What advice would you give to a younger self?

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 08:54:00 -0400

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 4 at 2016 8:55 AM

SSG Pete Fleming — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 08:55:43 -0400

Stay in... go to school earlier, buy a house and get settled

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Jun 4 at 2016 8:59 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 08:59:16 -0400

This question is getting a lot of hits on social media lately. My advice to a younger self would be to begin a savings program at a younger age (26 - 36) instead of starting when I was 46 years old. Your Golden Years may not be very Golden if you can't enjoy living because of a lack of funds to support your desired lifestyle.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2016 9:06 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 09:06:31 -0400

Develop a realist plan and stick to it.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2016 9:07 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 09:07:30 -0400

Hey, I spent years to reach the point of not living pay check to pay check. Now I enjoy living direct deposit to direct deposit.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2016 9:20 AM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 09:20:07 -0400

Don't be afraid to asks questions. Study more, realize that everything doesn't have to happen "NOW!", and have fun.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 4 at 2016 9:47 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 09:47:00 -0400

Make sure you marry the same woman. The sooner you embrace humble, the better. It's always about bringing your people home alive. It's OK to cry.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Jun 4 at 2016 10:40 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 10:40:10 -0400

I would say to keep yr mouth shut at least some of the time, listen and learn from others who might just know more than you, don't be a jerk and provide more encouragements than demands of others. Other than that you might do ok.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2016 11:38 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 11:38:33 -0400

WOW am i gonna have to reflect on that...candidly, research before selecting what one would wishnto do as a career, that most definitely even if doing so causes delays,some things once chosen can't be unchosen, I'd found, that's honestly why, for real.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2016 11:39 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 11:39:32 -0400

Wow did that one give me some SERIOUS pause, lol....

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 4 at 2016 12:01 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 12:01:35 -0400

Put aside 7-10% of your income and don't touch it until retirement.

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Jun 4 at 2016 12:04 PM

SGT John " Mac " McConnell — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 12:04:51 -0400

Look before you Leap ! Education, putting funds back for the time when you need it ! Trusting only the few that you can count on. Take care of your self because no one else will. That is something to ponder. Thanks for the question Sgt Tom Cunnally

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2016 12:20 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 12:20:20 -0400

Old me talking to young me ...
That thing you're about to do ... Don't do that!
That thing you didn't do, put off or stopped doing ... Go do it!
You know how you're really smart and know a bunch of stuff ... You know nothing. Read more.
Be more forgiving.

That said, there would be a certain amount of trepidation as in the back of my head I would be cautioning myself to beware the butterfly effect.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2016 12:24 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 12:24:55 -0400

if your going to serve a life time do it active then decide on reserves, 6yrs active 25 reserves, if i could only go back

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2016 12:59 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 12:59:24 -0400

Sgt Tom Cunnally My father died while serving in the Air Force. I would tell my younger self to work on a nomination to the Air Force Academy.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2016 2:52 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 14:52:42 -0400

Stay in shape. Exercise more and watch a lot less television. Old Age becomes a Bitch if you are not fit enough to enjoy it!!! Take it to the Bank!!!

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jun 4 at 2016 2:58 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 14:58:42 -0400

I wanted to enlist right out of HS. I didn't, and worked minimum wage jobs to get by. Desert Storm was about to go down, and I again considered enlisting. I talked to some "knowledgeable" sources and was told "this is the white man's Army, and you have no place in it". At 18, I didn't know any better and listened to this fool who I later found out was a felon. The military isn't a specific race's. It's everyone's. 20 years later I'm IN the Army, and I remember some SNCO's who have deployed telling me "I was stupid" to volunteer, and the patch means nothing". These are AD SNCO's telling me this. They laughed and laughed at me for a few weeks. I think now, it was the best decision I've EVER made, and they were right, the patch means nothing, but that BRO patch means EVERYTHING to me. I would tell my younger self if you think you can do it, TRY IT. even if you don't make it, you tried. Don't listen to people who think they know everything, being more than likely they know nothing. Lastly, you're in MEPS and they told you that you cannot go Infantry (flat feet) to say thank you, and walk out the door. YOU pick what you want, and hold fast to it. And INVEST IN YAHOO or other .com's. Then sell the crap in 1999. You won't be working anymore after that.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Jun 4 at 2016 3:09 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 15:09:31 -0400

Convert all those college credits into a degree........NOW BOY!!!........

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2016 3:37 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 15:37:17 -0400

21 year old Tony:

Whatever happens, when you get off that plane in 1992 and she's not there, put a bullet in that relationship right then.

44 year old Tony

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Jun 4 at 2016 5:05 PM

CSM Michael Chavaree — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 17:05:51 -0400

On Jan 16th 2007, take cover and dont get shot...

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 4 at 2016 6:29 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 18:29:21 -0400

Screw Depression! Be Prepared for a Long Eventful Life.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Jun 4 at 2016 9:19 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 21:19:39 -0400

Kiss the girls that like you. Be attentive and sweet.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 11:17 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 11:17:47 -0400

Drink more, care less, and realize life is finite, so enjoy it.

Response by SPC Darren Koele made Jun 5 at 2016 1:13 PM

SPC Darren Koele — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 13:13:34 -0400

The comfort zone is not always the best place to be... especially if success if what you hope to achieve.

Don't play the victim. While you can't control much in the world, you are the master of your domain (I don't play the victim anymore, but the second part is still a work in progress)
Save early and save often. (Now at 47, I'm trying to play catch up with my retirement to the tune of 15-20% of my income between 401k, ROTH IRA, and stock purchases).

Avoid debt. (spent half of adult life in major debt then finally knuckled down and spent a year focusing on eliminating my debt... over half my pay for that year went to debt reduction which is why I can now focus more on my retirement)

Invest in your future and due so wisely and with endless fervor. (I thought I had my life path figured out from military to civilian life. A major injury in my first yet of military service changed all that. Instead of focusing on my interests, I focused on trends. I went to school for computer programming, got bored with school and the subject, dropped out. Took classes on welding and other trades, but lacked the interest to pursue it further. Enrolled in school for Security Management but the industry changed and my desired path became unattainable so instead changing majors, I dropped out).

No matter how much or how little you have, take time to appreciate it because there are others that have much less. When you appreciate what you have, go pursue more.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2016 7:41 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 07:41:11 -0400

This is a pretty deep question, and some great feed back so far. I postponed the idea of Joining Active Duty too long, based on some medical issues my parents were enduring. I don't regret waiting however, it took me way too long to understand that I must accept the fact that life goes on. I do wish I would have taken advantage of schools such as Airborne and Air Assault at a young age. I should have taken college at an earlier age. Most of all I would have ensured that I did not loose contact with many people I encountered during my career. With all that being said, I am beyond content with where I am in life and my career.