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

I was planning to join the Navy like my uncles. Grandpa forbid it and said Army. Some one in this family will go in the Army In each generation. So there I went.

I went to the recruiters office to enlist in the navy like my other family members and my best friend. When I walked in the navy was "out to lunch"!
I thought (not to hurt any feelings. I was 17 at the time) Why settle for the navy? I went and banged on the door of the next office and became a Marine. I never regretted it, but I did question my sanity a few times in boot camp.
It's been 26 years since I stepped on the yellow footprints at P.I. And I'm still proud to say, IM A MARINE!

It is exactly what I hoped for. I have no regrets. I was in the AF for a short period and never really felt like a true soldier. I joined the Army to be a pilot and I got
everything I bargained for.

I had the Army recruiter come to my house and give me their whole recruitment process before I threw them out of my house as I wasn't interested. However a year later when college wasn't living up to the expectations a Marine recruiter literally picked me off the street (I was walking home from work) and I was standing on the yellow footprints about a month later and I don't regret it for a day.

I mean I've only been in the Air Force for a little over two years now, but I am loving every single day of it because of all the people I have met and the experiences that I have had.

When I joined at 19, my first option was Navy, for the travel appeal and because so many of my friends at the time were wary of the Army.

However, at the end of the day, the Army recruiter was the most welcoming lol. I haven't regretted the decision at all. Way more options for females and I had the opportunity to do a lot of things I never thought I could or would do.

I looked at three different items that set the criteria for selecting the Air Force. First, the opportunity to do what I wanted to do. The job of a Security Forces member is not appealing to many, but it was something I wanted to do. After 10 years, I held certifications in six different job titles. Second, I wanted to travel. I didn't get stuck at one base and spend my entire career there. I served at four duty stations that encompassed three continents and didn't exceed four years. To say I got my fill would be an understatement. I saw many unique things and had the distinction of closing two bases back-to-back (Rhein-Main AB & NAS Keflavick). Finally, there was the education factor. A couple of courses within my required training earned me college credit, but I really didn't get serious about school until my tenth and final year of service. All in all, I got everything I expected and more from choosing the Air Force.

Absolutely. When I joined the Navy, a lot of people were really surprised because I've always had an interest in aviation/aircraft and talked about joining the Air Force.
When the time came to really start looking into what was available to suit my interests, turned out the Navy had way more opportunities to fly as an Enlisted Aircrewman than the Air Force did and guaranteed the slot as long as you passed all the reqs and schooling. Besides that, I didn't want to be stuck in one spot, based in the mid west some where for a full tour...funny enough, my second tour in the Navy put me stationed at Tinker AFB, OK flying on E-6A/Bs. Who'd of thought???
I also found that the Navy was more well rounded when it came to your MOS, you didn't just work in one area of expertise (especially as a Flight Engineer) you were allowed to work on and learn all the systems of the aircraft.

My Dad and Grandfather were all in the Army so no was an easy decision.

My folks were both in the Army, my grandfathers in the Army and Coast Guard, great uncle is Paul Tibbets, my brothers were in the Air Force and Marines, sister in the Guard, brother in laws in the Marines and Army, nephews and nieces in various branches.

I chose Navy for two very specific reasons: Top tier electronics schools and the ability to see the world via ship.

I have been to every continent (exc Antarctica) and sailed most of the seas and oceans of the world in my 20 years. I've worked on surface combatants, aircraft carriers, submarines and aircraft. I finished out my 20 with JSOC doing the green thing. I did everything that you can do in the service and if I were to go back to make a choice, I would choose Navy again.