If you never joined the military, where do you think you would be and what would you be doing?

MSgt James Parker — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:15:57 -0500

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Jan 2 at 2023 10:20 AM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:20:16 -0500

This does not apply to me! I was focused on serving from day one!

Response by Sgt Rebecca Zbichorski made Jan 2 at 2023 10:20 AM

Sgt Rebecca Zbichorski — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:20:47 -0500

I would have probably become a single mother, depressed and living below the poverty line. I “chose the path less traveled by and that has made all the difference” -Robert Frost

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jan 2 at 2023 10:22 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:22:57 -0500

Never really an option. I knew from the start I wanted to serve, because I was privileged to be born in the best country in the world and needed to do my fair share, to give back for be so blessed

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Jan 2 at 2023 10:28 AM

MSG Stan Hutchison — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:28:13 -0500

Growing up I always dreamed of being either a cowboy or a soldier. In my teens I left home and worked cattle ranches in the northwest. After a few years I came to realize there would never be much money doing that, just a lot of hard dirty work, so I went for my 2nd choice. But I never lost my love for horses, so after I retired I started a horse boarding business and ran that for about 15 years along with working at, and then owning, a gun/saddle & tack store.
Now I just enjoy my memories and travel some.

I always tried to follow the advice of Yogi Berria:
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2023 10:32 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:32:33 -0500

Probably in some run down low income apartment while working some low end menial no future job

Response by COL Randall C. made Jan 2 at 2023 10:33 AM

COL Randall C. — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:33:54 -0500

I probably would have stayed in the tech sector, got a job with one of the 'Big Tech' firms, bounced back and forth and up advancing my career, captured by the group think in the organizations and would now be one of those individuals prominently featured in the 'Twitter Files'.

Response by SSG Michael Noll made Jan 2 at 2023 10:49 AM

SSG Michael Noll — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:49:20 -0500

Six feet under, pretty sure.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Jan 2 at 2023 11:17 AM

Cpl Vic Burk — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 11:17:45 -0500

MSgt James Parker With the way my life was heading, I probably would have done time in prison. At that point who knows but I sure wouldn't be the person I am because of my time in the Corps. It put me on the straight and narrow, no doubt.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2023 12:04 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 12:04:44 -0500

Oh, I suspect I would be a retired nuclear astrophysicist who once played football and won ten Super Bowl rings. In retirement, I'd be an undersea explorer with Woods Hole Oceanographic Society seeking to find the lost Atlantis. But I gave that all up to join the U.S. Navy so I could sail the oceans and find out how deathly miserable it feels to be seasick!!!

Response by 1SG Frank Peck made Jan 2 at 2023 12:28 PM

1SG Frank Peck — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 12:28:05 -0500

I always wanted to join the service, played Army all the time when I was a kid. I was going to join the Army, until I got into Jr. high school, then I thought I would go Air Force, but realized I wouldn't be able to fly planes, then I thought I would join the Navy, like my dad, WWII vet, but they weren't wearing the cracker jack uniform. They went to the milkman uniform, like the Army Greens, but Navy looking. I finally decided on Marine Corps, because they had sharpest uniform. I turned 18 my senior year in high school, called myself off school, and enlisted in Marine Corps. The day I came back from MEPS, I was having a beer with my dad, and told him what I did. He said " Goddamnit son I told you if you would of went Navy, you would have a clean bunk, and a shower every night, why you wanna be a glorified mud jock for". I said, " I want to be in the best". Did my hitch, got out went to school on my GI bill, got a good job, but I missed it. Joined the Guard in 85, stayed until 2014, deployed a lot, now I am retired 1SG getting all the benefits. It definitely put me on the right path for life.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Jan 2 at 2023 4:29 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 16:29:44 -0500

I honestly don't know. I had no real direction set and was just living in the moment.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 2 at 2023 4:43 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 16:43:47 -0500

MSgt James Parker Good Question! We Seem to be Yaking thanks to Capt Maggie Turner, CTO1 Brian Sudis, RM1 Dan McCabe and "Maggie's Goon CTO1, KC, Casey!

Response by SPC Chris Early made Jan 2 at 2023 8:20 PM

SPC Chris Early — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 20:20:51 -0500

Probably still working even more crappier jobs, lol

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2023 9:35 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 21:35:15 -0500

Living in Arizona, married to my high school sweetheart and trying to make it in law enforcement...

Really glad it didn't turn out that way. Uncle Sam has done right by me.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jan 2 at 2023 10:40 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 22:40:08 -0500

I would be one of two places,pissed in my pants blackout drunk,or dead.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jan 2 at 2023 10:48 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 22:48:39 -0500

Living on a steady diet of government cheese in a van down by the river

Response by SPC James Neidig made Jan 3 at 2023 1:20 AM

SPC James Neidig — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 01:20:30 -0500

Having Grown Up Around The Chesapeake Bay And Working The Water As A Kid , I Probably Would Have Continued Doing That.
I Did Become A Merchant Marine Between My Hitch In The Marines And The Army.
I Still Love The Smell And Being Around Salt Water.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jan 3 at 2023 12:08 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 12:08:06 -0500

I would like to believe that I would have been a lawyer, the truth is as an inner city youth in the 70’s I’d more than likely would be performing a labor intensive job at a mid level supervisory.

I have always been a mentally strong, hard working loyal person but opportunities in my home city were lacking I the late 70’s.

PROUD TO HAVE SERVED.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2023 1:29 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:29:03 -0500

I would have had fewer scars, fewer friends, and a lot fewer stories.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jan 3 at 2023 4:41 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 16:41:24 -0500

Probably dead broke after having worked multiple dead end factory or fast food jobs. I "MIGHT" have made the jump to my current career in EMS/Fire but I doubt it. Most of the decision to pursue Emergency Medicine came from my experiences on active duty.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jan 4 at 2023 3:06 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:06:07 -0500

I would probably be dead, honestly. My last job before I joined was (unbeknownst to me) a drug front. They got shut down while I was in basic. There is very low probability I would have avoided being swept up, so I likely would have ended up in jail with a record. Which would have cut out most career prospects. I had already failed out of college, so that avenue was likely over for me, too.

Having a history of depression (which came back in a big way in my 40s), no prospects, no purpose, and no discipline? I would likely have met an early grave through either suicide or stupidity.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2023 5:26 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 17:26:04 -0500

Entrepreneur 100%. I'm about to enjoy a RA/AGR retirement soon and plans are already in motion.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2023 12:23 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:23:06 -0500

I would probably live closer to the town I grew up in and make less money but I would be much closer to my family.

Response by SGT Alan Martinez made Jan 18 at 2023 11:00 AM

SGT Alan Martinez — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 11:00:12 -0500

I would probably be in jail for trafficking narcotics. Or I would be dead be dead because I got in to deep.

Response by SGT Alan Martinez made Jan 18 at 2023 9:12 PM

SGT Alan Martinez — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 21:12:23 -0500

And Semper FI

Response by CPL Sheila Lewis made Feb 15 at 2023 3:57 PM

CPL Sheila Lewis — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 15:57:35 -0500

working in a factory

Response by SP5 Donna Brewster/Lopau made Feb 20 at 2023 4:19 AM

SP5 Donna Brewster/Lopau — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 04:19:07 -0500

Stuck in a small town working for minimum wage

Response by MSG Chuck Pewsey made Feb 22 at 2023 3:33 AM

MSG Chuck Pewsey — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 03:33:13 -0500

I would probably be a crazy old batchlor prairie farmer, living with my dog, dying of the cancers that the Army medicial service diagnosed and treated.

Response by SPC John Tsutsui made Mar 19 at 2023 8:49 PM

SPC John Tsutsui — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 20:49:03 -0400

California State Prison. 6-10 years! JK

Response by CPL Kyle Ongsing made Dec 18 at 2024 3:50 PM

CPL Kyle Ongsing — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:50:50 -0500

I would have ended up working as a web designer and developer full time and would have probably be even better than I was at it.

Definitely something information technology like web developer or help desk something like that

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Dec 19 at 2024 9:59 AM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:59:07 -0500

Exact same job, nursing.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Dec 19 at 2024 1:40 PM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:40:48 -0500

WHOA ~ I Love Answering This One.
When I Enlisted On My 17th Birthday ~ 06/29/1961 The Recruiter Asked " Do You Have A 10th Grade Education" Uh ~ So I Got the Message And Replied "Of Course", Although I Dropped Out Mid- 9th Grade After Failing It TWICE, As I Was Attending "El Instituto Pan-Americano" In The Republic Of Panama, And Had No Chance Of Ever Graduating Because They Were So Far Ahead Of The US Schools I Hadn't A Chance Of Catching Up. SO Where Would I Have been If I'd NOT Enlisted (And Taken Advantage Of The Educational Programs Afforded Me?) Let Me Ask Ya This: "Does McDonald's Still Need Anyone To Scrub Their Toilets"? ~~If SO, I'd Have Retired From Mickey "D"s
THANK YOU ~ USAF And USAFI ~ I Done Done Perty Gud Cauz Of Ewe. (Read My Bio If Ya Wanna)

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Dec 26 at 2024 6:50 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 06:50:26 -0500

I was in the medical field and left it when I joined the AF. So probably still doing that in Houston Texas (actually retired by now)

Response by SSG Juan Garza made Feb 21 at 2025 12:21 PM

SSG Juan Garza — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:21:58 -0500

I would have still been poor, probably in a dead end job. With zero life experience. Zero education and most importantly not able to give my kids the best life possible.