What age did you join the Military and why? What motovate you? Any regrets?

[shield]

Family member was working at CNN. An Army 2-Star wanted a tour of CNN, he was the tour guide. The 2-star invited him to DC since he was CO of the Military District of Washington, he was living at Ft. McNair. The 2-star talked him into joining the Army. He's now an Army MI Captain and loves it.

[Americanexpat]

I joined in 1965 when I was a 18 years old. Signed up as an Infantryman.

Regrets, a couple of times.

1. laying in a foot of stinking rice paddy water with mortar rounds exploding all around me and machine gun bullets hitting the Paddy dike I was lying behind.

2. Sitting on an ambush position, waiting for some poor bastard to come down the trail so I could blow him away and thinking about my friends back home and what they were doing on a Friday night.

best part was the people. My mentor was SFC Bill Brooks, a veteran of Pork Chop Hill in Korea and two tours in Vietnam. He took me under his wing and taught me how to be a good NCO.

Best Friend 1st SGT Harold Board, soldier extraordinair, was in the Horse cavalry prior to WWII. Served as a combat engineer in Italy during WWII, served as infantryman in the 1st Calvary Division in Korea and two tours in the infantry in Vietnam, a good friend, great mentor and one hell of a man.

SFC Don Williams, had half his face blown away while winning the silver star in Vietnam. Still a friend to this day.

The Army gave me a home, guidance and encouragement. It taught me self respect and gave me the confidence to face anything life could throw at me.

My grandfather grandfather encouraged me to join the Army. His advice was Don't be first, don't be last and never volunteer. I guess that was great advice in 1916. But I was was first most of the time, never last and usually volunteered which is probably why I made rank pretty fast.

Overall all I couldn't have had too many regrets since I stayed in 20 years.

I would recommend the military to most young people, there are some people with no business in the military.

[BubbaBobTX]

Drafted at age 18, received an all expense paid trip to SE Asia....and help paying for my college when I got out. I would have been happier if they would have sent me to germany the beer is better.

[StoneColdTaxHater]

never served. I regret it to this day! I wish I had done my time and learned the camarderie that comes only from being a soldier. If I had it to do all over, I would join. Compulsory Service PING!

[Texican]

Flatlander:
I ran away from home when I was 15, went to Phoenix, joined the MARINE CORPS, they found out my age and dismissed me. When I was 17 I joined the CORPS, in San Jose, Ca. That was in 1942. I am 81 now (soon to be 82) and I have not only never regeted it, I am proud of it. I fly both the American and Marine flag in my front yard every day. I never finished high school, but did raise three great kids and now have 6 grand kids and 2 great, grand kids. LIFE IS WONDERFUL.
Thank God for our President and the wonderful troops that we now have.

Good evening and the very best to you and yours.

Semper Fi
Tommie

[GOPPachyderm]

I recall reading the Tom Dooley book. I still can't think of his recounting of communism in SE Asia without shuddering.

Thank you for your service.

[xusafflyer]

I joined the USAF in 1991 at the age of 19. I was bored with college and wanted to do something different at the time. My dad was ex-AF and my uncle was a AF recruiter. I found me the perfect job as an Arabic Cryptological Linguist.

I studied Arabic for 6 years in Monterey, CA before going to Mildenhall England. I spent 2 years in England and Saudi Arabia on the RC-135 Rivet Joint. After England spent my last two years in Tuscson Arizona on the EC-130. Four months before leaving service, I was sent back to Saudi Arabia for 2 months.

I don't regret my service at all. I learned a new language that has helped me in civilian life. I am back in college studying for a Business Management degree and minor in International Business.

For anyone thinking of joining, take your time and don't let the recruiter rush you. And NEVER sign the dotted line without knowing the job you will have after Basic and Advanced training.

[DarthDilbert]

I entered the Army when I was 17. I wanted to join ever since i could recall. I have no regrets whatsoever, and enjoyed serving my country.

[SERE_DOC]

19 the opportunity to travel to far off and exotic countries meet unique and interesting people, catch powerful and drug resistant social disease's.
Went to sunny Paris Island for a 13 week vacation of fun in the sun then when I dried out (after 4 years) I transfered into the Navy to grow a beard and hand out drugs as a navy corpsman and wonder of wonders I was back in the Corps as a field corpsman but I only spent 16 years in and missed it up until July when I came to Baghdad (my sons unit had bring your dad to war-day and I liked it so much I stayed) although as a scumbag contractor but I get to see him and hangout with hero's.

[GOPPachyderm]

I hate to sully this beautiful thread with the name, but I understand John F. Kerry once served in Viet Nam and possibly Cambodia (some question about the Cambodia trip.)
He got medals and everything. Now he's standing up for the soldiers in Congress.

Sorry for my horrible sense of humor. My husband joined the Marines during the height of the Viet Nam war and was randomly assigned to the reserves. Apparently the democrats don't consider the reserves as service to your country.

Thanks to everyone for their service.

[DustyMoment]

How many of you are shellbacks or bluenoses?

Bluenose. Flew an ice patrol in a P-3 out of Adak, AK. Went to Point Barrow, then flew down the coast. Got my Bluenose card from the meteorologists we picked up at Elmendorf.

Came within about 4 degrees of becoming a shellback, but our flight profile didn't give us clearnce to cross the equater.

DARNIT!!!!!

[go-dubya-04]

Volunteered for Air Force at age 26. Served for 4 years. Loved it but knew it was time for something else. Regrets: that the services don't make it easier for active duty to matriculate into Reserves/Guard.
I would advise any young person to join one of the services. It is an irreplaceable experience where you get to travel and work with people from all over the US and from all different backgrounds.

[BradyLS]

Entered the Army in June,1983 with a assignment to go to a Ranger Battalion if I could make it through Basic, AIT, and Jump School. I spent the entire summer in Benning and attended the Ranger Indoctrination Program for First Battalion at Hunter AAF (Savannah, GA) through the month of October. (So I missed the jump into Grenada by about a week!) Spent the next two years with the Battalion, (graduating Ranger School in June 1985), earned the rank of sergeant, and finished up my enlistment as a mechanized infantry fire team leader with the 24th Mechanized Division.

I'm proud of the service I rendered to my country, more than thankful they provided me with the motivation and means to secure a college education, and don't regret a minute of it. The military is not for everyone (nor should it be), but for anyone seriously thinking about serving, I say go for it!

[pettifogger]

17.
Idealism and patriotism.
Wanted to do domething to help society and to challenge myself.
Great education, too (service academy).

Me too.

USAF Intel Officer

Got out after 7 years when the Berlin Wall came down and the intel community didn't know what to do with itself -- a little short-sighted, as we all know now

Law school and motherhood in the interim

Now, as a Mom of 2 could not see going back in

If we didn't have a family, would STONGLY consider re-upping.

[Elderberry]

I had a 2 in the Draft lottery, but the draft stopped before I was called up. I had talked to the Navy recruiters who said I could wait until I was drafted and they would take me. Well at 21 in 74, I joined anyway. I really was not too committed at College. Wanted to go Nuke but couldn't get the ts clearance. Went ETR(Radar Tech). Was on the Lexington. My only regret was not staying in. Got out and boy was I committed to get my College Degree. GI Bill Came in very handy. Used it to buy my house as well.

Now my son is home on leave from the Navy. He just finished his Machinist Mate A School. When he goes back, he'll start Nuclear Power School. He and four of his high school classmates all joined up in the deferred enlistment program. My son and I other went Nuke. I am one proud Papa.

My daughter at 13 is now interested in the Navy as well.

[Leatherneck_MT]

18 years old, right after High School, never any regrets, made a Career out of it and loved every moment and every one of my brothers and comrades.

Semper Fi

[VOYAGER]

What would advise a young person to do these days?

While Military Service isn't for everyone, I encourage young people to serve our country in some capacity.

Wrote letter to Frank Knox Sec. of Navy 1942 saying I just turmed 16 Aug. 1942 and did not want to wait another year and get a release from my parents in 1943 but was thanked for my patriotic gesture but to try again which I did and was accepted no questions asked.

To shorten a long story, and to some very boring, if interested see my "ABOUT" service connected history as well as "most of the rest of the story"!

[agooga]

Yeah-- I have one big regret: That I never served.

I was an egocentric, immature ass for too long and by the time I woke up and saw that my country needed me I was too damn old. Tried to join the Navy (like my dad) a few years ago and was rejected for age.

So, now I do what I can to help the troops. These young kids are my heroes.

[esoteric]

USAF with a guaranteed career field at the age of 17. No regrets. I met the best people and experienced some of the best times of my life. That was an unparalleled life experience. Everyone should volunteer. I do believe military people have a greater awareness of our freedom and an appreciation of the dedication it takes to maintain it.

[RJS1950]

Dropped out of college in 1969 to enlist in the Marines. Met my wife, got out, finished college and took a commission in the Air Force retiring after a little over 22 years.

The Marines set the course of the rest of my life and my overall military career was very satisfying. Absolutely no regrets.