What was the most uplifting/memorable/awesome experience of your career?

SSG Randall P. — Mon, 23 May 2016 10:21:09 -0400

Thanks for the input guys this is awesome!

Response by SSG Randall P. made May 23 at 2016 10:23 AM

SSG Randall P. — Mon, 23 May 2016 10:23:14 -0400

Personally was reenlistment. Not ashamed.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 23 at 2016 10:26 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 23 May 2016 10:26:01 -0400

Bringing my people home alive.

Response by SGT David T. made May 23 at 2016 10:34 AM

SGT David T. — Mon, 23 May 2016 10:34:04 -0400

The day I received my DD-214.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made May 23 at 2016 10:35 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Mon, 23 May 2016 10:35:09 -0400

Most Memorable. While in Desert Storm we where packing up and leaving our forward place of Operations. I don't remember where we were. I had on my ruck on my back. I had the night tracker in a ruck with the 8 bottles and 8 battery packs, for the Dragon missile, on my front. Flak, basic combat load, pro-mask and weapon in hand. Also had 2 cases of MRE's that I was carrying for me and the Dragon gunner. Chopper came in and we were loading up and I had dropped a case of MRE's. So I dropped the front ruck and a case of MRE's on the bird, turned and was headed back to get the other case of MRE's. I saw 2 kids, girl and boy, girl no more than 8 and her brother in hand, no more than 4 grab the MRE's and run. What killed my sole was that they where both wearing sand bags for clothing. The old green ones that probably blew out of a truck somewhere. Had the hole cut out for their head and arms and were hauling ass back towards the direction the came from, both carrying the MRE case. I figured they needed it more than I did, so just let it go. It was 2 days rations but I got by!

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 11:02 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:02:28 -0400

Bringing home my crew alive and uninjured to their wives. Secondly, every platoon/company of recruits I called Marine on graduation day.

Response by SSgt Dugles Cherry made May 23 at 2016 11:05 AM

SSgt Dugles Cherry — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:05:35 -0400

Catching a flight to the Xerox Center with General Mundy in "Marine One".

Response by SGT Ivory Brown made May 23 at 2016 11:22 AM

SGT Ivory Brown — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:22:07 -0400

My first deployment to Hati, operation uphold democracy. I was 20 years old and thought I knew everything. Going over there changed my life and how I think of other people who have less than I. It was a very humbling experience for me.

Response by MSG Pat Colby made May 23 at 2016 11:29 AM

MSG Pat Colby — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:29:54 -0400

In 1987 I was selected to be an Instructor at the newly formed Light Fighter Academy at Ft McCoy, WI. There were 21 positions available and I was lucky enough to be selected from hundreds of applicants. I spent 7 years there teaching Air Assault, Pre-Ranger and a variety of 11B Courses. That assignment required/allowed me to attend pretty much every High-Speed school available. Air Assault, Rappel Master, Ranger, Pathfinder, Jumpmaster, Dragon Gunner, etc... I saw many Instructors there come and go. The Standards we set were impeccable. If you were sent to a school and you quit, they found a way to make you go away. NO SLUGS ALLOWED! I purposely ignored several years of promotion boards. I was having too much damned fun!

On the down-side, it was a pretty erratic schedule. For all practical purposes, I lived in the office and in the Field for 8 months of the year. During Desert Shield/Storm, I was the guy that qualified deploying Guard/Reserve Soldiers with their AN/PVS-4. Spent countless late evenings at the Ranges only to turn around and have to teach Air Assault classes (or something else) the next morning. I'm shocked my marriage survived those years.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 11:44 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:44:59 -0400

Being a 1st LT and being selected to fill a major's billet.

Response by SGT Kyle Johnson made May 23 at 2016 11:47 AM

SGT Kyle Johnson — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:47:08 -0400

Crossing the finish line in French Commando School. Made me always appreciate every tab worn by another service member. Honestly did not think I would complete the course, but my team worked together and only 2 had injuries early in the course that prevented them from completing. Plus coming back to our unit, having everyone from the Col down in the quad to welcome us back.. (with beer!)

Response by SGT William Howell made May 23 at 2016 11:53 AM

SGT William Howell — Mon, 23 May 2016 11:53:19 -0400

Getting pinned with my SGT stripes in the City of Babylon Iraq.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 4:02 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 16:02:35 -0400

coming into Chicago, O'Hare and an OLD army officer in the USO office came out, hugged me and asked me to accompany him into the USO office, shook my hand, put his arm around me sat down and ate some snacks with me before my flight left for Cedar Rapids, this was at 0300...there was like almost NO ONE in that wing of the airport. Really, really wild. I of course, had my BDU's on, and he could not stop smiling. I felt alive, I had been flying the LONG way home from Seoul. Never forget that ever.

Response by SGT Larry Prentice made May 24 at 2016 6:50 AM

SGT Larry Prentice — Tue, 24 May 2016 06:50:48 -0400

Getting pinned with my SGT stripes by BN CDR who was my former BTRY CDR and running mate for the Army 10 Miler in 2007. By getting this promotion, I achieved everything I set out to do in the Army; serve longer than my dad did, CHECK; get deployed like dad did, with his old unit, CHECK; and attain a higher rank than dad did CHECK. 3 for 3.

Response by SGT Jaymes Bowman made May 24 at 2016 7:13 AM

SGT Jaymes Bowman — Tue, 24 May 2016 07:13:12 -0400

When I graduated from Sniper school and Drill Sergeant school. I didn't ask to go there but my 1st Sergeant and Company Commander sent me. So much fun. Also bringing my friends home from Iraq.

Response by SGT Jaymes Bowman made May 24 at 2016 7:14 AM

SGT Jaymes Bowman — Tue, 24 May 2016 07:14:29 -0400

When I graduated from Sniper school and Drill Sergeant school. I didn't ask to go there but my 1st Sergeant and Company Commander sent me. So much fun. Also bringing my friends home from Iraq

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made May 24 at 2016 4:20 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 24 May 2016 16:20:37 -0400

I did not have much of a career only served 3 years enlisted but something I felt was the most uplifting was when on return from Vietnam 1967 the flight crew put me in first class ,I was flying Military standby at the time,seems someone had missed their flight and they gave me the seat,always thought that was very nice of them,especially since the war was becoming unpopular by that time

Response by SGT Robert Zuniga made May 26 at 2016 6:45 PM

SGT Robert Zuniga — Thu, 26 May 2016 18:45:37 -0400

Being a first time go on my first jmpi exam at jump master school. Only 4 out of about 150. Still remember going back to my unit and running in to my first sergeant. Asked me if I washed out and I told him I was a first time go. Called me a lying raggedy ass buck sergeant. Then whispered good job and he was proud of me. Probably hurt him.

Response by SGT Shawn Dobson made May 28 at 2016 12:37 PM

SGT Shawn Dobson — Sat, 28 May 2016 12:37:51 -0400

going to korea in 2001 ...being a part of the 4/7 cavalry ...apache troop ...camp gary owen

Response by SGT Erick Holmes made Aug 13 at 2021 5:48 PM

SGT Erick Holmes — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 17:48:09 -0400

For me it was when I heard my peers say to me (when I was a SPC) congratulate me and said to me that I earned the SGT rank and we will do anything that you ask us to do and they recited the Soldiers Creed and NCO Creed to me.