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

Styles of leadership that proved helpful in my civilian careers. That being philosophically and ideologically independent when having to engage different people from different cultures and in different environments. It’s something you don’t learn in high school or college where you tend to spend all your time around people that think like you and enjoy the same things. Military life also taught me you can’t depend on others to look after your career progression. Don’t get me started on all those assignments officers I endured without a choice. Hahaha!

The ability to step into a situation and asses and make the necessary adjustments to comprehend and make the most appropriate decisions in order to accomplish the desired goal. And that my own worst enemy is my own fear, and that by over coming it I'm capable of accomplishing things I never would of thought possible

I learned that I am stronger, both mentally and physically than I always thought growing up.

That I was mentally stronger than I thought and how I refused to allow negativity and distractions to prevent me from achieving my military goals.

I'm far more resilient than I thought while growing up and being laughed at. To say the least, I'm not laughed at any more.

When I was the rank of E-4 and below, while being a married man and living off base. I still had to arrive early enough to help all those in my Platoon clean the barracks. Example, showers, restrooms, hallways and Platoon common meeting room. I hated this because the only places I would be in for almost 95% of the time I was on duty was the motor pool. Doing Pnc’s or actually repairs to my 1/4 Ton Jeep or APC. Then when I got promoted to E-5, I still had to come in an hour before the first formation to make sure my team members were up, dressed and the Platoon areas were cleaned by our E-4’s and below. Plus if I as a soldier lived on base. My Quarters were / could be inspected at any time a higher ranking Supervisor wanted to.

I learned I could drink to the wee hours of the morning then still get up and do pt..

You actually can do all things that you never thought that you could do and you can survive the Gas Chamber even when you go through twice cause you messed up the first time

Learning that you are capable of doing the impossible on a moments notice, like prepare for inspection, or an additional guard assignment. A little time after bootcamp you learn that you are a part of a big organization where there is support for you and any problems you may have come your way. Just ask and it was there.

What learned while serving in the navy was that I was more resilient than I thought I was, because military life is very different and sometimes hard to acclimate to. I learned a great deal more about myself in the areas of dedication, leadership, respect, responsibility, and teamwork which are important traits to have. These are now life long traits that I carry with me everyday and will not lower them for any reason.