Why did you join the military?

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 19:30:57 -0500

Response by SSG Michael Noll made Jan 27 at 2020 7:36 PM

SSG Michael Noll — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 19:36:52 -0500

Skill training, travel and service to country.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2020 7:50 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 19:50:13 -0500

LT Private RallyPoint Member - I joined the USAF at the end of my 1st year of college, because it was a Liberal Arts College and that just wasn't me, I think technical... Joining the USAF provided me with a great Technical Education, and I became an Airborne Navigation Systems Tech. Repairing Inertial Reference systems, Doppler and Search Radar, Instrument Landing Systems, Tactical Air Navigation Systems and more... Finished my four years and went back to college and achieved two degrees... The rest is history...

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Jan 27 at 2020 7:53 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 19:53:14 -0500

I was drafted in 1972. I had a wife and 2 kids at the time. I served because I felt I owed it to my country

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2020 7:53 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 19:53:21 -0500

Primarily because I needed a job sir. But it has been nice to continue the family tradition.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Jan 27 at 2020 7:56 PM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 19:56:16 -0500

It was time to get out of Hughes County, Oklahoma.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2020 8:09 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 20:09:50 -0500

LT Private RallyPoint Member Lieutenant, I wanted to serve my country as my father and uncles had done before me, and also felt that assisting South Vietnam was a just cause. Earning the GI Bill was certainly on my mind.

Response by SGT Kevin Hughes made Jan 27 at 2020 8:12 PM

SGT Kevin Hughes — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 20:12:23 -0500

Wow, I wish I had a Patriotic or other good reason...but basically I wanted to be near my True Love...so I joined the National Guard in 1969. I just wanted to get laid regularly. Okay, we were both Virgins, but we did some serious cuddling. But 1969-70 wasn't a good year for the National Guard...Riot Duty, National Teamsters Strike, Patrolling for snipers on overpasses...so in August of 1970, almost exactly one year after I joined the National Guard, I asked to join the Active Duty Army...as I told Top: "I didn't join the Army to point guns at Civilians in my own Country."

All the things that these other fine Soldiers talked about on this thread...really didn't dawn on me for decades. I did love the travel, the community, and the roof over my head an food- but I don't think I appreciated my Service until I was out of the Service. If that makes any sense at all.

Oh and Dad and all his brothers, all my Mom's brothers, and four of my six brothers all served. So yeah, the family connection is there too. Six Nephews and one Niece and every brother in law. Sheesh...we sure know how to sign papers. LOL

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2020 8:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 20:17:55 -0500

Psycho ex-girlfriend and wanted to eat Doner Kebab's in Germany. Not in that order.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2020 8:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 20:31:27 -0500

I joined the military because of desert storm. I was only 11 or 12 years old at the time. When the news was on, all you saw was the NVG image with tracer rounds flying around. I said to myself that was cool and wanted to do that. 12 years later, I got my wish...........

Response by SGT Aaron Tollman made Jan 27 at 2020 9:32 PM

SGT Aaron Tollman — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 21:32:24 -0500

This is a very loaded question. I wanted to see the world, I wanted to be part of something bigger, something honorable. For love of country, our Constitution, our Founders principles.

Response by SPC Joseph Kopac made Jan 27 at 2020 9:35 PM

SPC Joseph Kopac — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 21:35:21 -0500

Draft Lottery no. 103. The only lottery I ever hit on.

Response by SFC Terry Wilcox made Jan 27 at 2020 9:50 PM

SFC Terry Wilcox — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 21:50:44 -0500

At 17 I was a bit of a problem, I got a boot in the posterior, my dad signed the papers and I was gone! It didn't take long, I became a totally different person. After Basic and AIT I went home... all my friends were so weird. My parents were so surprised, as I had become so mature in such a short time.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2020 10:05 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 22:05:01 -0500

"ARMY"

Response by SFC Dennis Yancy made Jan 27 at 2020 10:35 PM

SFC Dennis Yancy — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 22:35:08 -0500

Was 1971 and Vietnam was still strong. I enlisted so would have some options as to what happened to me.

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made Jan 27 at 2020 10:44 PM

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 22:44:05 -0500

LT Private RallyPoint Member SEARCHING DESPARATELY for me. I found me, I served my country, I found my path, and I do not regret the journey.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jan 27 at 2020 10:50 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 22:50:30 -0500

To escape a life filled with bad attitude,poor life skills,problems with alcohol ,an all around loser street corner punk,all this at nineteen ,so I figured how bad can it be,... ..then I got off the bus at Basic,seriously though the best decision I’ve ever made.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Jan 27 at 2020 11:43 PM

SFC Stephen P. — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 23:43:58 -0500

Because I didn't want to live with my parents anymore.

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made Jan 27 at 2020 11:56 PM

SPC Kenneth Koerperich — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 23:56:23 -0500

Service to Country
Father Served
Education Benefits
Travel
Tired of the BS I put up with while growing up, needed a change of scenery...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2020 1:03 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 01:03:40 -0500

It started by wanting to earn my CIB like my forefathers, but turned into chasing the high of close combat with my brothers.

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made Jan 28 at 2020 2:47 AM

SGT Robert Pryor — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 02:47:30 -0500

To beat the draft. Those that got drafted got shafted.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2020 4:58 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 04:58:28 -0500

I make poor life choices.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jan 28 at 2020 6:07 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 06:07:08 -0500

I enlisted during the Iranian hostage crisis. We were all pretty sure that we were going to end up in a war and we thought we should sign up. My Dad was 27 years in the USAF but I wanted to join the Marines. You can imagine how those discussions went.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jan 28 at 2020 9:09 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 09:09:45 -0500

Fame & fortune.

Ya know, just like everyone else!

Response by SFC Marc W. made Jan 28 at 2020 10:58 AM

SFC Marc W. — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 10:58:06 -0500

The HBO series Band of Brothers. The experiences those men had that brought them together was equally true for me in Afghanistan. I still talk to several of those men all these years later.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 28 at 2020 11:10 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 11:10:28 -0500

I wanted a diverse career experience and got it. I was in aviation, armor, finance, budget, and worked with the Alabama NG for a couple years.

Response by FN Randy Bohlke made Jan 28 at 2020 1:27 PM

FN Randy Bohlke — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 13:27:30 -0500

I needed help growing up and learning responsiblity and respect. The Navy taught me all the above and then some.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2020 7:14 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 19:14:53 -0500

I had a low draft number plus I wanted a choice in what I wanted to do. So I signed up for the Navy Seabees. That was a good choice for me.

Response by SPC Richard Zacke made Jan 28 at 2020 11:00 PM

SPC Richard Zacke — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 23:00:40 -0500

My reasons are simple I always heard my father and uncle playing poker with other vet and talking about all the crazy things they did in the service...so from a very young age I wanted to join the Army which made my dad and uncle mad because they were Navy. I had plan to retire from the Army after my 20 years were up but misfortune took over and just a week after re-enlisting for my second four years I broke my back rolling a Cat D-7 down an incline...about six rolls. I was beaten between the hydralic tank and the control panel or levers. We were able to finish our misson and dig four more tank traps but the pain got so bad I had to go to sick call. They treated me for a pulled hamstring for nearly two months. I never knew how badly I was hurt till I was 21 yrs old when I had my first of 8 lumbar surgeries and one cervical surgery. the accident was in 1979 and I had surgery in 1981. Next week I go for another cervical surgery. I'm 100% TDIU since 1994.

Response by SGT Chris Stephens made Jan 29 at 2020 10:12 AM

SGT Chris Stephens — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 10:12:39 -0500

My parents couldn't afford to send me to college.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2020 7:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 19:23:37 -0500

Something to do

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2020 8:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 20:46:16 -0400

Service to Country and a chance to see the world.

Response by TSgt Jack Oberholtzer made Jun 13 at 2020 10:05 PM

TSgt Jack Oberholtzer — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 22:05:18 -0400

I was 17, had been on my own for a couple of years and survival was tough. The idea of a steady job, 3 meals a day and all that went with it was enticing. After I was past basic survival then the idea of technical training, travel and service to country kicked in.

Response by SPC Zach Lockhart made Jan 20 at 2021 1:56 PM

SPC Zach Lockhart — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 13:56:07 -0500

I reckon 45 of the 50 boys in my BCT platoon joined for the means to kill people legally. Didn’t matter who we when to war with, they just wanted to do some kill’n. Welcome to the infantry...

Response by SFC Bill Snyder made Jan 20 at 2021 2:12 PM

SFC Bill Snyder — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 14:12:19 -0500

I was going nowhere fast; high school drop-out. Joined the Army in 1955. Got my GED fast as I could, great assignments (some of a lifetime). Saw the World, literally. Retired with a good pension after 24 1/2yrs, Graduated from College, Retired Law Enforcement (Police as a Det Lt). Not to bad uh?

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Jan 20 at 2021 5:54 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 17:54:10 -0500

I had just dropped out of college and went to the downtown Boston military recruitment center to learn about the various branches, when a tall Marine Gunny approached me and asked if I was here to enlist in the Marines....So I thought.....",Why not??"

Response by SPC Ra Reece made Jan 20 at 2021 6:06 PM

SPC Ra Reece — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 18:06:53 -0500

I had a good job at the time but felt there was something missing. Had two uncles (1 Marines and 1 Navy) and my grandfather (Navy) who served during WWII a cousin that served in the Coast Guard and another in the Navy. So I joined the Army to continue the family service and found what I was looking for. It continued on with my son and 1 of my daughters both going Army.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Jan 20 at 2021 7:41 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 19:41:32 -0500

Didn’t want to work in a factory my whole life.

Also had an Uncle who was wounded on Iwo Jima and told a ton of stories. He was one of the lucky ones, wounded by a Japanese Mortar round.

Response by CPL Charles Lyons made Jan 20 at 2021 9:40 PM

CPL Charles Lyons — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 21:40:22 -0500

Kill Commies, lol!

Response by SrA Chizoba Nwadiogbu made Sep 6 at 2021 3:44 AM

SrA Chizoba Nwadiogbu — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 03:44:29 -0400

For maturity and the educational benefits

Response by SPC David Burgo made Jan 15 at 2022 2:49 AM

SPC David Burgo — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 02:49:00 -0500

I joined for family tradition, benefits, and honor.