Posted on Sep 13, 2021
What Things Did You Learn About Yourself That Were Unexpected or Surprising During Your Military Service? Login & Share to Win!
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Posted 4 y ago
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Congratulations to SSG Gerhard S., SFC Cynthia Phillips-Lewis, LCDR Alfred Yudes, PO3 James Davidson, and SSG Rafael R. Rodriguez Sr.! You've all won a $100 Amazon gift card! An e-gift card will be sent to the email address associated with your RallyPoint account.
Thanks to all who participated by logging in and sharing!
Thanks to all who participated by logging in and sharing!
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So there have been A LOT of things I have learned about myself. I’ve learned I can face difficult situations, even when my heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest. I’ve learned that I am a really good leader and I enjoy leading my troops from the front. I never in a million years thought I could and would be a good leader and here I am killin’ it, or so my soldiers say. I’ve learned I can work under pressure and most times, that is when I do my best work. I’ve learned I can rely on others; that I don’t have to do it all myself like I have my entire life.
But most importantly, I learned what it means to be apart of something greater than myself. I’ve learned the true meaning of family, what it means to have someone truly have your six no matter what, and what it means to be a true and fierce protector of all this great country has to offer.
But most importantly, I learned what it means to be apart of something greater than myself. I’ve learned the true meaning of family, what it means to have someone truly have your six no matter what, and what it means to be a true and fierce protector of all this great country has to offer.
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First thing to come to mind is, being able to do things you never thought you could do. Working all day then finding out in one hour you have guard duty for another 12 hours. More to come
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SPC Russ Bolton
Guard duty was very interesting. I am just glad that I didn't have to learn to stand that much guard duty... Be blessed my brother
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SPC Michael Terrell
I was only put on guard duty once. I had a 4F for having a notch in my hearing. It made it difficult to hear someone walking up behind me, so the Sargent was able to get about 20 feet from me before I heard him. I learned to stand up for myself as he started ranting at me I told him, "I told you that I have hearing issues that would prevent me from hearing, yet you put me on this detail anyway. My hearing issues are in my records. If you would like to discuss this with our Captain, I would be thrilled to do so." I already had my MOS in Electronics after the first week of Basic and it was in Electronics so I would not be assigned to a combat area.
I served with five 4F medical issues because I was skilled in Electronics so I was drafted, but they kept me from enlisting.
I served with five 4F medical issues because I was skilled in Electronics so I was drafted, but they kept me from enlisting.
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PO3 James Heine
You learn how to handle certain situations when they pop up. At Orlando NPS, my roving partner DG was carping about 'how this watch was a crock'. We'd just watched some American Music Awards on TV and went on patrol again. This fellow sailor came to us and wanted us to come to his dorm room. His roomate had a pile of COCAINE kilos bags on top of a color TV set. Crock? How about Crockett and Tubbs?! Needless to say, we called up the SPs on our walkie-talkies and they came within 5 minutes and starting stripping everything up. And of course you had to learn how to deal with the drunks. this would come in very handy when I took ushering and security jobs for football games and concerts by Genesis, Pink Floyd, U2 and the Rolling Stones at the university where I got my college degree later on.
You don't get 'taught' how to handle this duty, you learn by DOING. I was never a police officer of course but nonetheless that work requires instant action when things get screwy, and sooner or later they will. Anything can happen. One time a few years ago at a free George Clinton show at a casino I was able to flag down medics to help a guy who was suffering a seizure. Some dufuses were recording this 'drama' with their smartphones. What you experience (and learn by it) can rub off you well in your post-military life.
You don't get 'taught' how to handle this duty, you learn by DOING. I was never a police officer of course but nonetheless that work requires instant action when things get screwy, and sooner or later they will. Anything can happen. One time a few years ago at a free George Clinton show at a casino I was able to flag down medics to help a guy who was suffering a seizure. Some dufuses were recording this 'drama' with their smartphones. What you experience (and learn by it) can rub off you well in your post-military life.
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I went to boot camp at the ripe old age of 17. After spending a few years in the military, the differences I became aware of between myself and my pre-military friends were at first bewildering. While they were still mired in their old habits and routines, I was much more focused on progressing and preparing for the future. The military doesn't give you any choice in whether or not to become an adult. You learn to grow or you get chewed up and spit out.
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CPO William Slifko
Function? I remember feeling like an automaton after standing a 12 watch, go into GQ for drills to include going DIW for several hours out in the middle of nowhere near the equator where the heat and humidity are nice 'n high. Then, after that, go straight into another 12 hour watch. And all that followed up with command cleanliness inspection or some other thing that keeps you up until your next watch. Fire drills. CBR drills. UNREPS. Fun times. Character building situations.
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T.hat I really could climb that rope and rappel down a cliff.
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Best way I can say it was when the kimchee hit the high speed rotating oscillator, I didn’t flinch. I ran towards disaster instead of running away. The military (mostly the Marine Corps) gave me all the tools I needed to succeed. Putting those tools to the test was, hell, I don’t know how to put it. When the truck caught fire, I ran towards it. Didn’t matter there was a fully loaded and fueled C-141 just 20 feet away. When the H-3 crashed, I ran towards the crash. Didn’t think nothing of consequences. When we had to bring the C-130 crew to their first leg home after the crash it was tough. Sitting on 6 dead guys was indescribably horrible. It had to be done and I did it without much thought. Could I have done it as a civilian? I doubt it. I didn’t know my abilities back then.
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