Posted on Sep 13, 2021
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SFC Stephen King
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I found that balance was the driving aspect of my life. I realized I could only control my thoughts and not others. Positive thinking became my goal. It took 20 yrs but I realized I had to change to build connections.
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SrA Sean M.
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That it was a huge mistake personally, professionally, and mentally to re-enlist and I should have started my post-military career earlier.
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SPC Richard Rauenhorst
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There is one other thing I learned about myself. I have a very low tolerance for other peoples stupid actions.
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PFC Jennifer Hendricks
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I learned a lot while I served in the Army. The biggest thing was I learned who I was. So many kids today grow up confused about who they are and what they can do and end up turning to all the wrong things in life. I was headed down that path as well. But my experiences helped me grow up and deal with issues. Instead of hiding behind bad things. Or using dangerous things to mask my fear and anger, I turned to the truth. I can see why so many young adults turn to “society” to help them feel better. But that’s not what works.

Doing the hard work of getting yourself out of trouble and not choosing the easy way out is the best long term solution. Being a soldier taught me to look at the different possibilities and find the one that will help in the long run. Even if it hurts in the short term.
I spent a lot of time at night on CQ duty reading my Bible and those quiet times taught me so much. And during the day, doing the work of a soldier taught me I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.
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SPC Lyle Montgomery
SPC Lyle Montgomery
4 y
It's nice to see someone giving credit to God
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CPL Theresa Cressey
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I learn what trigger my anger and what to do positive . So, that I would not act negatively about anything I disapproval of in the military or any where else. I learn I could achieve positive things in my life. I learn I am capable of learning , working and maintaining my health. I learn how to also resolve problems when they come in my life. I learn how to relax when I need to enjoy r and r time. I learn how to go and talk to spiritual leaders when there was crosses in my life.. ( family or any negative things going on ) Most of all I learn not to give up on the positive things I am interested in doing. I went in the. I litany when I was young. I became an adult in the mi.itary.
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CPL Theresa Cressey
CPL Theresa Cressey
4 y
Correction I learned what triggers. Y anger and what to do posit Ely. So, I would not act negatively about anything I disapproved of in the military or any where else. I learned I could achieve positive things in my life. I learned I am. Arable of learning, working and maintaining my health. I learned how to resolve problems when they come in my life. I learned how to relax when I need to enjoy r and r time. I learned how to go and talk to Spiritual Leaders when there was crises in my life. (Family or anything negative things going on with my life) Most of all I learned not to give up on the positive things I am interested in doing. I went in the military when I was young. I grew up in the military. I became an adult in the Army. I had a lot of Grammar mistakes sorry everyone.
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MSgt Don Dobbs
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So many things I could not have imagined when I went in. I had a 9th grade education when I entered service, I retired with a BA. Becoming a Military Training Instructor, then Master MTI. Every deployment I saw things I never even imagined. Living in and visiting Countries that existed only on a globe. Becoming part of a Brotherhood only a Veteran can understand. So many other things that cannot be expressed in this medium.
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SSG Byron Hewett
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I learned that a lot of most difficult duty assignments were the most easiest and that came down to accepting a folded American Flag from a member of the Honor Guard casket team and the presenting the flag to the next of kin and looking them in eyes and saying those most sacred words “On Behalf of a Grateful Nation” easy assignment right up until you look the next of kin in the eyes and start saying those words the out comes the vice grips putting the squeeze on your heart, but the job can be done and the surprise is how difficult saying those words are for such an easy assignment and every time you do this it is surprising that is never gets any easier no matter how many hundreds of times you do this those words never ever get easier to say no matter how many times you say them or practice them it’s always a surprise that it never gets easier I guess it’s because it’s not supposed to.
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SPC Training Room Nco
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If I had to narrow it down to a few things, I'd say this:

1. There is NOTHING more lethal than the right man in the right place at the right time. Because while yes, the Artillery can go boom and say "screw that guy and everything near enough to think about him," it is the knife in the dark and that man in place who knows his objective that is truly terrifying.

And 2. There is no more powerful a weapon that your own willpower. No matter the struggle, no matter the challenge, no matter your state of mind, if you tell yourself that you'll be fine and that you'll make it, you will. If you tell yourself that nothing will stop you without killing you, nothing will. If you tell yourself that you are the baddest mfer in the Valley, then thats exactly what you will become. It is as it was written: I think, therefore, I am.
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Capt Al Parker
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Officers are treated a whole lot different than enlisted., I found this out when I graduated from OTS and became an Officer. But I still had very good friends who were enlisted.
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SPC Justine Blankenbeckler
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I learned I had to juggle coming home and cooking dinner, making sure my two children got their homework done, prepare for the next day's work, boots shined. My husband was working the night shift, so we passed in the shadow. I was Strong! The Military made me Stronger.Then am, I was off before the kids got up, so I prayed they got off to school on time. They did. You have to change things sometimes, but my children adjusted well. I was so happy for that. It made me do my job better. The Pressure sometimes at my job did not get to me. I dealt with it. Hooah!!
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SPC Carrie Taylor
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I learned to trust in others and to work as a team. We work together. I learned to believe in myself, that I can shoot the weapon that I have never shot before (I shot expert). That I can run, do push-ups and be physically fit. I wasn't when I went in. I had no idea what to expect when I went in. I just got tired of being robbed when I enlisted. I enjoyed my time in service.
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SGT Lisa Mayne
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SO much stronger and more capable of real world growth and accomplishments!
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PO1 David Shepardson
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I found out I was not as dumb as I had been made out to be, before entering the Navy..
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CW5 Jack Gaudet
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I learned leadership is gained through mentorship.
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MSgt Quality Assurance Evaluator
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regardless about how squared away I thought I was prior to the military... the military and my time in, helped to sharpen the sword, focus, and work to better understand leadership/management... and try to learn more each and every day
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SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D
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I learned that my life is always in the hands of our Lord. I should have been killed 13 times that I remember vividly (unknown how many others) but the Lord miraculously saved my life everytime. Not knowing how or why at that time, and they play over and over a million times in my mind, I now realize the Lord has a plan for each of us and as I now realize what the plan was for me as I look at my loving wife of 53 years, our 3 beautiful children and our 7 grandchildren and say thank you Almighty Lord for I have now realized and fulfilled the plan you had for me.
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SPC Lyle Montgomery
SPC Lyle Montgomery
4 y
When I was in Viet Nam ,I wasn't scared of dieing. I figured that if was God's plan that was the way it was. I'm still a Catholic and that helped me get through the problems of war
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SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D
SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D
4 y
SPC Lyle Montgomery May God continue to bless you my friend as HE did in VN for both of us. Great post!
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SPC Lyle Montgomery
SPC Lyle Montgomery
4 y
SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D - Thank you for your coment. I'm glad to see someone who gives thanks to God. We would all be lost without God.
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SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D
SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D
4 y
SPC Lyle Montgomery You are absolutely correct my friend and may God continue to bless you with His Love and Grace. Never stray from the course you are on my brother for it is the path to eternal life.
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LCDR Diane Neff
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I learned that the desire to achieve is greater than the limitations you think are in your way - and often, you have to get out of your head, and out of your own way, to succeed. I learned that the journey toward this is worth the pain, and through it all, you have the opportunity and responsibility to help lift others with you.
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SPC Thomas Trezise
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I learned that I could do anything I set my mind to. Physical limitations are mental limitations, you must tell yourself you can accomplish anything. Results don’t happen overnight. I’ve taken that into my civilian life, ran a successful business for 20 years and been a single dad of 4 magnificent kids. A couple tragic incidents in the Army have weighed me down Through the years but didn’t hold me back from achieving goals. The military separated us from the mentality that serves self and held us to a standard of camaraderie. I miss that the most and it simply isn’t available too much in the civilian platform. The closest I can get to that is serving veterans and being plugged in to groups like this. Thank you to all that have served this great country. Keep your head forward and your elbows and a**holes backwards! Oh… one more thing I learned. You know the old saying “watch pot, never boil?” Well… fire watch, never fire!
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SPC Justine Blankenbeckler
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I learned that I don't have to be dependent on anyone. I learned to drive a 2 ton truck, shoot a rifle, be yelled at by Drill Sargeants, when they told me to put my face in the mud and crawl. I knew it was their way, of thinking I was going to give in and give up. Not!! I became a stronger person, and when I got out of training it stayed with me in my military days in my job. I truly am a Stro g person to this Day.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
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I learned I could handle unpleasant or even dangerous situations, Communicate well and lead without stress taking over. I was able to react quickly just on instinct. I do credit some very good in service training however for those abilities not all of which I had before. Confidence in Myself to accomplish anything I needed to do developed with the experience gained during my Military service. That I feel served Me well for the rest of My life.
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