Posted on Feb 26, 2014
Why did you join the military? Why did you leave?
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I sought a commission because I felt called to serve. On 9/11/01 I was in the seventh grade attending class in Northern Virginia. I saw how the attack on the Pentagon affected my community. My friends lost parents. I consider myself a Patriot, and as an able-bodied young man, I joined the Infantry because it is where I thought I could have the most direct impact on the mission, and on Soldiers. <br><br>Having served for a couple of years now, I've learned that the military isn't exactly what I expected. Leading Soldiers is the greatest privilege I've ever known and they humble me every day. <br><br>Our priorities as an institution, however, seem a little off-base, at times. The bureaucratic processes of this organization often seem to take precedence over the mission, and our Soldiers. Power-point slides, CUBs, BUBs and DUBs seem more important than executing tough, realistic training. <br><br>All of this has left me questioning my future in the military. I want nothing more than a simple career, serving this Nation and the honorable young men and women of it's Army. <br><br>I'm too new at this to be jaded. Am I just a young lieutenant who needs to shut up and get with the program? Or have others had these same concerns, and perhaps even left service as a result?<br><br>Please be professional and constructive.<br>
Service
ETS/EAS
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 88
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Earlier in life I was strictly chasing dollars. As I got older and began to understand and appreciate the more intangible values in life, I wanted to make a difference and serve. Joining an MP unit satisfied so many itches: Patriotism, military, law enforcement, brotherhood & esprit de corps, and relevance in an area of greater national need. It was more than I was hoping for in many ways and am so glad I enlisted.
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I joined because I wanted to do something that mattered.
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I always had a desire to be a Marine. I also wanted to do something patriotic because we were fighting in Vietnam.
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SPC (Join to see)
Vietnam those were the times when people realized that politics and military don't mix lol
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Family tradition and after college I felt like a loser being at home underemployed. Had to get out of my small town and the military allowed me to serve my country and myself.
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SPC (Join to see)
That's funny I live in a small town and don't work. Most of the jobs in my town are fast food.
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SPC Rory J. Mattheisen
SPC (Join to see) - $8 an hour is more than $0, you can always keep putting in applications for better positions while you are employed, but the larger the gap between jobs the faster your app/resume is tossed into the no pile.
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1. Had something to prove to myself (hence USMC Infantry); 2. Money. It's been the smartest thing I've done; put me on a glide path to success.
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SSG Keven Lahde
LTC (Join to see) Sir thank you for your service to this great country. HOOAH and Semper Fi
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Good Damn, Query! I was tired of School, Tired of the Benchmarks, I graduated High School Barely, What did the Navy do? Put Me back in school, taught me how to "Study" Taught Me how to be a Navy Spook. I am Grateful. 21 Years a Navy Spook.
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SGT (Join to see) My father served in WWII and Korea and died serving our country. I also felt that serving our country was the right thing to do. In addition, I wanted to help aid South Vietnam, which was a just cause.
My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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I was working in a job with no future for 75 cents per hour. I didn't want to burden my family any longer.
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Never got the hang of asking....Would you like fries with that.
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I joined because it was a tradition since the beginning of time for my family. My cousin Edward was a cavalry and artilleryman during King Phillips War. He was delivering the Peace Treaty when he was killed. Relatives fought in the Revolution. My Grandfather and uncles served in the Marines and Army (respectively) in WWI. My uncle and my aunt served in the Navy in WWII while my grandfather (Marine) went to England to build the D-Day barracks in 1943. My Uncle served in the USAF during the Korean Conflict. My dad served in Turkey in the early 60's during the Cold War and then volunteered for Vietnam but was turned down. My uncle was in the National Guard and was called up to go to VN but his unit was recalled at the last minute. My cousin Chris served in the USAF. My cousin John served in the Marines. I served in the Army and the USAF and then returned to the Army and retired.
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