Who Influenced You To Take The Oath And Join The Military? - Login & Share to Win!

My Grandfather was a World War One (1) Veteran and Uncles that were in World War Two (2) and one that was in Vietnam. Also my Brother was in the Navy and a Cousin that was Army. It kinda runs in the Family.

It was my future wife who encouraged me, but the real individual was my unborn first daughter. She inadvertently influenced me by making me make a harsh decision to ensure that I could provide and care for her.

My inspo came from my Dad. He was in the Army for 12 years before getting medically discharged. I knew college really wasn't an option, so I wanted to get out of dodge after HS.

The community I grew up in. I knew there had to be a better life and it wasn't where I was. I knew my only path to that better life was the military.

My Retired Vietnam Veteran father and his Retired WWII Veteran Father! Family business I guess!

Myself. I knew the Army was my only pathway to an education. I'm currently in the final half of my Master's degree.

1) The draft board - my number was up
2) Choice - I wanted "some" choice of MOS so I fooled them and enlisted instead
3) Patriotism (really) AND hate for the protesters of those times
4) Example set by father (Army) and uncles (Army, Navy, Marines)
Pick your own order from above - mine varies from time to time

My best friend - we came in on the buddy system back 1979.

My Dad was a career minded member of the USAF. Unfortunately, he was killed in an auto accident while on active duty. I had just turned 6 years old and really didn't know him that well as he was stationed overseas a couple of times after my birth. I had two nominations to attend the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs when I graduated from high school. Unfortunately, I was not selected but I did receive a fully paid ROTC scholarship to attend East Carolina University in NC but but they wanted me to attend the summer semester and take English and one elective course maintaining a grade of at least a "C". Being that I really didn't have anyone to kick me in the rear-end and give me guidance I elected to join the USAF instead. This was during the Vietnam War and I did spend a year in Vietnam during my four-year enlistment. After I was discharged, it was a little difficult to adjust to civilian life so I decided to join the Air National Guard in Charlotte, NC where I eventually became a C-130 Loadmaster and was hired full-time under the Civil Service Retirement System but I did wear a uniform every day. I spent the remainder of my 37-year career with the NCANG. With that said, I suppose my Dad was the reason I enlisted.

No one; I was escaping poverty