How was your military service?

[Elozaa]

[Anonymous]

I wish I could say it was a good experience and that I'm proud to have served, but I can't. I was in the National Guard as an officer. When people ask me what I did, I say "I showed up", because that's all I did and that's all I was allowed to do.

I worked very hard to get into ROTC. I had to overcome so many physical and social challenges I had in order to be better than what I was. I was doubted, but then later on highly commended by our instructors because of how hard I worked and how committed I was.

Unfortunately, the National Guard decided that promoting incompetent, disengaged, and hypocritical "leaders" was more important than developing me into what I joined to become. For example, I had one commander who was very overweight, rarely came to drill, and had a very selective and inventive memory. His second-in-command just sat by and watched. They were failures from the beginning, but somehow, they made me their fall guy. The only "development" I ever got from either of them was basically just "you need to do better. Figure it out."

In my experience, "never leave a man behind" is a joke.

[Astarlessnightsky]

non existent. I refused and served in a hospital which was great.

[Dinklex3]

Stressful AF.

I met some amazing people that I absolutely adore and love though.

[genericname85]

laziest year of my life. never have been as fat in my life as well. a complete waste of my time.

[AFretiredTXn]

I had a great 22 years, but no actual combat time.

[SaoirseS]

Good! It was good life experience.

[SnowedIn]

@SaoirseS... if you don't mind me asking, what service?

[SaoirseS]

Army National Guard.

[SnowedIn]

Well done! Thanks for serving!

[SaoirseS]

It was my privilege. I’d have stayed in, but with business demands and being a newlywed I didn’t want to spread myself to thin. My husband is still in for a few more months.

[SnowedIn]

Oh wowsers on that! Well, thanks to him too. You folks are awesome.

[SaoirseS]

Thanks, I’ll let him know 😀

[SnowedIn]

Fantastic! Still miss parts of it.

[iSensei]

It would be in two months

[Byuser]

Cit must have been so hard

[Pterodon]

Loved it