What's one thing you'd do differently with your career?

Stayed in

Joined earlier. I was 25 when I joined the Air Force. While I love my current status in the Air Force, I think I could have benefited from the discipline at an earlier age.

I would be less of a knuckle head the first time I was a Sergeant.

I would have come in much younger. Coming in so late has now put me competing against much younger individuals and it is tough. I mean I took my lumps like a champ I think. However, the SMA is 2 years younger than me for Pete's sake and I missed my first look for SFC because my DOR was a month late. So I look at where I would have been if I had come in when I was 18 (I am thinking retired). I LOVE being a tanker, I have literally shaped my career, I went where I wanted by either re-enlisting for it, or calling branch, I volunteered for recruiting and that is where I am going next and I am looking forward to it (no need for naysayers, I am still looking forward to it, I analyzed everything BEFORE making the decision). I most likely will convert, however I know that I will need to sit in the seat for a little bit to make that final decision, but the old man body KNOWS that being in the field is not that much in me anymore. So I know that my career has been mine to shape and I have done that. I try to teach my Soldiers the same tricks and hopefully they learn and hopefully the Army works out for them like that, but I do not regret what I have done. Three deployments have been amazing (except New Dawn, that was Garrison in the desert and was terrible at the end) but I love the single minded go out, accomplish the mission, stay alive mentality that you have to have. It is simple and hard to get out of. The Army provided me with that, and I know it. Garrison is something totally different but I deal with it.

For myself, I would've join at a slightly earlier time in my life.

I would not change anything. I have been fortunate with everything I have been dealt. Granted I was in the motor pool for three months, and then swept away by the 1SG to work in the orderly room. If I hadn't moved to there I never would have seen the Frago to get the position I am in now.

Call it faith, call it luck or whatever you want. I just know I got someone watching out for me and my family.

I would have volunteered for submarine duty.

Would have done a straight four years in the Army. And then probably tried the navy's nuclear propulsion program.