What is the one thing that you wish you had done differently in the military?

When they started downsizing after Desert Storm in 1992, I would have found something more constructive to invest my time and energy in.

For me, it was going Warrant. I wanted it badly but kept telling myself that I wasn't readya dn wasn't good enough...yet. I finally spent my time as a Motor Sergeant and Team Chief and finally decided that I was finally ready. My chief (CW4) told me that unfortunately I waited too long as I had 15+ years at that time and wouldn't likely be selected....I pushed forward to become a SFC..!

My first PSG had a saying "Career progression is not an option, in this platoon you will always be doing something to further yourself personally and/or professionally."  As an E-5 I was disgruntled with the military and was 100% positive I was not reenlisting.  I was in a bad unit with bad leadership (looking out and caring only for themselves and their high ranking buddies).  Because of my bad experience I developed a bad attitude toward the military and I stopped developing myself.  I spent four years and ten months as an E-5 missing nine different opportunities at making cut-off before I decided to change my attitude.  This delay caused me to miss out on the promotion board to E-7 in 2012, finally getting my "first look" and making the list in 2013.

There are days I think that I should have kept my 18x contract.