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

Only happy to be alive after 2 deployment

Nothing

I learned that i was respected and a true roll model to most of my men . When i say most some people are not a team player and will never be a team player i find this more in civilian life .

My ability to endure.

Coming from a middle class maybe even a little bit upper middle class background I didn't really have a lot of exposure to Americans from minority communities and in the Army I found we all are really not that different. Met a lot of great people and it really is true that character has nothing to do with where you came from or the color of your skin but has everything to do with the content of your character!

I found that I was a pushy person who would take charge if someone else didn't do so quickly. Probably one of the reasons, I was a SSG by the time I had four years in service.

Very simple ~ I learned that a 5’5” 109lbs lad with a 27 inch waist could go thru Basic & AIT and come out weighing 150lbs and still having a 27 inch waist.
I learned that a man who couldn’t swim or run a mile could be distinguished honor graduate in both NCO academies. But most of all I learned that I had earned the respect of my platoon by my actions and by my word.
My father instilled in us this—
“A mans word is his bond
and a man never breaks his bond”.
Not to mention they were all 6ft plus

I know a lot about the bill of rights that other don't.

I learned that I could do what I was asked to to and more. I was a low grade student in school and not at all popular. Class dufus so to speak. But I took to the military like a coastie to water. I excelled at whatever I did and was respected for my abilities and knowledge.

I am not a natural leader but I LEARNED how to be a leader, and I didn't know I had it in me. To this day, 10 years out, and I still apply the things I learned about leadership with my subordinates.