Why did you pursue military service for just one term?

I joined with the intent to help pay for college and to see the world. I don't recall having a plan to just do 1 contract or make it a career. I wasn't thinking 10-20 years in the future. Though I haven't seen much of the world I have made may friends and seen places on the Army's dime that I might not have seen on my own.

I was about to be drafted after graduating in 1969 so I volunteered for the draft. I did not want to be in for over 2 years and the Navy and Marine Corps didn't appeal to me so I did 2 years in the Army. I got sant to Vietnam as an Infantry grunt. That was ok but didn't make much of a resume. I never intended to make a career out of the military and had a hard time understanding why anyone would make a lifetime of it. I have always been patriotic and was willing to do my share. I couldn't understand why some punk with a butter bar was better than me? and the affirmative action was unfair. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Some got college deferments, some went to Canada, I feel I did my share with one of the worst jobs that the Army had. I'm glad that some stayed and made a career out of the service and respect them but I also respect those who did only one hitch. It just aint for everyone.

When I first went in, I considered making it a career. By the end of my term, though, I was burned out & needing to move on to other things - and that was before I was involuntarily extended for a year and a half.

Perhaps I could have made it to 20 years, but I feel that the military was important part of my life but I was called to be elsewhere in the years since.