It's been a good while since I've been asked the following question... "What made you join the military?" It's an interesting question that truly has several different answers. When I was in high school I had full intentions of going to school like most people. I was going to be an engineer and graduate of Penn State University someday. I still have a few regrets about not going, honestly. Then again, my life would have taken an all but completely different path. Nobody really knows if it would have better better, worse, or otherwise. That's what choices in life are all about. Once you make a choice you have no other choice but to live with it.
I met my first wife late in my senior year of high school. I'm certain at the time, not knowing any better, she was the main reason I didn't go to school. It was a match made in hell, too. I'm not going to go into the details here, at least not in this post. :) I had been accepted to Penn State, but my parents pretty much convinced me that they couldn't afford to send me there. Knowing what I know now about student loans, financial aid, grants, etc... I know I could have easily gone. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20 so they say. If I had gone down a different path I certainly would not have my 14 year old daughter or have met my now wife, Anne Marie.
My father was in the Air Force well before I was even thought of... in the early 60s. He always talked about what a great life it was and how he had wished he'd stayed in. I often wonder if I'd even be here if he had chosen otherwise. Certainly, he had a little to do with pointing me in this direction as well. I was pretty much sold once I talked to the recruiter... then it was just a matter of time before I would leave for basic training and begin my journey. After all... here I sit... 18 days short of 18 years later... still going strong. It's hard to believe that in just two years from now I will be speaking of retirement! I won't even be 40 yet! That's an amazing thought... and I still have many years to continue in another career! :)
I spent 15 great years in the Financial Management career field before I was forced to retrain into what I do now... currently they call it Air Battle Management. Sounds pretty cool doesn't it? I have really not enjoyed my 3 years in this career field until I started getting ready for this deployment... now it was really changed. Don't get me wrong... my attitude used to be horrible... and that has been improving greatly over time... but my desire and motivation to do anything more than just getting the job done was lacking (aside from going to school that is). Now... I truly see what we do out here... and it's really made me feel like I make a difference every single day as an integral part of my crew! Once I retire I absolutely plan on going back into Accounting/Finance... but until then I'm going to be the best I can be as an Air Surveillance Technician.
I also started going to school a couple years ago... and currently maintain a 4.0 GPA at Boise State University majoring in Accounting with a minor in Finance. I still have a long way to go to finish my BA degree, but I've been working steadily at knocking courses out one by one. Given the chance I plan on raising my course load to 2 classes per semester instead of one.
So... even though there may be days I second guess some choices I've made... in the end I'd say I've made some pretty good ones so far. :)
Peace, Love, and Poker
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