What has been your best experience in the military thus far?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2020 00:43:47 -0400

My time in the military has been interesting at the least! I’ve spent a total of about 9 months total in the field out of 6 years of service. I’ve been to every CTC at least once. I’ve deployed to Senegal. And by the nature of my position within USARPAC, I was able to go TDY to Thailand in support of a Subject Matter Expert Exchange with the Royal Thai Army. I was a part of a 4 person team sent to represent a 4-star command which is pretty significant especially since I was only an E5 traveling with warrants and a Major.

One word of advice to my intelligence counterparts is that INSCOM can either make or break your career. You get out of it what you put in and ultimately, you can be selected for nominative assignments later in your career. As an E5, I had hours of FaceTime with all Generals assigned to USARHAW, what’s stopping you? SPC Private RallyPoint Member SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" COL Mikel J. Burroughs MSG Private RallyPoint Member SSG Carlos Madden Sgt Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2020 1:06 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2020 01:06:24 -0400

Definitely SSG too many people in my current unit waste opportunity’s to get training or they don’t realize how lucky they are to be actually doing their job as Soldiers that just left AIT. Any advice to do some of the interesting stuff that you’ve done? Seems more knowing the right people and knowing what opportunities are available

Response by SSG Samuel Kermon made May 22 at 2020 6:59 AM

SSG Samuel Kermon — Fri, 22 May 2020 06:59:53 -0400

Well done.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2020 8:24 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2020 08:24:31 -0400

It sounds like you have had success in your field, that is awesome. I plan to explore the 35 series when I am up for my next contract. My education is in intelligence and counterterrorism, so I feel I would have something to add to the field, but mostly because I want to continue to learn. Great post SSG!

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2020 11:20 AM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2020 11:20:20 -0400

Onward and upward.

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made May 22 at 2020 1:28 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Fri, 22 May 2020 13:28:10 -0400

After training young men and women and qualifying them for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians to the paramedic level staffing our emergency room with their knowledge going out and saving lives of both military and civilian employees on the base, knowing that the knowledge they received from my courses that I established recognized by the National Registry and qualifying them to take and pass the National Registry with a 98% pass rate. Watching them do their job with the efficency and expertise and professionalism of their actions made me proud to be part of their training.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 22 at 2020 5:18 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 22 May 2020 17:18:49 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member, sounds like you've had great experiences so far. Working with allied forces is always interesting and often rewarding. Same can be said for assignments with good "face time" with senior NCOs and officers.

My best experience in the Air Force was the years I spent as a Major C-130 Instructor Pilot assigned to Alaska. As a major, I was senior enough to be placed in positions of responsibility in the Squadron, such as chief scheduling officer (the guy who put together aircrews to fly assigned missions), but was able to avoid a lot of tedious additional duties that fell on the captains and lieutenants. Also, I got to fly a lot as an Instructor Pilot, because many of our missions required pilots to make their first flight into and out of some of the airfields in Alaska with an Instructor. The squadron in Alaska had real missions flying food, supplies, and personnel to remote radar sites. We were the lifeline to the locations that were inaccessible by land or water for most or all of the year. We also flew airdrop missions for the local Army Brigade and trained with the neighboring fighter squadron in dissimilar air combat tactics. Life was good--then I made Lt Col.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 22 at 2020 6:25 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 22 May 2020 18:25:28 -0400

My best experience is creating a culture. Love the soldiers, take care of them, fight for them, push them professionally and personally.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2020 9:51 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2020 21:51:48 -0400

The day I signed out on transition leave, retiring after 20 active and another 12 or so reserve, enlisted and commissioned. A tear streamed my face after I thought of all the years, people and places I encountered during those years. It can’t be explained in words.

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made May 23 at 2020 10:34 PM

SGT Robert Pryor — Sat, 23 May 2020 22:34:19 -0400

On June 20, 1969 I received 11 gunshot wounds, 19 major shrapnel wounds and over 200 minor wounds. My rifle was broke, as was my radio. My three teammates had no idea where I was because I had been out mixing it up with Sir Charles alone. I was shot in both knees, shot in the chest a couple of times, part of my skull had been blown away, my right arm was paralyzed and I was unable to move anything except my left arm. I had accepted my death. It just doesn't get any better than that -- the moment I heard SFC Charles Hinson calling my name. I'd given up, but my teammates hadn't. That's what true brotherhood is all about -- no man left behind. Fortunately SFC Hinson didn't get too severely wounded rescuing me. On June 20, 2019 Charles was 89 years old and I was 70. He and I went out to a couple of clubs for a beer or two. That was pretty cool also, but we were long since retired from the Army -- so I suppose that doesn't count as we were no longer in the military.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2020 2:23 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 May 2020 14:23:17 -0400

Most satisfying experience: Counseling/advising new young personnel in the Coast Guard regarding career options (such as whether they want to be a cook or jump out of helicopters). Advising personnel regarding career/life/family issues and on the other end counseling/advising to both young and old regarding transitioning back to civilian life. I really felt that what I had to offer was helpful in many cases.
As far as the coolest actual physical event experience that I was part of I would say it was probably when my ship was the lead search and rescue platform for the first space shuttle launch following the CHALLENGER disaster. I believe it was named STS-26. It's launch path was right over our ship... And of course just knowing the fact that we were trusted to be in charge of saving them if disaster happened again. Something you don't forget