Have you ever asked yourself, What if?

1SG Christopher Turk — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 21:36:40 -0500

Response by CMC Robert Young made Jan 24 at 2014 9:40 PM

CMC Robert Young — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 21:40:45 -0500

All contingency planning begins with "What if?' I ask more and more often as I get closer to the top of the food chain.....all it requires is a vivid imagination and a healthy dose of pessimism.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2014 9:45 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 21:45:46 -0500

On a couple of occasions I asked myself this the first was if I hadn't turned down OCS where would I be as an officer and another was when I had to go through an MMRB for being a P3 in hearing, I had the chance to reclass and decided to stay with the known evil of being infantry instead of the unknown directed MOS change by HRC.

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Jan 24 at 2014 10:28 PM

SPC Christopher Smith — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 22:28:08 -0500

YES, everyday I ask myself what if.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 25 at 2014 12:07 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 00:07:10 -0500

I believe that it is human nature to ask "what if?" I think that all of us have a tendency to second guess our decisions and courses of action. I think that important thing is "how" you do that. Do you talk about "what ifs" with peers, with your battle buddy, if you are a 1SG do you talk about them with your CDR? Do you talk to about it to your significant other? With your Chaplain? I think that it is important to think about how things may have went if another COA was selected. It helps us to continue to grow. I think that it becomes unhealthy if you dwell on the "what ifs" and they become a detriment to your ability to make current and future decisions.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Jan 25 at 2014 12:41 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 00:41:37 -0500

Nope, but I wonder...what if I did?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2014 12:48 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 00:48:27 -0500

The problem 1SG is that question is the deadliest question of all.

For Higher Echelon it is What if we put a unit here, but then what do we do there.

For Local Command Teams, What if we dont make the training real enough to make it stick in the soldiers memory.

For the Soldiers, What if I had done something different that day, someone might still be here.

That question is so absolutely helpful and deadly all at the same time, perspective is the only thing that changes from one side to the other on those scales.

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Jan 25 at 2014 11:04 AM

Lt Col Luis A. Rojas — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 11:04:54 -0500

1SG Turk; Yes, I do ask my self: "What if I would not have seen the Civil Air Patrol recruiters that early morning in front of my Jr. High School?" Let me start by saying that I am the first in my family to join the U.S. Armed Forces...I am the oldest of three siblings. All three of us joined the Air Force, my brother and sister followed my lead.

I was 14-years old and was standing in front of my Jr High School early one morning. As I waited for the school to open for the day, I noticed two high schoolers looking sharp in their blue uniforms. It immediately struck my interest so I approached them and asked them about their uniforms. They in turn stated that they were in Civil Air Patrol and were at our school to present the program and recruit anyone that was interested. I attended their presentation and joined Civil Air Patrol that day which led to my joining the Air Force. One of the best decisions I have ever made in my entire life.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2014 11:29 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 11:29:26 -0500

<div class="question_description" style="word-wrap: break-word;"><div id="comment_43993"><div id="collapsed_content_43993">I don't always ask "what if", but when I do it's 0300 and I should be sleeping.</div></div></div><div class="question_actions actions" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><div class="clear" style="color: rgb(77, 77, 77); font-size: 12px;"></div></div>

Response by SPC Christopher Morehouse made Jan 26 at 2014 12:26 PM

SPC Christopher Morehouse — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 12:26:29 -0500

Every. Single. Day.

"What if I hadn't gotten out"
"what if I hadn't hurt my back"
"What if that round had been a little more to the right"
what if . . . . .

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 12:34 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 12:34:13 -0500

It is human nature to do so. I think back to "What if I had gone to college first, after HS?" I would have been YG1996 and a LTC now, but when I was an Aide my General reminded me that I wouldn't be the person I am today. To be cliche, everything happens for a reason. We all are products of our life experiences.

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Jul 18 at 2014 11:30 AM

SGT Thomas Lucken — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 11:30:19 -0400

I think we all do it, even if we seem to deny it in public! What if is the past and can not change it! But use it to your experience to learn and move on down the road and do it different next time, if it needs to be done different!

A lot of times decisions have to be made on the spot and all we can do is hope we make the right decision, and learn from it if we didn't by chance!

Response by PO3 Maria Flasher made Dec 27 at 2014 1:43 AM

PO3 Maria Flasher — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 01:43:47 -0500

All the time unfortunately. What if I had stayed active duty? What if I had realized how much I loved being in the medical field and joined as a medical personnel? What if I had gone to college first and gotten my RN before joining? What if I had pushed myself harder to be the leader that I am now becoming in the civilian world? There are always a lot of "what if" questions, but it's about the decisions that you make when you realize that the "what if" statements of your past are no longer an option. It then becomes about looking towards the future and using your past, regrets and achievements, to better the you of the the here and now with that future in mind.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 11:28 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 23:28:19 -0500

Every night.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 12:12 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:12:37 -0500

I've made it a personal decision to never regret a decision that I've made. I may look back and assess what I should have done differently, and how to correct next time. But if I catch myself thinking "what if" for more than a few seconds, I stop it right there. There are a few what ifs in my life, and I won't dwell on them. Ever. And I won't regret any decision. I did what I thought was right at the time. Wistful thinking won't change a thing, and I have a good life that I'm happy with.

Response by PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster made Jan 1 at 2015 9:53 AM

PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:53:53 -0500

What if? I have done that alot lately, but if ya dwell on it too long, you will miss the present and alot of things-such as happiness and life.

For me, that is a question I have asked myself alot lately and learnt first hand what I am missing-in planning it is one thing, but to ask and dwell, well that is no fun. I have learnt to live for today and embrace life and hope we all can do the same-live life to the fullest without regrets of the past

Response by PO3 George Di francesco Coppola made Jan 13 at 2015 8:00 AM

PO3 George Di francesco Coppola — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:37 -0500

My biggest what if is "where would I be IF I stayed in the Coast Guard? I really enjoyed the Military and always ask myself that question.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Sep 22 at 2015 4:04 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 16:04:59 -0400

no because I have to know I made the best or right or fair decision....that way it is easier to look at my reflection in the mirror.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 9:04 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 21:04:21 -0400

1sg Turk,
Great question. I personally think to "What if" something is to be a great leader. I don't mean in common such way that most of the post refer to "what if". Yes, in life experience or life decisions we all could spend an eternity on "what if". The "what if" factor (is the way I view it), Especially when I was in Afghanistan, was the factor that was uncommon to the usually text book patrol. Here's a few examples to what I mean: "What if we exit the ECP, get to main street and receive contact?" "What if we are walking through the poppy fields and hit an toe popper?" "What if we run out of ammo?" These are the types of "what if's" that I don't think you can "what if" to death and are perfectly acceptable. As a leader I think we all need to carry that ability to think multiple steps ahead of any situation and the only way to achieve this is by the "what if factor" or the WIF.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 9:06 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 21:06:10 -0400

What if I answer yes? What if I answer no?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 23 at 2015 9:09 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 21:09:28 -0400

I do it all the time, and its not good for me since I can't change the past.