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

I would have gone to sick bay the first time my knees and ankles started hurting too bad to stand still, instead of tightening my boots like a cast, and probably not be limping full time today.

I would have left and spent the night at a friends house when the battalion commander's teenage daughter came to the barracks looking to get back at her daddy by doing half the mortar and scout platoons.

I would change nothing. I am in a good place (DoD job) and I got here by what I have went through in the military...whether I liked it or not...and most of the time I hated it. But I look back and see that it was just a perception. I would change nothing at all. Life happened like it was supposed to for me to learn the lesson I have learned and for me to want to change something is like me saying I don't like the "me" that I am now...

No regrets, I made some mistakes but those helped me learn. Served with some great folks and not so but all in all I'm proud to have served my 4 years Navy, Army 20 years active, reserves and NG

Stayed in and retired.

I would have accepted the chance to go to the Naval Academy Prep School.

Even though I was in during the freezes after Korean War, I would have liked to stay in the Intel Analyst business by working towards a Warrant that would have allowed me to remain an intel specialist for a full career. As it was, we were stuck at E-4 for an eternity with not much to look forward to in that area. While I do regret not being able to pursue the intriguing business of analysis it did serve me well as a journalist in later life - got nominated for the Pulitzer Prize three times but never won it! My Army time, plus military school before that and its ROTC plus another year of it in college, did put some structure in my life for which I have always been grateful.

I would have joined when i was 18 instead of waiting until after i was 21. I would have joined regular Active Duty instead of 3 years in the National Guard. I wouldnt have gotten married in the Army either.

In all branches you will get/do at least 1, if not all: Drink, Cuss, Get a Tattoo, Smoke.

That is a difficult questions that opens up much thought and discussion. I was caught up in the 1992 drawdown. Pretty much told my career was over with by the Army and the best thing I could do is resign my Regular Army Commission and If I did not I would be involuntary separated. Well, I did as they strongly suggested and managed to stay in the Army Reserves for another 15 years retire with 29 years of service and go back as a retiree twice for two years to the Middle East. And I still was promoted to O-5. Always wondered what would have happened if I did not resign my commission in 1992 and stayed? I think I made a good choice.