What things do you remember about adapting to military life?

Putting order in my life

I was 17 when I arrived at Paris Island, SC. I basically did what I was told to do or got my ass kicked. I did fine. That was August 24, 1965.

When I entered the service and throughout, I had a bad habit of using my hands when I'm talking. BUT! all those tongue lashings ultimately made me a better speaker.

I remember having to be in Los Angeles at 0600, on Christmas Eve 1979, to catch my plane to Western Australia. I left my home state on the 23rd. I remember traveling to Los Angeles by myself, finding a hotel from the airport by lifting a direct phone to the hotel. Once I arrived to the hotel, which was in a bad part of town with ladies of the night in front. I got a room and tried to go to sleep. I was awakened in the middle of the night, as the two guys I saw when going to my room earlier that evening were being robbed by gunpoint. Yikes! The police were interviewing them when I left to go to the airport to begin my two day flight through Australia. I had nearly missed my flight because the terminal was changed at the last moment. Finally, once I sat down a guy from my A school in San Diego was sitting right behind me. I arrived in Sydney Christmas night. The next day I flew to Perth, and on the 27th flew to the base. Harold E. Holt. I will never forget Australia!

I wasn't used to ppl always being around. There was always someone in the berthing or even in your row in the berthing. It was rare that I had the whole place to myself. It really took some getting used to.

Excited to be getting involved in a new adventure.Egar to learn

Lot of shouting and early rise and late to bed. Physically and mentally exhausting, however, it taught teamwork to make the process smoother. It was tough but I learned a lot about myself and gave me a lot of self esteem when it was done.

Shots and boot camp

The CROSSING OVER from civilian to military is impossible to explain. Many think they can but nothing fills the the fact you changed.

The order and discipline were welcome but difficult to adapt and hard to enjoy. It is great for self-improvement and to restructure an undisciplined mind and body. But the shock to the system was a challenge many can't handle. I loved it.