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

Take the appointment to NAPS. 1969, I was 2 years into a 6 year enlistment, and already an E-5. Offered an appointment to Naval Academy Prep School, which was located on the same base as my Nuclear Power School. I saw them marching and PTing, and thought I didn't want to return to boot camp for a year on the chance I might get into Annapolis, so I turned it down. 95% of the NAPS grads were appointed to the Naval Academy. Life hasn't turned out badly for me. Retired as a MCPO (E-9), but I often wonder What if...

Seek help for your substance abuse

Document everything, because the VA will deny without any proof. There is more to life than the Infantry and that whether or not you make a career out of the military, find an MOS that will educate you and give you hard skills that transfer to the civilian sector and reclass. My recruiter looked at my ASVAB scores and kept asking me up until I went to MEPS to leave if the Infantry was what I was set on. Invest and don't drink away your paycheck. Utilize your education benefits to the fullest extent possible.

Party less...study more. Enjoy the sights

Stay in.....go ahead and go to OCS

Join the Air Force, you can eat all the ice cream you want and sleep in a clean bed every night. Stay away from bar girls and strippers.

I would have took as many classes that were available to me.

20 Years, then retire really would go fast, so stay in and let your wife go her way.

I wish I would have enlisted right out of High School. I wasted a year and a half parting in college first. Did not want to go to college at the time, but parents insisted. After being released from active duty I went back to college and stayed on the Deans list. I believe this was because of the discipline I learned in the Marines.

Finish the ROTC program and get commisioned!