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

I chose the Army because of family tradition. I have had a family member serve in every campaign this great country has fought in since the French and Indian War. One of those ancestors turned out to be Ethan Allen from the Green Mountain Boys in the Revolutionary War.

I joined because I'm from a Navy family who was just following tradition. I don't regret a minute of it. I had 3 expectations back then:
1) To be trained in a job that could be converted to civilian after I got out.
2) To not get laid off.
3) To travel on the ocean to foreign countries.
They met all 3 and more. It was a good career but now it's hard for me to recommend the service because I see a lot of broken promises. They are still trying to mess with TRICARE Prime for retirees and Enlisted Retention Board the Navy had a few years ago is the same as getting fired in the middle of your contract. Makes me wonder how secure are military benefits?

The army has met my expectations. I was pretty sure of what I was getting into; so no big surprises one way or the other.

It took longer than I expected but I'm definitely satisfied of the branch of service I chose and I wouldn't have chosen any other branch. I also didn't expect to see my first dead body before I got out of bootcamp but one of the recruits died in front of me during the crucible... I'd do it all over again!

In my situation I am glad I joined the Army and the training was all that I expected and then some because it made me the strong person that I became for many years. But I did expect more from the Army in way of protecting its soldiers from the toxins that they made and used. But each day I faced a new battle in health and life I always took my mind back to the days when my drill Sargent would rub one of his fingers and thumb together saying this is the smallest violin playing my heart bleeds for you now soldier learn to adapt and over come it. So many days I would over do it to be strong. Now I am a broken mess and sick from toxins that I did not expect the military would do to its soldiers and are still doing. Bless you all. But I still do not regret the Army just wish it would have been a different base and not affected my whole family in the end.

It was easy enough for me. I initially thought I wanted to go Air Force, until I started seeing the smug superiority of some of the other kids enlisting Air Force and how they were "too smart" to be in any other branch. Keep in mind, those are just high school idiots talking; I'm sure they got knocked down a peg and shown what was what when they got to basic. But that turned me off of that branch, and I decided to look at it from a practical standpoint. To me, the solution was clear. The Marines are ferocious fighters, but they can't operate without someone else ferrying them to the fight. The Army can occupy a territory and can essentially do any task... eventually; and they also have to get the Air Force to ferry them around, or take a commercial plane to go to war. The US Navy can operate with impunity 12 miles from the coast of any nation, under nuclear power which can sustain them almost indefinitely; and when it comes time to execute a mission, be it force projection with a tomahawk, or insertion of DEVGRU, it happens almost instantaneously. That kind of quick response and immediate action was something I wanted to be a part of. Started out as a nuclear propulsion operator, ended up as a pilot of a nuclear asset. Not the path I planned, but it's been pretty great nonetheless.

Well, I thought it was a hard decision to make and it took longer to join than I expected. I also didn't think I would see my first dead body until after boot camp but that changed during the crucible. If I could do it all over again, I would!

I don't think it really was a decision.... Having come from a family with a long proud history of military service it was a given that I would serve. Both my Dad and my Grandfather were Navy so I knew listening to their stories that NOPE...I also knew that the air force was not even close to what I wanted. So that left the Army and the Marines.... Well cannon fodder I am not. Lol I am proud of my service in the Army and have never regretted it.. GO ARMY!

I got everything that I expected to get out of joining the Army. The only thing that I did not care so much for was the hurry up and wait game that went on. But from what I understand the other branches have the same issue.

I puke on boats and planes so I thought I'd better keep my feet firmly planted on the ground. Go Army!