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

I got more out of my 4 years than I could have ever hoped for!

While I am satisfied with my decision to enlist in the Army, I expected more. Not the glamour that the recruiters spit at you, but more of the nitty gritty. The crazy and wild stuff ya see in the movies. The HARD, lean, mean and brutal methods of teaching. History showed that it made stronger, faster more resilient soldiers. And because that tactic is lacking now, it makes for a more PC Army, breeding softer soldiers. And I openly admit (to my own shame) that I am not as hard as my father was when he was in my position, simply because his training and leadership were more brutal and hard with him tham mine have been with me. I believe I am harder than a lot of my "peers" but I am not as hard and "lean-mean-killing-machine" as I could be, with the right mentor.

I would do it all again joining the army was rewarding

I'm satisfied with the Army. Coming from a military family I knew what I was getting into

I was just thinking about this, and I really think that the military needs to revisit how they choose recruiters. Some recruiters are great, others are just going through the motions, and still others are like a used car salesman just trying to get you to sign on the dotted line. The best kind of person to have as a recruiter is someone who genuinely loves their service. I am talking about a person who is living a lifelong dream by being a part of the service. That shows in the interview process. If you are talking to a recruiter who can tell you all about the experience of being a service member, but also takes an interest in making sure that (insert service branch here) is right for the individual, then it would make this question a moot point. We would end up with recruiters that help a potential enlistee with making the choice. Everyone would come out ahead in the end.
I will now yield the soap box.

After seeing all the crap that the sister services had to deal with, I was glad that I chose what I did.

I feel that there was a lot that I got to experience... A lot of history I got to experience and from a point of view that a fraction of the military gets to experience it from. I'm not talking about being in country and within the fight, but rather from bigger picture and a very unique picture.

I loved my time in the Air Force and, had I to chose all over again, I would still do it. The only thing I might have done different is how I joined. At the end of the day, I'm very proud to have held the title of NCO.

I was dead set on going combat arms. Originally, I was going into the Marines. My recruiter was great, answered questions and really helpful in figuring things out. Alas, he was reassigned and the guy that replaced him either hated being a recruiter or simply didn't care. Put me off quick, so I started talking to the Army.

My recruiter there, SFC Camacho (still remember his name 22 years later!), was awesome. He was extremely honest about what to expect and what life in the Army was going to be like. He wanted me to go intel (His MOS) but never pushed too hard one way or the other. I used to laugh whenever an NCO would say "Don't blame me, blame your recruiter!" I couldn't. heh

I still remember him dropping me off after I enlisted, handing my mom the piece of paper that said "11X - Infantry" and telling her "I had nothing to do with this!"

I definitely enjoy the AF. And from my brethren in the Navy, USMC, and Army...I picked the right branch.

For me the choice was easy, I was in Albuquerque NM, I had an appointment with the Air Force recruiter, I arrived for the appointment, and the office was closed. Nobody ever showed up. I was on my way home from the disappointment, and passed a Navy recruiting office. The Marines were right next door. I knew I was not ever going to qualify for the Marines due to my husky (to sugar coat it) nature. I went in and talked to the Navy recruiter, and started working towards enlistment. Fortunately my brother had a better Air Force recruiter as he left for Air Force bootcamp just a couple of weeks after I left for Navy Boot Camp.

Originally I had planned on joining the Marines, however when I arrived at the recruiters office, the recruiter had locked his cellphone and keys inside the office. I helped him get in to the building, told him to have a good day, then walked across the hall to join the Army. I am inclined to regret this decision, as I have been disappointed with the Army's lack of discipline, especially given the contrast of having my barracks directly across from Marine barracks. However, my military career is just starting, and I am not about to cast anything in a bad light so early on.