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

shut up more and do not accept the appointment to Headquarters under any circumstances

I would resist the temptation I had to become a trouble maker. When I did finally quit being a troublemaker and started taking responsibility, things were better. In the 60s you would usually make E-5 in less than three years, took me four.

I would have taken physical conditioning more seriously. You can never hurt yourself by exercising especially as you age.

Read this letter. Follow the instructions exactly.
Shut up. Your handwriting's worse. Paragraph three has the book I used to improve our handwriting.

In a similar response to another survey, my words matched those of MSgt Jimmie Brown: "Buy Microsoft and stop drinking." Slightly different, however, it was Intel, and Santa Clara County real estate, and moderate drinking. There are many major bits of advice I could give to my earlier self from my vastly wiser perspective. Take greater advantage of self-development opportunities, such as any kind of education. Get to knoiw the environments I was stationed in, such as geography, geology, history, and most of all, the people, their language and culture (this even includes my elders, and funny Connecticut, could also include the Navy itself). Learn folk dancing, including yes, SQUARE DANCING. Absorb Celtic culture: customs and history, language, music, and dancing. Take better care of my body. Take advantage of travel opportunities. I am not nor was religious, but it would have been good to get to know religions and church people better, even attend services at times, just to broaden my perspective and circle of acquaintances. Give more thought to my future, keeping in mind that it will not exactly match what I plan. So much of this is what I got to know better as I aged, and wished I had started on earlier.

One of the biggest things I wished I had done earlier would be bizarre to most of you, but makes sense to more folks than you know. I am a transgender woman (see, bizarre), who only came to my senses much later in life, and pursued the gender appropriate to my real self. I hugely wish I had started this much earlier. I hope this is not too offensive. Before you condemn me or others, please remember all the kinds of misconceptions you have had corrected over the years, that you are wiser now, but always have more to learn. Get to know some of us. You will find us more like ordinary folks than you think. It will expand your universe, and make you a better person.

Of course, if you try to pass on your wisdom to youngsters, be prepared to be ignored as an old out-of-touch geezer. It's probably right, they have to learn for themselves. The ones who survive the process will be stronger for it. And the smarter ones will pay at least some attention to us.

Stay in and retire from the service

Buy into the cell phone industry and remain on active duty

This is a very though thoughtful question that I have rarely had to think about. But, if I had the chance, this barely 17 year old soldier would have taken a more serious approach to my military service. I was intelligent, yet did not take all of the advantages of my service. Had I. I would have retired as a general. But admittedly, being a young soldier, does not require a mature approach, just basic training. My service in Vietnam would have been a whole different experience.

Ya...should have stayed in.

Stay in and retire