Login & Share to Win! Given the chance to travel back in time, what advice are you giving yourself?

I turn down three opportunities to become an officer. Once before I was in college, one while I was in, and one after I started as an civilian engineer. I think if I would have taken the jump in the beginning, I would have become a colonel, and just maybe a general officer.

I would tell my young self to quit smoking before I joined the Army and to make it a habit to save my money every month. I could live very comfortable on the savings from not smoking and a little less on the booze.

Don't go into the engineering ratings, you'll hardly ever get promoted when you go into the reserves. With your writing abilities, become a yeoman.

Stay in the Army until retirement.

Stay single!

Travel more, take more pictures and get your degree. Be kind to yourself and don’t waste time on people who are not kind. And remember - What others think of you is none of your business!

Don't get married.

Use your voice, you are a force to be reckoned with!

Go to college straight out of high school, and get your commission before joining the military, and make sure you stay for at least 20.

Make a career of the military!