What changed you from viewing the military as just a "four year job" into making it a career?

I found service in the military to be an honorable profession. I firmly believed a strong military would deter wars.

I joined the Army National Guard not knowing what to expect. Since I had a college degree, I went in as an e-4 specialist. When I realized that I was not too old to become an officer, I was able to go to OCS and be commissioned at 33 years 9 months. I didn't think this was ever possible. Once I became a commissioned officer, then I knew that there was a chance I could make it to 20 years and earn a partial retirement. 24 years later, I'm counting down the days to where I have three years time in grade and I can retire at age 59. One weekend a month and two weeks are in the summer? That was bull crap! I was mobilized three times. 1 mobilization Stateside for 1 year guarding a base in Utah. Ended up volunteering for Duty in Iraq going there with the Idaho National Guard in 2004 and 2005. I had an easy job as a liaison officer in a brigade tactical operations center at forward operations base warrior in kirkuk Iraq. It was surreal because I went to ramp ceremonies of those people killed. Fellow Army National Guard male and female Personnel killed by insurgents or by vehicle rollovers. I never expected to go to Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009. Working at provincial reconstruction team Farah approving projects from $10,000 to $200,000. Trying to shape the fight in Afghanistan with fixing Wells, Building schools and fixing infrastructure to help win the fight against terrorism. The reality check was losing my first sergeant in another part of Afghanistan. He was killed one week prior to coming back home. A suicide car bomber with fuel which meant that he came back a closed casket. He is buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. Never forget First Sergeant Blue Rowe RIP.
Some people may put down the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. Most of us had at least two deployments. Some of us did not come back.
http://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/blue-c-rowe/
LTC Eugene Chu Maj Robert Thornton SFC (Join to see) Sgt (Join to see) CSM Charles Hayden SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas CPT Jack Durish MAJ Donald Zlotnik LTC (Join to see) COL (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. CPT (Join to see)

I enlisted for 3 years, I ended up retiring. I had no idea if I would like the military lifestyle, I did.