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

Eh, I guess it depends. I never expected the cleaning as much as we do. I've been in student status so long, I don't know what I expect sometimes. But I know I love being a Marine

Yes I feel that I made the right choice. I made a lot of friend and memories, and would do it all again. Good luck In your choice and enjoy the journey.

I started out Army NG in my hometown. It was a great beginning. I ended up becoming a full time recruiter, and really enjoyed being in green all day. I ended up going active Army. My family had been Army. Dad, tanker in Korea, step dad, AAF in WW2, brother Army. It was just the natural way to go.

I began by taking the ASVAB as a junior in High School. My GT score was high and all the branches but the Air Force began calling me. I went into the USMC office, but my dad always said "The Marines? They're good son, but there's a reason they're called 'The Few, The Proud, The DEAD' with his emphasis on dead... Gallows humor and he was retired USAF, he didn't want me to go there.

I followed up on an appointment with the Army, the recruiter shoveled me a line about how I was the top 10% and could do anything I wanted. I wanted medical or tanks, I ended up in MI! HAHAHA! It could have been worse I guess... I spent some time in Germany during the Fall of the Berlin Wall and that was exciting. I have great memories. I wouldn't trade a single one, but I wouldn't go back and do another day unless our country was in a declared war.

Thank you all of you who currently serve, especially in the middle east. Keep your head down and ammo dry.

HOO-AAHHH!

All I ever wanted to be from my earliest memories was a U.S.Marine and it was everything I hoped it would be . I'm truly blessed to have been a member of our beloved Corp

My enlistment in the Army was "everything" I wished it would be and more. My only regret is that I wasn't able to serve longer.

It was everything I expected and more. I have no regrets.

I actually expected more, but in 1971 I was naïve. I wanted to be a fireman and thought I had that job waiting for me when I finished my basic training ( C-1-1 ) at fort Jackson . However, when I got to fort benning when I told my sergeant I was suppose tobe a fireman, he laughed and handed me a M60 MG and said " you can be a fireman..you can put out massive fire with that machine gun..now git out of my sight rookie..

For me it was a decision of who could get me out of this po dunk town the fastest... kinda screwed myself...only regret that I have is that when i came back from my deployment young stupid and full of money and got myself into a bit of a whole financially that is now comming back to bight me in the ass... if only i knew what i was doing back then i would be in a different spot now.

It wasn't what I thought it would be, but that's really my own fault. If I wanted to see combat I should've gone infantry.