What direction would your life have headed if you hadn't joined the military?

2015-09-12T18:52:55-04:00

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2015 7:05 PM

2015-09-12T19:05:49-04:00

I just can't imagine that route. I grew up in area with little local opportunity, small town, so regardless of military service I wouldn't have been very successful staying in the local area.

Response by PO1 Matthew Murdock made Sep 12 at 2015 7:08 PM

2015-09-12T19:08:17-04:00

Finished college and probably be a diesel mechanic in MI some where. Also would not have my awesome wife and kids.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Sep 12 at 2015 7:17 PM

2015-09-12T19:17:32-04:00

I had three different career paths that interested me. I loved literature classes. I may have attended college and focused on becoming a published Author. I was also interested in the medical field, so I may have pursued a career in that field. I always enjoyed teaching my knowledge to others, so I may have pursued a career in that field. I was 16 yrs old when I was a senior in high school. I wasn't really sure which way to go and I wanted away from home quickly. I decided to join the military at 17 and chose the Marines because they had the reputation of being the toughest. I have always enjoyed a challenge.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2015 9:41 PM

2015-09-12T21:41:34-04:00

Arkansas State or University of Arkansas Pine Bluff with no degree plan and probably after 5-6 years getting end up getting my B.S. in Business Logistics. After that I would do like everyone from Arkansas does... work for Walmart!

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Sep 12 at 2015 10:07 PM

2015-09-12T22:07:25-04:00

Joining the Army(in order to beat the draft as I had a low number) gave me the chance to get practical experience in a job I enjoyed doing, not only while in the Military but after service as well. Without that experience I don't think I'd have succeeded in my field. So, I would have probably wound up doing something I didn't like just to have a job. Thanks, Uncle Sam!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 13 at 2015 2:27 AM

2015-09-13T02:27:06-04:00

I suppose I would have continued my career as a precision tool grinder, but we can never tell where the path not taken might have led..

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2015 9:33 AM

2015-09-13T09:33:12-04:00

HI, SMSgt Barnes.

Yikes. That's a horrific thought. I would never have finished college. I would have never met my wife, the other influence that saved my life. I would have never met my brothers and sisters in arms, friends I would readily surrender my last breath for, even today.

I can't imagine my life without the military, nor do I want to.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Sep 14 at 2015 2:47 AM

2015-09-14T02:47:04-04:00

Well, hard to say where I would have been exactly but my fall back plan were something to happen preventing me from entering the AF was to go to college and get an Associate's in Criminal Justice, go through North Dakota Peace Officer Training and then find a job as a cop. Had I done all that I would actually have been finishing earlier this year and probably looking for a Sheriff's Department to work at.

That was the plan and to some extent is my plan for when I get out minus the 2 year CJ schooling. Going to work on my CCAF and just go through the ND POT program, most agencies only require a 2 year degree, they don't specify it has to be CJ.

Now as for whether or not I would have gone through all of that, that will remain a mystery for the rest of my life. I was and still am dedicated to my dream of wanting to be a cop but the hurdle I would have faced was paying for it all so whether I'd have done it or not would have depended vastly on my ability to acquire student loans which I would now be starting to pay off. Thankfully I will never have to worry about those now, at least not my own.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 14 at 2015 4:47 AM

2015-09-14T04:47:02-04:00

I probably would have ended up working some dead end job in a shop somewhere, or working on the assembly line at General Motors.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 14 at 2015 6:38 AM

2015-09-14T06:38:11-04:00

Would probably have become a specialist in medicine,i had an uncle that was an MD and he wanted me to go into medicine.I chose to join the Marines and my priorities changed.

Response by SGT Christopher Churilla made Sep 14 at 2015 6:28 PM

2015-09-14T18:28:37-04:00

Probably nowhere.

Serving my country gave me a sense of purpose, that I was Doing Something Useful With My Life. I know there will come a time when I take my uniform off for good, but I will always look back with pride. I have gone places, done things and met people I never would have had I not joined.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 6:31 PM

2015-09-14T18:31:22-04:00

I would be in a mental hospital, or dead.

Response by CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter made Sep 14 at 2015 7:08 PM

2015-09-14T19:08:23-04:00

I have no idea. I can't see how my life would of turned out better then it has.