17 years and have two amazing sons. But my plan was to put in my flight warrant packet. Had it completed and ready for submission. And then met this guy....... Never did turn it in. But I don't regret it.

Third, I got out when our first son was born because dual military families are *hard*. I didn't want someone else raising him, so I got out so I could while my husband went to Korea/deployed/etc. But I missed it. I went DA civilian so I could still work with Soldiers, but I'm not taken as seriously as I was when I wore the same uniform. Still, I'm supporting Soldiers and my husband is now retired. I'm content. I would never trade my family for being a helicopter pilot. Never.