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

Be on time

Honor our flag, respect for country, and duty to your family and community

My children are responsible adults and citizens. Whatever I learned myself while still growing up while serving was apparently picked up by them. And is being instilled in my grandchildren. I'm not sure the military taught me any more than I already personally expected of myself, but I did learn I'm capable of more than I realized. I HOPE this is something they took away also.

Attention to detail.

I learned something that can only be verbalized as "You control me or I control you." It's worked for me for 50 years and I hope it works for the younger generation reading this.

I want my family to know that when you are entrusted with a task, get it done! Leadership/Mom and Dad/Bosses typically don't care how it gets done, but that it get done on time and without incident. If I have to hold your hand through every step of a process, I may as well have done it myself. The old saying "Adapt and overcome" should end with...and get it done. Just don't burn down the house while you are doing it.

How about discipline and doing the right thing!

Discipline, bearing, leadership, training/building others up, loyalty, respect, promptness, moving with a sense of purpose (I say this all the time,) sacrifice.

The traits that I learned in service were to respect others even if you don't agree with them, honesty, respect, integrity, selfless service, take care of your soldiers and they will take care of you, also applies to family, present yourself always in a professional manner and above all if you don't know, don't be afraid to ask and a good leader knows how to listen, distribute responsibilities among the soldiers and be able to teach and train your soldiers for advancement in soldiering and MOS. always support the command and senior leaders even when we don't agree with the orders, the mission must be accomplished at all cost. always be prepared to stand up and support your leaders and subordinates.

You don't need to like or agree with everything going on in this country to still love it. Politics swing like pendulums. Use your power to vote. Be active if you choose but look at all sides and history to make sure you know what you are talking about.