If you were 17 again by some magic, would you join based on what you see in today's military?

PO1 Ken Johnson — Fri, 08 May 2015 07:17:25 -0400

I see many times where we old folks will say something like "that's not the Navy I was in" or "the Army today ain't what it used to be" or comments along that line. Leads me to wonder, if you were 17 again by some magic, would you join based on what you see in today's military?

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Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 8 at 2015 7:28 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 08 May 2015 07:28:13 -0400

I'm one of those who constantly resists the temptation to say things like "back when I was in the Marine Corps ...".

But, yes --- if I could be 17 again --- I would join the Marines (again).

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 7:55 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 07:55:54 -0400

Enthusiastically yes! I would join (Army Infantry) again today if I were 17. These young troops and their NCOs will always be the backbone of our military, in any generation.

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made May 8 at 2015 8:27 AM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Fri, 08 May 2015 08:27:24 -0400

A resounding, Yes! I would join the Air Force again, my hometown is still a place to be born and raised but not enough of an adventure to stick around :)

Response by SSgt Barry LaMont made May 8 at 2015 8:50 AM

SSgt Barry LaMont — Fri, 08 May 2015 08:50:09 -0400

Knowing what I know now, I would but due to the internet I could be more selective and informed with the career field or even the branch I chose. I first enlisted when there was little info on my career route and you had to take what the recruiter had to say as truth. But, as they say hindsight is 20/20.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 8:51 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 08:51:16 -0400

In a heartbeat!...It is and will always be what you make of it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 8:52 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 08:52:03 -0400

The only thing I would do different would be join at 17 and not 19, and also my MOS. I would make sure I was fully qualified and attemp the toughest of schools. Infantry, ranger, Airborne you name it.

Response by SPC David S. made May 8 at 2015 9:39 AM

SPC David S. — Fri, 08 May 2015 09:39:49 -0400

The answer to your question is a definite yes. I would like to be to be back in and continue the career track I was on. Which was make SGT and then drop my green to gold packet I had been putting together. And to be 17 again? Would make it that much better. Based on how fast I was moving beforehand, I could make E-5 by 20 and drop my packet by 21-22. So, if by some divine power I could be
1, I'd take in a heartbeat.

Response by SFC Rollie Hubbard made May 8 at 2015 10:48 AM

SFC Rollie Hubbard — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:48:34 -0400

Yes I would but I would have picked a different MOS.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 8 at 2015 11:34 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:34:43 -0400

Sure. I didn't regret it the first time.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 11:58 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:58:33 -0400

Yes I would join again without question just as I did back when I was 17. The military is great and has been good to me and my family.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made May 8 at 2015 11:59 AM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:59:39 -0400

Absolutely! I didn't join until I was 24 and married. Joining at 17 would have likely kept me from making some mistakes, including the marriage ;)

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 8 at 2015 12:36 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Fri, 08 May 2015 12:36:18 -0400

I would've joined earlier so I can separate at a younger age.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 9 at 2015 12:49 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 09 May 2015 12:49:32 -0400

I came in 1976. Just after Vietnam. I wanted to work with and on Radio's that is all I wanted to do and talk about sweetening the deal. "I Want to be a Radioman" "No you want to be a Cryptologic Technician" "No I want to be a Radioman" "No you want to be a Cryptologic Technician" "What is this "Cryptologic Technician" Thing" "A Radioman with a Higher Clearance". I'm Glad he talked me into that. I got to be a Communicator for the Military Intelligence Community and there wasn't anything that was denied to me after that point. Oh Hell Yeah I would do it in a Heartbeat.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2015 12:52 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2015 12:52:33 -0400

Yes! I would have picked a different MOS and would not had ETSed as soon as I did.

Response by SFC Rollie Hubbard made May 9 at 2015 12:57 PM

SFC Rollie Hubbard — Sat, 09 May 2015 12:57:41 -0400

I was in the QM field but the cut off points were so high I re-classed in to Armor best move I ever made.

Response by SGT Timothy Rocheleau made May 9 at 2015 1:47 PM

SGT Timothy Rocheleau — Sat, 09 May 2015 13:47:35 -0400

Absolutely. The second best decision I had made at that point in my life. Destroyed my body and pay for it every day, but damn, I miss it. I miss the brotherhood(and I mean the sisters as well), miss everything about putting on the uniform every morning and doing 1.5 hrs of PT at 0500, I even miss all those FTXs, character building at its best. Put in a total of 8 on two seperate enlistments with a year break in the ARNG, left the service because they told me I had to related to the broken down body parts. Once I received my degree I tried to go back but they wouldn't take me.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 12:03 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 12:03:29 -0400

I signed up on delayed-entry when I was 17 and went to basic at 18. What I would tell my younger self is to get your degree done as fast as possible (chase skirts less) to open up wider career options. The AF is quite different now than it was in the early 90's (both better and worse) but I would still join.

Response by MSG Tim Gray made Jun 2 at 2015 12:43 PM

MSG Tim Gray — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 12:43:51 -0400

I would join for the job training, probably for the shortest contract term possible, then again, 6 year hitch for the Ed bennies

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 1:25 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 13:25:48 -0400

Knowing what I know now? I'd have still waited until I was nineteen. Mostly because I didn't meet my future wife until I was eighteen. I'd have finished my associates degree and enlisted as a specialist in my old MOS. Ended my first five as a sergeant our staff sergeant and gone warrant. I'd like to think I'd be a CW3 right now three years from retirement maybe looking at making CW4, scaring the young soldiers with stories about the "old army" or reminding them that the CSM was my first squad leader and the 1SG was my barracks mate back before smartphones were invented and my ID card didn't have a computer chip inside it.

Response by SSgt Charles Edwards made Jun 2 at 2015 11:22 PM

SSgt Charles Edwards — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 23:22:43 -0400

Hell yeah!

At 19 and being a young Airman in the Air Force, I heard the tales of "back in the day" and "things were different then". I believe that is the case with everyone. As we grow in the military, especially those who embrace the life and rise in the ranks, our perspective changes. I remember not worrying about too much outside of my own responsibilities to being that NCO charged with taking care of my guys, writing performance reports and leading deployment teams. Time flies and before I knew it, I was among the old guys. Friends I served with as an A1C or Senior Airman are now Tech and Master Sergeants. The military is constantly changing, but as long as the leadership is strong, I've got faith in the mission being accomplished.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Jun 3 at 2015 9:05 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 09:05:09 -0400

Yes, But would have waited for the MOS I wanted, slowed the process way down and got my bonus! My recruiter didn't even tell me about a bonus!

Response by PO1 James Ekrut made Jun 3 at 2015 11:37 AM

PO1 James Ekrut — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 11:37:08 -0400

in a hart beat, was the best job i'v ever had and miss the brother hood.

Response by CPL Roland Newton made Jul 25 at 2015 12:29 AM

CPL Roland Newton — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 00:29:13 -0400

I would go back in a heartbeat, I miss it so much

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 2:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 02:39:25 -0400

Honestly, I don't know if I would. A lot has changed since I joined when I was 17, in 1991.

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Jul 27 at 2015 6:52 PM

PO1 Scott Cottrell — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 18:52:14 -0400

Yes, I would join, But I most likely would not do 20 years. With the current cuts and everything else I see the military going through. I would do 4 years and get out.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 1 at 2015 10:41 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 10:41:53 -0400

yes

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2016 6:22 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 18:22:02 -0500

Probably NOT!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2016 6:07 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Dec 2016 18:07:05 -0500

More than likely, I would choose another occupation. The "politically correct environment that I sense today makes me choke. When I originally enlisted, all male citizens were subject to the draft yet, and we had a situation in Southeast Asia to be settled. I came from Northern New York where we had very few job opportunities and no opportunities (at that time for a college education). Several of my male classmates entered the military. About half of my high school classmates left the area due to a lack of job opportunities. A few went on to college, but so many of us simply left.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Dec 25 at 2016 7:08 PM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Sun, 25 Dec 2016 19:08:34 -0500

Absolutely!-In many ways today's military is better tan when I first joined at age 23 in 1978. Still I think I could do without some of the political correctness in recent years. This doesn't mean I condone sexual harassment or any other types of harassment as all serving have a right to serve without undue pressures etc!!

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 1 at 2019 10:34 AM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 10:34:00 -0400

YES, I would.

Response by CSM Charles Heimerdinger made Jan 13 at 2022 4:36 PM

CSM Charles Heimerdinger — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 16:36:13 -0500

The way the political environment treats both the military and veterans I would no join today. These political hacks see us the Military and veteran community as nothing more than second class citizens when that is the farthest thing for the case. We have politicians that commit the crime of desertion on the battle field by leaving American citizens behind enemy lines, They lie about what the full mission in Afghanistan was there were 3 parts to it
1 Complete annilation of the Talibain
2 Complete annilation of AL Quidia
And 3 Kill or capture Osoma Bin Laden

They only want to remember the last part of the mission. However as a Veteran that spent many tours of duty in Afghanistan, who has been wounded, who has lost close friends in combat I think when we disrupt an area like Afghanistan we owe it to the people there to give them a successful chance at peace and stability whatever that might look like for them, not us. We caused their country to be in chaos while doing our vital mission we owe them a chance to prosper as well. This takes a long time and dedication something our politicians know nothing about anymore.

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made Jan 14 at 2022 6:33 AM

MSG Greg Kelly — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 06:33:34 -0500

Hell No. No way I would join todays Kindler Gentler Army. Liberals and The Weak have turned our military into a social experiment. That is not the Military's job, its job is to defend the country period. The US military has always self-corrected. In WWII the Military was segregated in Korea it was not Blacks and Whites were fighting side by side. That was only a space of 5 years. Were there still issues of course but they were being worked out.

Response by PO1 John F. Johnson made Jan 14 at 2022 7:02 AM

PO1 John F. Johnson — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 07:02:14 -0500

I sure would but I would go BosunMate in the USCG this time.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2022 9:55 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 21:55:40 -0400

If it was in 1972 again, YES.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2022 12:11 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 00:11:22 -0400

No!

Response by CW2 Victor Munoz made Feb 1 at 2023 10:39 PM

CW2 Victor Munoz — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 22:39:24 -0500

Of course I would join again. I turned 17 when I joined that cloudy day on October 16, 1975. I was fortunate to receive most of my training from Vietnam era soldiers. I was young, proud, and optimistic about life. I would never trade my 20 years of Service. Godspeed to all my fellow soldiers in arms.