If you could go back in time, what would you change with your military career?

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 22:31:34 -0400

Some of you have quite a few years in. Have you ever wondered what your career would be like if you would have gone with a different MOS? Maybe for enlisted, gone the route of Warrant Officer or Comissioned?

What is the biggest thing you wish you would have done differently and why?

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 21 at 2015 11:33 PM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 23:33:51 -0400

Nothing... sorry... I believe in the back to the future movies... so one minor change, could ruin everything.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Jun 22 at 2015 1:40 AM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 01:40:56 -0400

I'd have joined sooner. I feel like I wasted a few years going down a different path that didn't make any progress towards any goals I ended up shooting for. Hell, instead of the Army, I might have joined the Navy.

Response by SGT Mike Rudd made Jun 22 at 2015 2:24 AM

SGT Mike Rudd — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 02:24:08 -0400

I would change me getting hurt causing me to retire and not try for 30years the army was one of the best parts of my life, so to finish with 30 years would have continued a life I loved, serving and fighting for this country and the poeple in this country and a far that respect the right to be free.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 22 at 2015 7:52 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 07:52:32 -0400

Would have documented medical better.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 22 at 2015 12:35 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:35:48 -0400

I didn't have the courage to pipe up that we not sail the same track on a deep shoot which had us close to shore. I thought Chief or Division Officer would say something, not a lowly E-4. Counter battery was set up and did it's job well. I would have been told to shut up, but I still wonder sometimes.

That and other things that helped grow the Dragon.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 22 at 2015 1:20 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 13:20:54 -0400

No. I believe I was a well rounded officer because of the various jobs I had.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2015 3:09 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 15:09:38 -0400

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member I would have joined earlier, being a 32 years old PFC ain't easy.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Jan 11 at 2016 8:11 AM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 08:11:24 -0500

I'd have stayed the course for 20+...

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Jan 11 at 2016 8:25 AM

SFC Pete Kain — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 08:25:50 -0500

Would pay better attention to hearing protection. The tinnitus is driving me nuts.

Response by SGT Harmeson Richard made Jan 12 at 2016 11:15 AM

SGT Harmeson Richard — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 11:15:15 -0500

I would have tried to be a better soldier, gotten more education, I would have been single. Being married in the service takes way more maturity and an extremely mature and supportive wife. We did OK at best, but should and could have done much better.

Response by SGT Benjamin Lindsey made Jan 16 at 2016 9:01 AM

SGT Benjamin Lindsey — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 09:01:03 -0500

I wouldn't have over thought my transition from a Specialist to a Sergeant. I understand it may seem trivial to most, but I never took my leadership abilities lightly and by the time I finally made my E5 I was playing catch up with TIS and rank.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 12 at 2016 8:37 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 20:37:55 -0500

I would not have ignored that BB flyer about a need for jump school volunteers @ Ft Knox in 1953! I was dumb and happy as a leg PFC!

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Feb 13 at 2016 3:24 PM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 15:24:26 -0500

Nothing!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2019 12:02 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 00:02:50 -0400

In 74 when asked to move over to the SF, I should have taken it, I was just to dedicated to my unit, in the 82nd. ABN.
In those days, I wouldn't have left not one behind, and felt that leaving the platoon was not caring for every and each one of them in, Charley 2/505th Inf ABN.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2019 10:45 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 10:45:55 -0400

I would have done more things that I wanted to do instead of doing the things i thought i was supposed to do assignment wise. I got selected to get a master's degree full time for a year and i didn't because i was worried that i didn't have a company command yet.

When I worked for people i loked working for, i would have kept working for them when i had the chance to.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 28 at 2019 6:38 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 18:38:18 -0400

Nothing. I was in maintenance, aviation, tanks, homeland security, DFAS, and budgeting.