What things do you remember about adapting to military life?

In Marine Corps boot camp there was no such thing as "I won't do it." You f-ing did it, like it or not or pay the price. This also set the stage for my life since that I now say, "I can do it or find a way to do it" period!

The profound instant I took the oath was my moment. Truly it was a life altering event for Terry L. Page. Our country became the center of my universe; everything and everyone were peripheral to that obligation. In a way, I was along for the ride with a duty to hang on tight. Marriage, children and a life beyond the military could all wait. I volunteered to go with my Uncle Sam; he knew where he was going and that was good enough for me.

Having to get up at 0 dark thirty took some time to get used to.

The constant hurry up and wait method helped me develop patience.

For me, much to the contrast of the Hollywood version (or, honestly, what I hear from most everyone else), it was very much a lobster in hot water scenario. 30th AG at the Fort Benning School for Misguided Boys was a VERY minor culture shock. All of a sudden there were drill sergeants. But, well, I had had parents, and teachers, and principals, and Dominican Nuns, and coaches, and all manner of authority figures telling me what the rules were and what I had to do. OK, these were more abrasive than some (but not all), and the repercussions were more immediate. Small adjustment, move on. Then I went up the street to the 2nd Battalion of the 54th Infantry (Mailed Foot, Drill Sergeant, Mailed Foot!) and learned some more rules.

After my vacation at Benning, I went to Fort Drum, NY and became a Polar Bear. There I learned more about how to kill people, how not to be killed (which included how not to be killed by angry SSGs), and other useful lessons. And then on to Arizona, Germany, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Arizona (again), and Kentucky (again) with a few short trips to cool tourist Meccas like Great Britain, Iraq, Ireland, Bosnia, Fiji, and Afghanistan.

Each and every step of the way, I was adapting, learning, and growing. All the way up until the day I retired. And I am still doing so in retirement, although not to the "military life."

Looking back, I am OBVIOUSLY a VERY different man than when I joined back in *mumble mumble mumble*. But I cannot point to a single defining moment, or even a series of them, and say "Aha! THAT is when I finally figured it out and FULLY became a Soldier."

"There's was no I in team." This is the first thing that was taught in basic training and till this day that's one of the things I remember. Coming from High school it was about me and what I'm going to do when I want to do. That attitude damn sure changed once you got off the bus. Ever since then it was nothing but life changes from learning how to march to what a battle buddy really is to respect. For me learning respect was way different than what I thought it was. Respect your elders and your Veterans completely changed my life for the better.

I was a punk. 18 years old. May have been involved in less than legal activities. Maybe. Pretty tough. I thought.
Nope. D..I.'s were tougher.
Learned a little respect and accountability.
Best thing I ever did.
And I will never admit crying into my pillow at 0300. Never

I learned in basic training that teamwork supercedes race creed and color. we were all part of the green machine

I had more culture shock coming out of the Army than going in. Rules, orders, and discipline were almost refreshing because finally I knew exactly what was expected of me, and how to do it. Because they TOLD me! And corporal punishment took on a whole new, literal meaning, Corporal! Yes, Corporal!

This was over 50 years ago. I never thought I came from a disadvantaged family; I still don't. But my first night in the Army was the first time in my life that I can remember sleeping on clean sheets. And every week we got crisp, fresh, clean irond sheets! We HAD to get them, Drill Sargent! Yes, Drill Sargent!

This was the first time I KNEW I could count on three (count'em, 3) square meals Every Single Day! And you guys who bitched about the food? Go to your mother, or to her grave, and thank her one more time. I loved my mom, and still do. Mom was a wonderful woman who did her best but she wasn't the best cook. You guys who were Army Cooks? Thank You!

My culture shock was leaving the Army. I was at Phu Lam, southwest of Saigon, counting my short days. I had less than 40 days left in Nam. Then the rapid draw down orders came! 72 hours later, after a tornado of Bien Hoa, and Oakland, Cali, I was a "PFC" as in Private Fucking Civilian! I wasn't complaining, but from taking random incoming, Army life in Viet Nam to walking the streets in San Francisco 72 hours later with no decompression or transition... wow!

The last official order I was given by the Army was, "You WILL go to the PX and buy civies! You WILL NOT fly home in uniform!" What? What the Fuck ? ! Guys were getting harassed and spit on in uniform. All this in 72 hours. Welcome the fuck home.