If there was anything different that you could have done throughout the course of your military career, what would that have been?

2016-03-31T08:12:12-04:00

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Mar 31 at 2016 8:17 AM

2016-03-31T08:17:43-04:00

take charge of my career sooner.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Mar 31 at 2016 8:17 AM

2016-03-31T08:17:49-04:00

Joined the Coast Guard.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Mar 31 at 2016 8:29 AM

2016-03-31T08:29:22-04:00

I would have loved to have had the opportunity to go Airborne and also Drill Sergeant. Unfortunately my career path never took me to the places where this was an option. However I look back at my 27 years filled with pride in all I have done!

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Mar 31 at 2016 8:37 AM

2016-03-31T08:37:14-04:00

Oh there's a ton... all pretty much stemming form the fact that I had my head up my ass. So how could I go back in time, sit down and mentor 19 year old Dave? I couldn't... I had NCO's that tried, and they might as well have been trying to teach algebra to a dog.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 8:56 AM

2016-03-31T08:56:30-04:00

I would have skipped signing up for the National Guard and went Active Component from the get go. By the time I learned what i was missing I was too anchored in my civilian life to go for it.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 9:21 AM

2016-03-31T09:21:48-04:00

In hindsight I would have not accepted the regular commission but would have remained with the reserve commission.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Mar 31 at 2016 9:22 AM

2016-03-31T09:22:55-04:00

Airborne in my contract.

Response by SFC Joseph Dunphy made Mar 31 at 2016 9:35 AM

2016-03-31T09:35:17-04:00

This is a positive comment. One of the best innovations I saw in my time in the Army was the Family Support Group (FSG). When the relatives got together at the briefings, to support the troops ready for deployment, it was a real eye-opener into the struggles each family faced, and what I noticed was that the shared experience had a positive effect on how team members related to each other, and how the leadership gained a faster and deeper understanding of the morale issues facing the group.
Without giving away personal details, let me just say one broad brush example: I learned how important some of the quietest members of the team were to their handicapped relatives; and we later learned how much work it took by FSG members to provide support in their absence. Unless you have dealt with the handicapped population, you may not realize that about 13.5 percent of the US population is classified with some form of disability.
As a result of that experience, one gets to appreciate more the sacrifices that the families make to support their loved ones. I would hope that in the future the service would not cut the budget for the FSG's, not just because it helps the troops deployed at the moment and their families, but also because, when a veteran returns with a service-connected disability, there is a wider awareness of what the disabled have to go through, and that people can help make the life of a disabled veteran less difficult than it already is. from parking spaces to arranging transport to medical appointments. That would be my recommendation.

Response by SGT Chaz Wellington made Mar 31 at 2016 9:54 AM

2016-03-31T09:54:31-04:00

Simply stayed in.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Mar 31 at 2016 10:04 AM

2016-03-31T10:04:41-04:00

Not have put off finishing the college courses needed and earning my bachelors until after I was already eligible for retirement. Probably the difference between retiring an E7 instead of E8. My advice to young NCO's it to use the resources available and get your degree early on. Requires sacrifices in your time between the Army mission and family, but is key to your advancement. I see you have already earned civ ed credentials, congrats. That will definitely help you in your career path.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 10:17 AM

2016-03-31T10:17:10-04:00

Ahhhh yes, the frustrating 'what would I do differently if I could go back in time' question! Well, I would have walked INTO the college campus ROTC office instead of walking by it....thereby earning my commission years earlier. But I like my college major (Business Management) and as far as my specialty (Combat Engineer) I have no significant complaints as I have found the adage to be true "you get what you put into it" when referring to your military career.

Response by LTC Terrence Farrier, PhD made Mar 31 at 2016 10:19 AM

2016-03-31T10:19:55-04:00

I believe we should use our blessings. As an advisor to general officers at the 2 star rank as part of the Command Advisory Group (CAG) and civilian consultant I would have directed my military career toward creating meaningful dialogue between the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State (DOS). After talking with members of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) and the imbedded PRTs, which are different in scope, I believe more emphasis could be constructed between the DOD and the DOS. Both are important, but the environments must be better understood as we project our Nation's Strategy. I would have been better as a diplomat to help move that further down the line. I hope that honesty is appreciated.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 10:21 AM

2016-03-31T10:21:39-04:00

SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM not specifically in my career but it did affect it. I would have won my war over obesity sooner and joined earlier. I was obese all my life and couldn't make the weight, finally at 31 I joined. I'm pretty sure that if I joined at least 7 years earlier, I would be a SSG by now. So now I have to wait and make SGT at the age where pretty much everyone is SSG or SFC.

Response by 1LT A. Uribe made Mar 31 at 2016 10:22 AM

2016-03-31T10:22:36-04:00

I would have commissioned at an earlier date rather than wait 23 years.

Response by PFC Terry Schmidt made Mar 31 at 2016 10:41 AM

2016-03-31T10:41:34-04:00

If possible I would have gone over seas in 1990i was discharged in 89 on a medical and have regretted it ever since. It really hurts and bothers me that I could not serve my country in the way I felt I needed to.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 11:56 AM

2016-03-31T11:56:31-04:00

Hi, SSG Lewis.

Oh, man. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. I would have done college right the first time and gotten my commission in AD Air Force. I would have tried to get into the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations (OSI), the Af equivalent of CID and NCIS.

I am very proud of my service. I just wasn’t done yet.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 12:06 PM

2016-03-31T12:06:10-04:00

I would have enlisted in the active Army instead of the National Guard out of High School and then gone to college and ROTC after my ETS instead of trying to do it all together on a shoe string budget while working three jobs and paying for school at the same time. This was before most states offered free in-state tuition for a Guard enlistment. Of course, we could all vote for Bernie and "free" college would not be an issue except for those nagging trillions of dollars in debt and the yoke of eternal socialism bringing the death of liberty to our republic.

Ok, I ranted a bit at the end there but life is tough and nothing is "free." If life was easy they'd call it bowling.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 31 at 2016 12:57 PM

2016-03-31T12:57:46-04:00

Started college earlier. I was 3 classes (9 credits) short of my BS when I got out. Took 13 years to finish it because "life got in the way."

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Mar 31 at 2016 1:14 PM

2016-03-31T13:14:52-04:00

Actually, nothing I would have changed that was within my control. If I had a complaint, it would have been the assignment desk for my service, they didn't give a rat's patoot what you wanted, just the needs of the service and their friends. It all worked out well for me.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 1:15 PM

2016-03-31T13:15:22-04:00

I would have gone to Ranger School when it was offered to me as a young Sergeant with no children. At that time, I had just gotten back to Ft Bragg after a year in the sandbox, and the idea of sleep deprivation and starvation to go to a combat leadership school when I had just returned from combat was not appealing. I just wanted to enjoy Buffalo Wild Wings and Hefeweizen again, haha. Looking back, I was missing the mark, though. Ranger School is one of the premier combat leadership schools in the world, and attendance is an amazing opportunity. Not much calling to send a Med O at this time, vs back in the day when I was a young Airborne Infantry medic. C'est la vie. Otherwise, my career has been pretty amazing, and I have accepted that I am indeed, a lifer.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 1:36 PM

2016-03-31T13:36:06-04:00

I spent my whole Active Duty time (6 years) at Ft. Campbell, KY. I wish I would have PCSed to other places. I feel I really missed out on not trying to go to Korea or Europe or Alaska even

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made Mar 31 at 2016 1:55 PM

2016-03-31T13:55:06-04:00

Seek out and accept wise counsel.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Mar 31 at 2016 1:58 PM

2016-03-31T13:58:08-04:00

Spent less time with my head in my fourth point of contact, and listened instead of hearing what my NCO's were telling me.

Response by SSG Waldo Yamada made Mar 31 at 2016 2:25 PM

2016-03-31T14:25:24-04:00

I was at a point where SFC acting as our company Rear D Co. Squared with me and asked literally " Do you want out the Army?" and I said yes. A few years later I'm regretting that I should've continued because I feel like I lost all my dignity as a Sergeant. Yes I maybe retired but I wish I should've stayed and tried a rehabilitation plan to wean me off medication and continue the fight. I was just in a hurry and never thought about where I am right now. If there was anything that I could change in the past, I should've just sucked it up and continue service and see how the situation goes. I had nothing to lose and the worst would be 6 feet in the ground but I faced that dilemma of death about twice and finally accepted death for what it is.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 31 at 2016 2:41 PM

2016-03-31T14:41:41-04:00

We've had this discussion before, but I don't mind admitting to my flaws. I would hope that I wouldn't have been such an SOB with superior officers who got underfoot when I was trying to accomplish my mission. Sadly, hoping isn't enough. I'm sure I would do the same again... and get kicked out again.

Response by SFC Alfredo Gonzalez made Mar 31 at 2016 3:11 PM

2016-03-31T15:11:05-04:00

Great question! I would have stayed away from negative people and finished the Special Forces Course, having completed their Advance International Morse Code course (AIMC) and SFAS, but I was too busy partying and chasing... Well you get the picture. I have always wanted to go SF, considering many of my friends are, but I let negative peer pressure get to me... The best thing that happened too SF was that I didn't graduate, in that at the time, I was to immature for being on a discipline SF team...

Response by SPC Bob Tolford made Mar 31 at 2016 3:13 PM

2016-03-31T15:13:56-04:00

I served 3 years in field artillery Fire Direction Control ('75-'78) and often wish I had re-upped and tried out for Special Forces. I got out and went to school on the GI Bill instead. Although my path has not always been ideal, I have no regrets about where I am now.

Response by SGT Allen Goatcher made Mar 31 at 2016 4:38 PM

2016-03-31T16:38:23-04:00

To be terribly honest with myself and answering this question is Yes, I would not have stayed so long as a Drug Investigator that was a Military Police Investigator who was attached to local CID Office and conducted both reactive and proactive investigations. I really enjoyed the work but after playing this game for 4 years and both state side and overseas, I have to admit I lost track who I was, and that caused me to forget what I was and the oath I took as an MP. Absolutely no one could see, or wanted to see that what was happening to me. I sincerely believe that live a life where everything I did was basicly on duty, never an off day. No matter where I was what I was doing someone was offering me a piece of crimnal activity and I was always thought all crime needed investigation till it came to resolution.
All this being said, even now I miss the riding around in a patrol car. Being a Policer Officer even know is my favorite job and if I was rich enough I wouldn't need the pay, I would actually do it for free. I even had a chance to do this in Tombstone and I was happy to do it.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 31 at 2016 5:47 PM

2016-03-31T17:47:19-04:00

Not a Damn Thing. So Grateful for not being able to enter the Army due to being to thin. Grateful that I joined the Navy and was talked out of Radioman and into Cryptologic Technician Communications. Only thing Cooler than being 007 is being his Personal Communicator. LOL!

Response by LT Erik Frederick made Mar 31 at 2016 6:28 PM

2016-03-31T18:28:21-04:00

I would have listened more to my Chief!

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 6:55 PM

2016-03-31T18:55:23-04:00

I should have picked orders to Japan. At least once.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 7:03 PM

2016-03-31T19:03:40-04:00

I would have completed my education sooner and retrained sooner.

Response by SFC William "Bill" Moore made Apr 1 at 2016 8:36 AM

2016-04-01T08:36:25-04:00

Gone EOD earlier in my career, not wait 7 and a half years to do it.

Response by MSgt Timothy Brock made Apr 1 at 2016 5:04 PM

2016-04-01T17:04:09-04:00

When they asked for volunteers to be Dog Handlers, I did not volunteer. I wish I would have.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 4:13 PM

2016-04-03T16:13:16-04:00

In all nothing. I've made plenty of mistakes and have regrets but the choices I've made have given me experiences and led to who I am. Every step leads somewhere but it's the end result that matters. If I had gone active first I may have never learned my about my passion for medicine, thus leaving me without my current goal of becoming a PA. One of my regrets but at the same time a life lesson. Same as my experience about Jody. Though during those "corrective punishment" times I regretted a lot during those moments. Glad they happened because I learned from them but at the time I wasn't too glad about it.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2016 1:42 PM

2016-04-07T13:42:36-04:00

Tons!
First, i wouldn't have put off getting my CCAF.
I would have done more working out earlier in my career.
I would have applied for a 1 year deployment.
I would have not let my (at the time) current relationships effect my career opportunities.
And I would have enlisted under a different job.
Those are just the top 5. LOL.