What Things Did You Learn About Yourself That Were Unexpected or Surprising During Your Military Service? Login & Share to Win!

I learned that I'm capable of more than I gave myself credit for. I enlisted at 31 and realized that you can teach an old dog new tricks. I also learned that only thing limiting me is me.

I gained self-confidence and maturity. I also discovered that I was valued as a friend and a real contributor to the group I chose to be in.

Like so many other service members I come from a small northwestern Pa community of farmers and small businesses. Hard working people that try to do the best that they can. I did my boy scout and cub scout thing I was a few badges from being a eagle scout and then pier pressure told me that I didn't fit in anymore that I was square being a scout. I shouldn't of listened to that static but I did anyway. I got married at 19 I had a good job that paid $300.00 a week god money in the early 70s. I realized there is more to life and while very impressed with all branches of the armed services I looked back at what had started to influence me towards belonging to something larger than I could imagine something that I could reach out and help people if they needed it or defend them if needed. My huge infrequence was LtCol John Glenn USMC when he circled the earth three times. I found out that within myself I had self reliance that I didn't know that I had and that I wanted to be a member of a team that was unbeatable at everything. Love of country, family and fellow countrymen along with freedom was my calling. I don't want to sound cliche about anything my patriotism grew with every year that I have been alive.

IL learned how lonely you could be even when you are surrounded by people during the holidays overseas and away from home. Also how much those same people could help you out of that feeling to a degree. Especially pre internet years. The cooks went to great lengths to bring the best holiday feasts to us that lived in the barracks. My hats off to them.

The type and level of training I received enabled me to perform a job that, if I had tried to learn the same material in a civilian classroom I would have failed miserably. I was able to gain a level of confidence during training that only increased once I was in the field doing my job.

I found out how much farther I could go once I had had enough

I learned that I could live in mountains and valleys with what I carried on my back for a month or longer. C rations and water would be brought in by helicopter when needed but finding a stream or river to bathe in was a luxury.

As a 'floundering' 17 year old, I found myself in the Navy, and came to realize that I really could accomplish goals with a lot of effort. Lucky enough to get into the radio room on a radar picket ship, I advanced to E-5 in near record time. I truly surprised myself, and was a changed man from this experience, thanks to the Navy!

I enjoyed working at the VA Hospital in New Orleans as an administrative assistant in the Social Work Department and Podstartics Department under the Veterans Work Study Program. Great people.

I wasn’t the dummy that I thought I was, once I had a chance to use practical application of different subjects I started to see success and built more and more confidence. That with learning to think under pressure and not panic. Those traits have gone on to serve me well.