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

My Father is a Marine so I followed his footsteps proudly. After 8 years of duty I relinquished my duty. After 911 I joined the Army and thank God they needed a Marines help Semper Fi!!!!!

I went active Army. My father was a Marine in Vietnam and both my Grandfathers were Army in WW II, I chose mine as a way to get the hell out of my house and the Army seemed to offer the most choices for what I wanted. But in the end neither is better than the others. As much as the Coast Guard may take satire flack they also are probably the most widely used constantly in real world operations. Just serve well and you'll be ok.

I was to old for the USMC, I get motion sickness on carnival rides and I'm 6'2" so the Navy didn't sound fun, I never really wanted to be a pilot unless it was an A10 so the Air Force was unlikely. I like having my feet on the ground so the Army was a good fit. My recruiter was straight forward with me so I knew what to expect for the most part. I'm doing something I enjoy and my job has a future so I'm happy with my decision.

Made it as far MEPS for the Army but walked out after a series of half truths from the classifications NCO. In hindsight I always felt bad for the recruiter, he apologized nearly the whole trip home.

Never regretted joining the AF, it was a great 23 year career. Tons of opportunities disguised as hard work.

As I was approaching graduation day from OCS, my tac officer told me to run over to the airborne school office. I had no idea what was up, and when I reported, there was a major there with personnel folders of all my classmates. He said I was the only one in the class who got to choose my branch. I didn't hesitate to say 'Infantry, of course'. I asked him what was going to happen to everyone else, and he showed me a list of all the officer openings. He said he was just going to grab folders and put them in piles for all the branches. I was very glad to make that choice, and it has been more than I ever expected. There were a few sad faces when some found out their career path.

I never considered anything else.

I wasn't sure what to expect but never gave it a second thought about joining the Army. Both parents were Army Veterans so it was all I knew.

I got much more than i expected.. I gained a confidence in myself that i needed to find... i found my voice i needed to use... i found myself loving every blessed moment that the Army has allowed me to have..

My dad was in the Army, so I was going in the Army. I LOVED it. Hardly a day goes by that I don't wish that I had stayed in.

I joined the NY ARNG in 2003, not realizing that I would become to love the Army. I enlisted as a 02M10 (Army Percussion in the Army Band). I thought it'd be an easy gig, and I'd never have to worry about deploying, I'd attend college and get out.
Once I arrived in BCT, I was influenced by my Drill Sergeant at such a high level that I'd consider him to be my #1 reason for re-classing into the Airborne Infantry and going active duty in 2007 after my 18 month deployment to Iraq with the NG band was complete.
Branches will fight, and trust me, recruiters fight for the best/brightest minds in the local schools in which they work. I always do what my recruiter did, and as he said: "If you tell me that you are better suited for the USAF, USMC or Navy after I'm done talking to you, I will gladly give you their number. I want you to be happy in your decision and not regret what branch you chose."
Of course I chose the Army at that point, although there have been times that I wish I chose the Marines because of their level of standards. But I will say this, I am a Paratrooper, I belong to the 82nd Airborne Division for the rest of my life. I cannot say the words "I am a Marine," but I can say that I belonged to "Another Army" which I was told the AA of the 82nd ABD patch stood for. We live to be a higher standard, and I will never deny being a man who chose to jump from a perfectly good airplane into the fight.

~SSG Allenbrand