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

I didn't know much about the service or my job so I didn't expect much. I was pleasantly surprised nearly all the time. The excitement of my job made the years speed by way too fast. I would change a few things but for the most part I would run with it just like it was.

I joined the Army, it was pretty much everything I expected. My recruiter went to school with my oldest sister, so he told me how everything truly worked.

Saw the movie "Platoon" and wanted Army Infantry. Proud, but should have gone Coast Guard.

Of course army has been apart of the family forever so it was easy to choose and now that im a fister its even better! Everyone loves the fisters haha

I'm satisfied with my decision to join the army but I'm now seeking information about submitting an ocs packet

Joined as a Junior in High School and retired 32+ years later. Best job I ever had!

I grew up sitting at the dinner table with my Father telling us about his time in the Atlantic and the Pacific as a member of the US Coast Guard. I knew I was always going to join one of the services. Not sure why the Army, never really looked at anything else. I did consult the Coast Guard Academy at a college fair, but my grades and SAT didn't quite match up. So it became the Army, and for me not a bad decision.

Great question. I'm second generation USAF, my father is a retired E-8, and I grew up knowing only the AF. It was pretty much as expected, but I question if I'd go the same route again. I was a bit too "Type A" for my own good sometimes, a trait better suited to the Army or USMC from what I've seen in my friends in those branches. But, there's a bit too much adherence to rank for me there, I appreciated the ability to (respectfully) question my bosses in the AF. As for the Navy, I've never, ever, ever met a single Navy member (out of the 100+ I've met) who enjoyed going to sea...kind of ironic, no? That leaves the USCG...great service if you want to stay in the States and have a great mission. Not joking, I became friends with several in Norfolk and I was envious of what their branch can do, as well as the small size. Finally, you have the Guard. I was in a blended AD/Guard unit for 7 years and have a lot more respect for them than I ever thought I would, but that is entirely dependent upon the unit climate. So...now that I've rambled and gone far afield, I'd say overall, AD USAF was the way for me to go, but just barely. I think you need to talk with officers, NCOs, and enlisted from each branch and try to make the most educated decision possible.

I always knew I would join the army it's in my blood. Dad was in his dad was in even my great grandfather. But it was not what I had expected. Turns out the army is a bunch of misfits that just seem to mesh together. It's very much like a family and that's what I love about it.

We are all "cut from the same cloth". Who could reasonably know all the career-long implication of a decision made at 18 years of age. Hopefully, folks feel that they are able to excel within their chosen Service.