In Preparation for this paper I searched my memories and even scrolled through my Facebook feed looking for events that really changed who I was as a person and only one or two events stood out. Throughout life we are often presented with opportunities and with those opportunities come choices. As Dumbledore says to Harry Potter: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” (Rowling). I haven’t been blessed with a great ability but I have been blessed with the ability to make a choice. This paper will show how my choice to join the Army and the experiences that followed would shape who I am still in the process of becoming today.
I grew up in a small town in Virginia, we didn’t have much but I had a few great men in my life that led by example. My grandfather, uncle, and other men in my family have been in the military and told their stories to me while I was growing up. This put the idea in my mind, albeit an incomplete idea, to join the military. I didn’t quite realize then that their stories were only part of what the military would offer me, but I knew that they were proud of what they were able to accomplish and I wanted to feel that way as well. However, as I grew up my opinions fluctuated and when I finished High School I went on to an Electrician Vocational Program. My professor in the program passed away shortly before graduation and I was not able to get my degree, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to life. Rather than spend another semester to finish my last class I decided that this was not what I really wanted to do. I made the preemptive choice to join the military.
I wasn’t sure what branch of the military I wanted to go into. My grandfather was in the Army, bu...
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...in the Army and I knew that my life would never be the same; I just was not sure how much. That day set me on a course that opened my eyes to the kind of person I could be: a friend, a brother, a soldier, and a man capable of making this world a better place. That day I chose to be part of something bigger than myself. I would never regret that decision even now, with all of the mental and physical degradation I’ve endured.
After that day my life was on a course that I couldn’t change but would definitely change me. The things I went through in the Army have made me the kind of person that I was hoping to be. It also left me slightly bitter and with a different view of racism, patriotism, and this country than I had ever had before. The Army shaped who I am today and despite the flaws I obtained, I grew up and became a man that is proud to have served his country.
I was at Fort Benning Georgia in August 1988 to attend jump school. I had done my basic training here four years earlier with Sgt. Smith who would be my black hat true instructor for airborne school. I was standing in formation at five in the morning. It was cold now, but Georgia has hot, humid daytime temperatures that were draining mentally and physically for a student from Northern California. I knew I wanted to be here even though there would be physical and mental stresses, challenges and the possibility of serious Injury. The students would be weeded out at every point. I did not want it to happen to me. During my four years in the Army, I learned that I like to be an independent, resourceful, goal oriented problem solver. In the infantry, I had to obey the orders and not think for myself. Uniformity in everything was demanded.
...tiring out of there. I plan on getting officer training at some point. I will do college when I have at least put 2-3 years into the Infantry. Then I will also change my MOS to learn some Technical Skills, repairing vehicles, stuff like that, for a just in case scenario. Something I can fall back on in case my plans after The Marines doesn't
The time spend in the military service helps the narrator establish personal characteristics which enable him to understand the world around him and be more successful in life. Being in the military has given him th...
The United States Marine Corps is a Branch of the U.S. Military that specializes in Aquatic warfare. That means that they are trained to fight from land to sea. They are one of the oldest Branches of the U.S. Military which dates back to November 10 1775 in a tavern named Tun Tavern in Philadelphia. They have been in every major affair in American history from the Revolutionary war to the now and upcoming events in the middle east.
Many high school students often wonder what they are going to do after graduation. Some might go to college, others will go straight into the workforce while a small amount will join The United States Military Forces. These forces include the Air Force, Army, Navy and of course the Marine Corps. The Marines are a tough branch to get into seeing that there are many mental and physical requirements. Being in the Marine Corps does not only mean being in combat, but becoming a better person. Being a part of the Marine Corps comes with a lot of benefits, but to acquire those benefits, there requires a lot of open minded learning and preparation to get there.
The military life will straighten you out, in the best way, make you responsible, intelligent, teaches you survival skills. Not to mention all of the benefits that come with, for yourself and your future family. It opens your eyes to a whole new perspective, you will see how different life is in other places of the world, meet so many unique persons, live through tons upon tons of exhilarating experiences. I strongly believe you will come out a whole different person, a better version of you. Stronger, braver, confident. It's a whole different world out there, and I'm ready to see it from the front
Joing the military after college isnt a bad idea either . Although , the advantages of joinging the military before college is more reasonable If one joins the military after college they will be capable of being an officer and making more money in their feild. Also you may have the option of deciding the job of your choice. Most people believe that soldiers are incapable of partying but that is false. During the military journey one builds a relationship with other soldiers , being that you are going to be livig with them they are now the only family you have. There are actually people who care for you and are looking out for you. In college , They’re most likely to let you get too drunk. One key point to this argument is that if someone wants to get the feel of the military they can join ROTC , and it’ll give them time to decide weather or not military is for them. Also , it may help them gain knowledge and skills on certain things that will be required in the
Although I grew up in a military family, I never saw myself going into a military career. Up until I was about fourteen years old, I planned on being a marine biologist in Hawaii. Sounds nice, right? Well, at the end of my eighth grade year I decided that I might as well join NJROTC, because all of my friends were doing it and it seemed okay. I have to say, looking back, I was quite naive. Joining NJROTC was the smartest and most valuable decision I have made to this day.
To really understand the significance of how the military shaped me into the person I am today, I must first reveal some insight into the person I was before I left for basic training. When I graduated high school in 1985 I was indestructibly ready to take on anything that came my way. I had led a somewhat sheltered life in that my parents provided a warm loving environment for my siblings and myself. Yes we experienced the normal trials and tribulations as any other kid, but we really had no negative or significant emotional events growing up that directly affected our development. Rather it was the lack of these incidents that gave us a naive outlook on life and all the responsibilities it entails. This Cognitive development prior to my experiences in the military left me with a positive outlook on life and its possibilities yet, wholly unprepared for life in its reality.
"A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living." When joining the military you must perform your best to protect our country. Tons of men and women around the world fight for the country and make a career out of it. There are three major branches and many different jobs to go with each one. Each have many specific tasks. (Robbie Hughes Interview)
In this essay I will discuss how my life led me to a career in the United States Air Force, outline my most important experiences while serving, and describe how I contribute to the larger Air Force mission.
Being a soldier was a really tough life. In the end I hated doing the same thing day after day with no change in sight, I despised the leaders that didn 't take care of their subordinates, and most importantly, I couldn 't lead my soldiers from the front anymore. I 'll be the first one to say that joining the army was the best thing to happen to me. I have grown so much as a person and the lessons I learned are invaluable. In the end I realized the negative factors outweighed any possible benefit I might receive from continued service. It was time for me to
[Actually,] I had so many reasons for wanting to do this. The first was for money. The military was willing to train me, feed me, house me, and when I was back home give me cash for college, "up to" forty thousand dollars. At that time I thought that was an incredible deal. Where else in the world could I find an opportunity like this one? [Yet t]he price I would pay wouldn't be worth "up to" forty thousand. Another great reason for joining the Army was to get in shape. I had visions about this ultra lean and strong body I would get from running five miles a day. I was also looking forward to the overall experience of inner strength, confidence, and pride in my country. As much as I was excited about doing something different and brave, I was also full of fear.
I grew up in a small town and after I graduated high school I wanted more in life than a 9 to 5 job; I wanted to see the world. I had a few friends that had joined the military and had come home to visit with exciting stories about their experiences. I noticed a change in a few of them; they seemed to walk a little taller, maybe act a bit more mature. This, along with the intrigue of life outside of my small town, drew me to consider joining the military. I met a recruiter in Lakeland Florida in July of 1989 and a few months later on September 26th I raised my right hand and took the Oath of Enlistment. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.
The day I finally signed up to join the military I knew I was taking a risk in my life. I believe it is important to take risks in life to move into bigger and better things. My first huge decision I made in my life was to join the United States Air Force. My uncle was the main person who put the idea in my head but my dad and my friends thought otherwise. My parents were divorced when I was young and I didn’t have the privilege like my friends to sit down and talk their decisions through with their parents. My father was excluded from the draft after he got in a car accident and I didn’t think he was very fond me joining the service. The main reason I chose to go into the military was make the decision to serve the country. The major decision in my opinion to join the military is to have the privilege to serve your own country. I think it is great for young men and woman to have ambition to serve and it can change a person into very motivated individual. My uncle and my mother were both very supportive and thought that it would be a great decision in my life. My mother knew it would be hard to see me go but was excited of the idea of coming to visit me in Texas. I knew it was taking a big risk being on my own but I was ready for a change in my life.