Was choosing your branch of service everything you thought it would be? Did you expect more or less?

Yes

I haven't seen the fleet yet since I am in a long training program; however, I have enjoyed my time in the Navy and look forward to experiencing my own journeys based on the sea stories that have been told to me by my superiors. It has made me very excited and I feel I chose the right branch for me.

I was trying to enlist in the Air Force, following both of my parents. Every time I went to my appointment to see the AF recruiter, she was never there. Called, to reschedule, she was a no show. After a couple of times doing this, the Army recruiter asked if I wanted to check out a video and go over my options... ended up joining the Army. Good decision, wished I stayed in longer.

I only regret being it being a dept of the Navy. The Marine Corps helped me figure out that I REALLY hate ships and the sea lol...

I came in at AGE 40. When I went to the recruiter office the ARMY branch was first. I went down the hall way and hit every branch and each one told me I was too old. So I asked the ARMY if I was tool old and they said.."No you're good but you need to sign up ASAP". So I did.

Went to the Recruiter's office since it was next to the draft board who was in the process of sending me a letter (1966), The MC and the Navy Recruiter shared an office. The Marine Corps offered me a commission as a 2nd LT. I could read the daily casualty list in the paper and decided that the Navy would be a better option. The Navy Chief ask about my college major (pre-med) so said, well, we'll make you a Corpsman. Little did I know that two years later I would be in a Marine Corps platoon crawling in the Jungle. Ended up with the majority of my Navy career with the Corps. Neither decision was wrong in terms of outcome.

All the Air Force offered me was fuel handler and security police. I chose the Army instead.

Being a Marine was the best years of my life. Very proud to wear the eagle, globe, and anchor.

There was never any real question about the branch I would select when I became of enlistment age.
Members of my family had served in every major war since the American revolution so it was the obvious thing for me.
Reaching the age of 17 in '68 I was determined in my heart to join the Army Infantry, though I felt I should at least consider the other options. Going to the library I picked out books about the Navy, Marines and Air Force. The AF seemed rather boring but the Marines were much more to my liking. The book I selected for the Navy was a novel telling the dreadful story of the USS Indianapolis. When I read the part where the survivors bobbed around in the sea for days waiting to be eaten by sharks, I decided I'd rather try to dodge incoming and automatic weapons fire than ever be in that hopeless situation. I closed the book with a heaviness in my heart for those sailors and determined that it would be the Army for me.
I enlisted for the Infantry in January '69 and spent 3 years 9 months, closing out my last year as a Drill Sergeant, immediately signing on with the Army ROTC; two years later graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice and a commission in the Military Police. I spent the next two and a half years as a MP training officer in the G3 section of a MACOM but found the mission to be uninspiring so a branch transfer to the Infantry was requested and granted. I spent the rest of my career back where I began, in my beloved Infantry. I never regretted my decision to join the Army; the things I learned and experienced have served me well in various aspect of my life.

My family was mostly Army and a few Navy on my moms side. I tried to break that by joining the Air Force. Just something about it didn't feel right, like the recruiters office just felt wrong. The minute I walked in the Army office it was like right at home. Being a military brat I already knew what I was getting into. I got tips from my dad as well, but now I'm currently a 15P and loving Aviation which I hope to pursue more Aviation jobs when I get out or switch to criminal justice. I gotta say without the Army I wouldn't have anything that I have today...it helped me buy my first car and pretty much everything I wanted plus helping my family. I also been to more places in 4 years than I did before I joined....Ft Jackson, Ft Rucker, Ft Wainwright, Korea, now I'm in Hawaii soon to go to Thailand for 3 months maybe haha and soon to be a SGT (damn points lol) but the Army has made me a totally different person and given me so many great benefits. I hate it some days and love some days as well but I guess that's the Army life haha I don't want to live an easy life I want one that will challenge and shape me to a great person/Soldier which is why the Army is the place to go if you want that life. I now have 2 more years in Hawaii (born here) but I am strongly considering going reserves and go to college as well as get a good job on the side which I have options in mind.