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

It was a satisfactory decision. I had been a fan of Audie Murphy since I first saw his movie... "To Hell and Back". Since then, I had always wanted to be in the Army, even though my island was liberated by the Marines during WWII. All the glorious stories of the Marines bravery told by my uncle who was 17yrs old then did not meet the level of Audie Murphy legacy. As far as basic training goes, I am indifferent because I was well over 30 at the time of enlistment so I was at different maturity level and the career change was easy for me. Besides the basic training, it is difficult to assess the difference because there is no first hand account other than hearsay. But I was proud of my time as a soldier.

I expected more from the Marine Corps, left very disappointed and in someways embittered. As for the Army, I had lowered my expectations due to the Marine Corps experience and was surprised by it. I don't like to get into the which service is better because they are all extremely good at what they do. they have separate missions and do those well. Benefits are somewhat the same because they are all part of the government. I will have to say what sets the Army apart from the other services is the amount of opportunities for the individual. Hell, the Air Force has an actual community college...

The Army was the only Branch I knew about because my father and uncle served in the Army during Vietnam. All I remember is seeing is the dress uniform pictures and saying that is what I want to be. The Army was the best career choice I have ever made.

I initially was scheduled to enlist in the Marines (2005). I had out of regulation tattoos but the recruiter devised a way to get me in anyways, by having me tattoo a line through several tattoos to connect them. The station manager caught onto it before my tattoo appointment so I went to talk to the Army and I'm thankful that I did. I have loved the Army and couldn't imagine doing anything else in my life right now. There are strenuous times in the Army, and long deployments, but I have loved it all good and bad.

Boot camp wasn't what I expected back in the 70's. However, after getting over the hump so to speak, the pride was way more than I expected. Marine Corps is what laid the foundation to a successful civilian career.

I had been set on the Air Force since elementary. This was mainly because 1. I had a lot of family go through the Air Force and 2. I love aviation.

The job choosing in the AF was what I struggled with mainly because I knew what I wanted my recruiter's supervisor had different goals in mind, like throwing me in a critically manned career field simply for that reason. Still annoys me to this day.

Having been assigned to an Army post, a Navy ship, and a Marine Squdron as a member of the USAF, I would suggest that it is what you make of it. I have enjoy working with each of the Services.

Dumb luck landed me in the Navy. I wanted Army infantry, life intervened and I am glad it did. I don't think I could have accepted the Army's practices.

I wanted to be all I could be

I initially spoke with the Marines, shortly after 9/11, said I wanted to learn to weld, recruiter said I needed to be in the infantry, didn't make too mush sense to me, walked into the Navy, and haven't really looked back, absolutely enjoyed the ride so far...