Why did you decide to join the military?

I was living out of my car and needed a job. lol

Crappy grades, crappy job, no money. The Navy recruiter called me first. Did some cool secret squirrel stuff, played with some cool electronics. It was a helluva fun ride for 22 yrs.

I first enlisted because I needed something to do when I dropped out of college a whisker ahead of getting suspended for less-than-stellar academic performance, and ROTC was the one subject I really felt any enthusiasm for.

Because I felt I had a debt I owed my country. I was very privileged to be born in the United States- I could have been born anywhere. I wanted to go active duty, but at eighteen yrs old took a ricochet from a .22 pistol in my right eye thus couldn't join. After I got older and my vision got better, I still had a debt to pay, so I joined the National Guard and later transferred to the Army Reserve where I put in over 22 yrs. Our country never got great by people standing around not taking up the cause. I thank God every day I had the privilege to serve my country.

I wanted to be an Air Force pilot since I was in grade school. I joined the Civil Air Patrol when I was in Jr. High School and stuck with it through High School. I selected a University with AFROTC. As a sophomore, I applied and was selected for a two-year Air Force ROTC scholarship making it possible for me to complete my degree and be commissioned. Fortunately, I passed the flight physical and scored high enough of the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test to be accepted into pilot training. In July 1970, I was awarded the aeronautical rating of Pilot. Dream complete.

Patriotism had a lot to do with my decision to join the Air Force beyond the dream I explained above. I believe our country is mans' last, best choice for a way to govern a society. That deep-seated belief in the US started with my parents as a kid. Boy Scouts and CAP fortified my belief in the US as a nation worth defending. My history and political science professors were NOT liberal socialists as they might be today. They taught what I call "traditional" world and American history where the white Europeans are not all bad people. They had a balanced approach to subjects like slavery, displacement of native peoples, religion, and industrialization. They lectured on both the good and bad in every case. The political science courses looked at all forms of Government, but leaned toward democracy and representative republics as the most desirable for guaranteeing personal freedom and free enterprise. Communism was called out for its totalitarian implementation in the USSR, China, and Cuba. The millions of European and Asian people slaughtered by Communist regimes were not ignored.

I decided to follow my family members and join the military. I come from a strong military history. I grew up around the military and lived over seas. I think just watching my father serve gave me desire to serve also.

Initially, I joined because of educational benefits. What convinced me further was to be part of a team with a positive influence and purpose. The reason I’ve continued my service is to create a better system to take care of Soldiers and be an example of a leader who inspires others to change the leadership culture (be a servant leader) to adopt “Soldiers first and mission always.”

Family business

I'm a smart man...damn smart but that said, I was a crappy student. I only excelled in courses/classes that interested me. I did not give a damn for math of any kind and my nearly flunking algebra for dummies proved that. I however, excelled in courses like wood shop, Mechanical drawing / Drafting and Architecture along with History and Geography. I was obsessed with flying.

My grades virtually assured I was not getting into any college. That was OK for me, I was fed up with school. An employer suggested I speak to their neighbor. He was a USAF recruiter. I graduated mid term of my senior year, spent the next 5 months working as a laborer and was in basic training the day after my 18th birthday. At least I was safe from being drafted. After basic, I found out how much I needed all those bloody math classes I loathed. I ended up as a B-52 mechanic and several years later became an aircraft machinist. You think you don't need math to be a machinist? Time for a rude awakening.

This all helped me get jobs after separation and I realized how much those courses were needed. I also learned that if you don't work, you don't eat. I am a smart man but not always a wise one. I was lucky....

My brother and I joined up together. He went medic I went legal.
My uncle was in the National Guard in NYC after 9/11 and went to Katrina, great uncle in the Navy, cousin was in the Army, grandfather in the Air Force during Vietnam then the Navy Reserves during Desert Storm, another grandfather in the Army Air Corps in WWII, a great grandfather in the Navy during WWII.

Why? Partially family, partially service for my country, partially I hated my job and all the worthless people around me. Being Guard I went back to that job, wasn't long before I begged God to be deployed and away from Civilian society. Not working that job anymore.