What was your best experience in the military?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 19:44:44 -0500

The best experience for me will always be the brotherhood.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Mar 1 at 2020 7:48 PM

SPC Nancy Greene — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 19:48:31 -0500

My best experience was went an Infantry LTC ‘pinned’ an Army Achievement Medal on ‘my chest’!
Best & Proudest day of My Life!
Will never forget that moment & I have a ‘Polaroid’ Photo!

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 1 at 2020 7:51 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 19:51:23 -0500

I too will always value being a member of the "family", but my best experience was the day I graduated from Infantry OCS. After swearing in and returning my first salute, I ran the mile back to the barracks to get ready for graduation and pack for Vietnam. I don't believe my feet ever touched the ground the whole way...

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2020 8:01 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:01:59 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member The day I graduated from MCRD, San Diego was a highlight. In Vietnam, after two long operations, we had in-country R&Rs that were welcome. Being part of the brotherhood/sisterhood is a bonus that lasts after active duty.

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made Mar 1 at 2020 9:14 PM

SGT Robert Pryor — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:14:51 -0500

Nothing else comes close, for me. The last time I got wounded I was alone and no one, other than the bad guys, knew where I was. I was shot all to hell -- my radio and rifle had been destroyed. One of our medics was on R&R and the other was away on an operation. The nearest medical attention was an hour flight away -- were there an aircraft available, which there wasn't. I had accepted my death, figuring if I was on an operating table at that moment I still wouldn't survive because both legs and my right arm had been shredded, plus part of my skull was missing. Seemingly out of nowhere, I heard SFC Charles Hinson call my name. He got wounded saving my sorry butt and was awarded the Silver Star for his actions that night. I still can't believe he'd do such a double stupid stunt -- wading through the alligators looking for someone that logic would indicate was already dead. But the other three teammates there that night wouldn't give up on me. It was at that point I fully understood the real brotherhood of war. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I passed out by time some crazy copper pilot showed up to make an impossible extraction under fire. That's a whole other story.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 1 at 2020 9:32 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:32:41 -0500

Honestly there has been a bunch of them in my very short stint in Uncle Sam’s Army,but one always stands out,my duty after Vietnam was as an instructor at Ft.Polk AIT committee group patrolling range,we occasionally did train ROTC cadets on patrolling techniques day/night patrols in the swamps of Louisiana,after one of these outings,we were all getting our after action reports in the range hut,I was called out by my ROTC patrol leader and received by a loud and enthusiastic appreciation of my training that night,imagine a barely graduated High School ,former street corner punk being applauded by future officers,imagine!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2020 10:00 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 22:00:40 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I'd agree. The camaraderie is probably in the top three reasons I'm still in. Aside from that I'd say my best memory was the majority of the time I served in the 173rd ABCT

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2020 10:22 PM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 22:22:01 -0500

I was a PO1 at a unit that SHOULD have had a Chief Petty Officer - so I was essentially the "default" Chief. We got a brand new Seaman Recruit who stated on day one that his sole goal in the Coast Guard was to become an aviator. We get him set up for the tests and physical - and he comes out as juuuuuust too color-blind to pass the requirements (missed by one card) - and the kid is totally crushed.

I mention the situation to my sister-in-law (Registered Nurse and nursing instructor for two colleges) and she offhandedly says that it depends on which test they gave use because some use slightly different shading that makes them a bit easier or harder to see. I didn't say a word to the kid - but called an Aviator friend, who said you could retest as many times as you wished.

Couple weeks later, the kid's performance is tanking and I suggested that the following day he go to medical and retest. He just shuffles, "Yeah, okay..." obviously still crushed. He fails again - morale is even lower. A couple weeks later, we're not too busy to I send him again... and again... and again. On his SIXTH time there, he gets the score he needed. Two weeks later he has orders to begin training and he transfers out.

Just before I retired, I got an e-mail from him - AET1 (E-6 Aviation Electrician Tech). He gushes about how amazing his career has been, and that I had been the ONLY one that had faith in him. He was up for advancement to Chief Petty Officer and had his fingers crossed, and just... THANK YOU!

One of the finest times I had in the military - and I honestly didn't think I had done anything special. This was at a slow time of the year, we had nothing going on, and if he had never passed, it really wasn't any issue. Just a TINY bit of give-a-shit had a huge effect for this kid.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Mar 1 at 2020 11:42 PM

PVT Raymond Lopez — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 23:42:34 -0500

Every single day I wore the uniform!!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 2 at 2020 12:55 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:55:03 -0500

Best: the feeling you get when you bring all your people home alive.
Second Best: Had an O-5 working for me that FOSed for O-6. I asked if he wanted to be put out or leave the Navy on his own terms. He gulped and chose the later. I gave him a hard assignment which he excelled in. My paper got him his O-6. Wait for it. Seemed the Army needed a certain skill set that this new O-6 had in spades and he went back on active for a couple years as the Oil Sector Chair in Iraq. Always knew where he was when you'd see a bucket of ice with Orange Crush in it. Of course he excelled in that job too and retired on his own terms. Bottom line, helping people excel and bringing them home alive has always been the best experience. Bringing them back in a box was always the worse.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2020 1:53 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 01:53:06 -0500

I've had a lot of really incredible experiences in the military. But there are two that really stuck out.
The first is the day I graduated Ranger School. I had recycled Florida Phase and a buddy of mine who graduated the class before me came and pinned my tab on me. Most of the other graduates had family members who came and pinned them. I even cried a little bit when he pinned me. It was an even bigger accomplishment for me than when I graduated RIP and earned my Beret and scroll (pre-millennium, back when we had black Berets).
The second was when I graduated Jumpmaster at the 82nd Advanced Airborne School. The 82nd course is notoriously (unnecessarily) harder to pass than the Benning or SOF Jumpmaster course. It has a 50% fail rate, and about an 80-90% firat time fail rate. Half of my class were on their second or third or fifth attempt. I passed on my first attempt. I felt like nothing could bring me down that day.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 2 at 2020 6:00 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 06:00:12 -0500

Meeting and shaking hands with a Lt Gen from the regular Army, and being thanked by him for my service.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2020 8:36 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 08:36:13 -0500

Afloat with a MEU (SOC) in real world ops.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Mar 2 at 2020 9:24 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:24:39 -0500

Can't fairly answer that one.

A lot of awesome. A lot of suck. I embraced them all as best I could.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Mar 2 at 2020 9:57 AM

SCPO Jason McLaughlin — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:57:58 -0500

Having my Grandfather and Wife pin on my anchors when I was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. My grandfather was a WWII Navy vet who passed away last August at 92.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2020 10:05 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 10:05:39 -0500

I have a few:

1) First ever Soldier of the Year Board I ever went to, I was a PFC and beat out all of the other competitors (all were SPCs) that had at least 2 more years of service on me.
2) Germany
3) Meeting Joan Jett and Kelly Pickler in Iraq.
4) Achieving SFC and meeting the potential all of my previous leaders saw in me.

Response by SGT Cort Landry made Mar 2 at 2020 10:35 AM

SGT Cort Landry — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 10:35:30 -0500

My best experience is learning a trade in the Army, which I continue to do today. It has afforded me a way to make a good living and provide for my family. I also, think the discipline I learned in the military gives me an edge over other people in my career field.

Response by PO1 Lyndon Thomas made Mar 2 at 2020 11:01 AM

PO1 Lyndon Thomas — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 11:01:13 -0500

I've had many during my career but one of the best would be out at sea and I downed an aircraft that was about to takeoff, when I hear a small almost insignificant pressure stall in one of his engines. Turned out to be a lot worse than even I predicted, could have cost pilot and navigator their lives. Later that evening my commanding office and the ships commanding officer came to my work-center and pinned a Navy Achievement medal on me as I was covered in grease oil and fuel from inspecting the engine.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2020 11:19 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 11:19:51 -0500

#1. The day I, as a 39 years and 11 months old E7, got commissioned and walked out of that conference room as a shiny new butter bar.

#2. The day I pinned on O5. a goal I thought I would never achieve.

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 2 at 2020 12:58 PM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 12:58:41 -0500

The best - A specific command under a specific CO.
The worst - the same command under a different CO.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Mar 2 at 2020 2:57 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 14:57:57 -0500

I've had too many to jot down details: having a post graduation beer with three of my drlll instructors; watching flying fish skimming the waves around dusk; feet dangling out of a UH60 while flying 1500 ft over Panama, scuba diving in Guantanamo Bay; holding M1911 serial number 16; touching a duplex drive M4 that had sank on D-Day and was recovered, and all the memories of countries visited.

Response by 1LT Bill Carroll made Mar 2 at 2020 4:34 PM

1LT Bill Carroll — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 16:34:25 -0500

Air Assault School was a blast!! Also ditto with Captain Durkish on Infantry OCS.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 2 at 2020 4:35 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 16:35:54 -0500

There are many but I will have to say the one airman I re-enlisted and cadet I commissioned are near the top. Our country is special and I can say I have done my part to continue those serving long after I retire.

Response by SSG Eric Blue made Mar 2 at 2020 6:37 PM

SSG Eric Blue — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 18:37:04 -0500

Probably singing in the 82nd Airborne Division's All-American Chorus. I got to sing side-by-side with some EXTREMELY TALENTED paratroopers for a variety of different audiences, including celebrities, athletes, hall of famers, President George W. Bush, foreign dignitaries, U.S. & Allied forces around the world, and even royalty! Definitely the best 53 months of my almost 19 years of Army!

Response by SSG Eric Blue made Mar 2 at 2020 6:42 PM

SSG Eric Blue — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 18:42:22 -0500

My 2nd best military experience was my first reenlistment! I busted my ass during my entire time I was assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska while facing down racial discrimination, racial biases, PTSD, and constantly being told that I'd never be good enough and proving my "chain of demand" and "NCO abort channel" wrong! They said I'd never survive my first deployment, earn my chevrons, or reenlist! I did all three while deployed to OIF! That was a serious high!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2020 9:08 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 21:08:23 -0500

My favorite thing has been seeing soldiers grow so much as both a person and a soldier. I have seen soldiers become so much more than they ever thought they could be, and likewise seen soldiers who came from such a crippled past and made a great life for themselves. I love hearing stories of the tough times soldiers had and how they flipped it around.

Response by SGT Kevin Hughes made Mar 2 at 2020 11:27 PM

SGT Kevin Hughes — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 23:27:13 -0500

There are so many, but one that stands out was when a Combat Veteran (with a chest full of medals that started with a Bronze Star and went up from there...way up) told me in front of the entire Platoon:
"Hughes, someday you could be a good Soldier."

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Mar 3 at 2020 2:05 PM

SSG Harry Herres — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 14:05:57 -0500

My year in Vietnam with the greatest group of guy 273Radar Detachment 1st Cav and the day I boarded my freedom bird home alive!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2020 11:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 23:38:50 -0500

If it hasn’t been said, getting my dd 214

Response by CPT Earl George made Mar 7 at 2020 9:37 PM

CPT Earl George — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 21:37:46 -0500

My best experiences in the military have to do with awards. I put my training NCO(E-7) in for the soldiers medal which was approved. The second incident involved screening all recommendations for awards as Brigade Assistant S-1. The first recommendation came from the 3/7th Cav. Their S-1, CPT Charles C Hagenmeister had to come to my office to retrieve the award request so it could be redone correctly.During his visit, I found out from him that he was a MOH recipient. He has been the only MOH recipient I have ever had the opportunity to personally speak to.

Response by MAJ Mark Steskal made Mar 14 at 2020 1:05 PM

MAJ Mark Steskal — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 13:05:03 -0400

My best recollections are the moments of achievement. Finishing Boot Camp as a Naval novice; becoming one of the Few, the proud; auditioning for Army Special Forces. All were different levels of challenge and achievement. They meant that I was accomplishing more than most would ever attempt. I am proud to have been one of the 1%.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2020 2:31 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 14:31:45 -0400

Having the distinct honor of caring for and transporting wounded warriors out of the combat AOR and getting them home to advanced care and family. My Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) family are the best!

Response by Capt Terry Fillmore made Mar 25 at 2020 9:54 PM

Capt Terry Fillmore — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 21:54:33 -0400

Serving as a crypto tech (2825) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the mid 70's. It was mostly real-life with some training thrown in here and there. You could see the Russian subs and what we did was vital to national security.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 24 at 2023 9:30 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 21:30:39 -0400

Retirement.