What Traits Have You Learned in The Service That You Want to Instill in Your Children or Loved Ones? Login & Share to Win!

Timeliness, respect - both self-respect and respect for others, work ethic, work before play, a sense of history, that one person can make a difference, never quit, give it your all - whatever you are doing, compassion, teamwork, honor.

Discipline, honor, honesty and respect.

I'd say integrity and having an eagerness to shoulder more than my share of the load would be two of the most important traits in my book.

Being on time is late

While the military teaches cohesiveness and teamwork, both good qualities, I also want them to learn take responsibility for their own actions/life decisions.

Your word, to a comrade in arms, or any other is your bond. Every promise is no less than an mortal oath. Without that moral mandate our actions are are but puffs of smoke on a windy day.

It is ok to fail as long as you don't quit.

Always tell the truth. Most people lie and if you are honest most people do not know how to respond.

Personal responsibility, self discipline, self confidence.

Integrity--doing the right thing even when no one is watching and selfless service. Not that my service was completely selfless--I got paid, promoted, awards, GI Bill etc., but I had a mentor who came very close, and he is the person I have tried to follow.

Focus & Situational Awareness.

Always have Respect, whether for Someome Speaking, the Flag, and your Peers. Take Responsibility if you do something wrong. We all make mistakes, I did. Be Kind.

Honor & respect for the flag, for service members, and situational awareness. I have been blessed to be able to teach all of these and both my boys still hold fast to these today & even teach others.

Respect, duty and honor.

Two phrases
“If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing your best all the time.”
“If you’re early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late”

Be open to other people's ideas and heritage. The Armed Forces are American military forces but it has people from various backgrounds, regions, religions, and of course other races, colors, ethnicities. I knew and was roomed up with people from many racial and ethnic heritages. You may have some presumptions from your upbringing and school years that cloud your perseptions. Don't judge, presume and certainly don't make fun of any category of people. If you're curious about something, ASK POLITELY. Don't be a churlish boor.

For instance I stupidly, carelessly and ignorantly asked an Taiwanese roommate about the complexities of the 'Chinese alphabet'. I learned quickly by my ignorance just how complicated the Chinese language truly is (written and otherwise). I didn't mean to be offensive BUT I DIDN'T KNOW. In our schools when it came to cultural and history classes, it was just names and dates (hardly much else), one of those teachers was a loudmouth lippy shrew in the first place and our books were full of Special High Intensity Training (what is the abbr. for that?). Inquire, learn but don't be dumb.

And the same goes for whatever entity the US may be going to war with. Hate the enemy government, NOT the people or their ethnicity or race. That's stupid. When I was in the Navy, the US went to war with Libya and the next year got involved in the Iraq-Iran war escorting reflagged vessels in the Persian Gulf against Iranian attacks and sea minings. I don't hate Libyans, I don't hate Iranians (Persians or Farsis), I don't hate Arabs or Middle Eastern people, but the Ayatollah regime of Iran is a bunch of fanatical scumbags (I don't hate Islam either, it's a good religion) and Moammar Qaddafy was a childish brat and nobody's friend - he thought by committing 'prankish' terrorist acts thruout his zone of influence that he was being 'cute' and 'funny'. Well 10 years ago that rotten bastard got overthrown and done in by his own Libyan Arabic people (with air and sea support from NATO), didn't he? Not everybody 'from there' is a jerk. There or anywhere. Hate the enemy government, NEVER the people or their ethnicity or race
And it's the same today with Afghans, Iraqis, Syrians, Somalis and others. The Taliban, ISIS, warlords, militias, etc.are all crap, they are SCUM. But there a lot of decent people in those regions and from those places.

Also when I served, there were quite a number of Filipinos in the Navy, at most of my commands. Their dirtbag dictator Ferdinand Marcos was a totally rancid douchebag and they overthrew him in early 1986. Most Filipino people I met and knew were very pleasant, some of the nicest I've ever known.

Whenever you're in a 'strange' place, learn about the people there. Check out some history and culture. You can learn a tremendous lot that way. Experience and witness. These are the things you can LEARN a lot that mere textbooks cannot tell you.

Most of all, be open. Throw whatever presumptions and prejudges you've been told before. It's detrimental to military order and you might even make some good friends with some of these folks. ASK, INQUIRE, LISTEN, LEARN. It's good for you.

The trait i would pass on is the Warrior Ethos. If they decide not to enlist/commission I am attempting to instill in them to achieve their goals first. I would consider that their mission. I am reminding them that the road will be tough, but that they should never quit on that dream, goal or vision for what they want to become or the career they choose by never quitting. Lastly, I'm encouraging them to never leave a fallen comrade or cast the ones they love to side for pseudo friendships or relationships and to never forget those that supported you in achieving your goals! That's my two cents.

Respect, Responsibility, Team Player, Commitment and a Sworn Allegiance to our Constitution!

I would have to say perseverance. From day one at boot camp, or whatever source you came into the military from, you learn to never give up on anything be that a challenge, people, or task. I graphically saw that the concept that you can do anything if you stick with it doesn't really exist in the civilian workforce/world but is essentially the culture of the military .

Patriotism, selfless service, personal responsibility and self-reliance.