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>
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ETS/EAS
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 88
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SGT David T.
SPC Margaret Higgins - I was living out of my car and working a minimum wage retail job part time.
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Hated college. Hated Best Buy. Needed to get away. Joined the Air Force.
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SPC Margaret Higgins
That seems perfectly logical to me; CW4 (Join to see).
College is not for everyone. Best Buy is decidedly not for everyone. ;)
Joining the Air Force was a very wise move; in my opinion.
College is not for everyone. Best Buy is decidedly not for everyone. ;)
Joining the Air Force was a very wise move; in my opinion.
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I joined for the college benefits after two years in college, and stayed because I enjoyed it, was medically chaptered after 11 years, was heading to do twenty if not more.
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I joined the Navy because I didn't know what I wanted to do with myself out of high school, so I decided I go in the Navy and it would give me a couple years to decide. 24 years later I guess I had decided from the beginning, being I was always a fan of war movies. I retired because of High Year Tenure. So basically I was forced to retire due to time limits. I was the best 24 years of my life.
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Welcome to life in the Army LT. It's rarely perfect, and every once in a while you will probably think about doing something else. If you continue to feel that calling to serve the Nation and love the Soldiers you have the opportunity to lead, then you'll hang around. If you stop loving what you do and who you work with, then you should move along. It's silly to think we can change everything, but we can strive to progress through the ranks and change the things that are in our purview to change. At the very least, we can make an impact on individual Soldiers.
If you love being a PL, I would strongly encourage you to think about staying through Company Command time.
I'm pretty new to RP but not the Army...I would suggest in this forum it is probably unnecessary and condescending to suggest that responders be professional...
If you love being a PL, I would strongly encourage you to think about staying through Company Command time.
I'm pretty new to RP but not the Army...I would suggest in this forum it is probably unnecessary and condescending to suggest that responders be professional...
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I joined for the following reasons in the order listed:
1) Patriotism and the desire to serve (At 13 years old I committed myself to a lifetime of cheerful service in selfless devotion to others..WIMACHTENDIENK WINGOLAUCHSIK, WITAHEMUI; the Order of the Arrow - National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America)
2) See the world
3) Figure out what I wanted from life
As for getting out it was the following reasons:
1) Force reduction 48 hours to make up my mind
2) Too many junior officers that were there for themselves not to serve their country
1) Patriotism and the desire to serve (At 13 years old I committed myself to a lifetime of cheerful service in selfless devotion to others..WIMACHTENDIENK WINGOLAUCHSIK, WITAHEMUI; the Order of the Arrow - National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America)
2) See the world
3) Figure out what I wanted from life
As for getting out it was the following reasons:
1) Force reduction 48 hours to make up my mind
2) Too many junior officers that were there for themselves not to serve their country
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At my high school we had a seniors only study hall, (senior commons). It was more relaxed and we had a 40 inch TV that was always on. Late arrival seniors went to senior commons for attendance for the start of their day. I remember signing in and going to go sit with my friends when I saw the pictures of the first tower, then I'm pretty sure you all know the rest. Staff tried to turn off the TV but a student turned it back on. Classes stopped for the rest of the day. Went to the Marine recruiting office after school that day and left a month after I graduated.
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I initially didn't have any inclination of joining while I was in high school even though my father had retired from the Army after putting in his 20. When I attended college, I decided to check out that cool "Ranger Challenge Club" because they rappelled off cliffs, went white-water rafting, and did lots of other fun stuff.
One thing lead to another with each thing adding to my desire to serve. Next thing I know, it's 26 years later :)
One thing lead to another with each thing adding to my desire to serve. Next thing I know, it's 26 years later :)
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I think I watched too much "Combat" on tv. I wanted to be in the service since I was a little SFC. I never had any intention of getting out before 30 years and even then that would be kicking and screaming. I only made it to 18.5 before the "peace loving peoples" in Iraq sent some stuff my way that send me into medical retirement. I did NOT want to be retired. During the surge, they were so overwhelmed with wounded that they became pretty heartless. It was a great run. Everything happens for a reason. I wouldn't trade one day of my career for anything else. Now, if only I could move away from the Phoenix VA system, I would get the care that I need.
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