Personal Reflection

Prior to September 11, 2001, I had no idea about what I wanted to do with my life. After the tragic events of September 11 and talking with several people at each branch's recruiters' stations- I decided that I would join the United States Navy. On November 14, upon arriving at Naval Station Great Lakes, I did not know what to expect. Over the next 8 weeks I was taught not only things to help me survive the Navy but life lessons to help me get through life in general. When I arrived at boot camp, I was given a complete health and dental physicals to ensure I was healthy enough to endure the stringent activities that I was going to go through. Along with my physicals, I was given shots to ensure that I would stay healthy. After shots, I was given

To serve in the military is a noble act in one’s life to defend our nation and their freedoms. However, what does one do after the military to continue serving. This author states after serving 20 years in the United States Army as a human resources sergeant. He chose the profession of occupational therapy in a veteran’s hospital after he graduates as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) to serve the military and their families due to the fact that he is a veteran himself. After serving 3 tours in Afghanistan and understanding the effects of war does to Soldiers and their families. From reintegration after a deployment and transitioning out of the military and rejoining the civilian population. Find themselves under educated and unable

It was September 30th 2015 and I was coming off Active Duty Orders working for the Indiana Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next. When I went to Joint Forces Headquarters to pick up my DD Form 214, I ran into the Sergeant Major that was in charge of Recruiting and Retention for Indiana. I talked to him a little bit and he asked me if I had ever thought about becoming a recruiter. I told him that I have thought about it, but everyone I knew, told me that I couldn’t handle the stress of being a recruiter. Sergeant Major told me that the excuse I gave him should motivate me even more to be a recruiter. I told him that I would sleep on it and call him in the morning. The next morning, I called Sergeant Major and told him that I was ready to accept the challenge and be a RRNCO (Recruiting and Retention Non-Commissioned Officer).

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)

I was tasked with menial assignments and was dissatisfied with my professional standing. Once again, the thoughts of Dive School crept into my mind again and I thought I was being punished for my failure. At a pivotal moment, I decided that rather than accept my current cirumcstance as an inevitability, I opted to strive for greatness and work my way to greater opportunities. I volunteered for the jobs that no one else wanted and excelled at them to the point that I was recognized for my contributions and awarded the Army Achievement Medal within a few weeks. This enabled me to pursue a reassignment to a infantry brigade that had a CBRN Recon Platoon Position. A platoon position for a CBRN officer is few and far to come by. With 8 CBRN officers for every 1 CBRN unit leadership position, often a CBRN officer will progress throughout their career without being assigned a leadership role, spending their entire career on staff. Through my hard work and tenacity, I was selected to be one of these few lucky

I am currently a Mortar Platoon Sergeant for the Charlie (Cold Blood) Troop 3rd Squadron 61st Cavalry Regiment “Destroyers”. I joined the Army in October of 2007, and have been serving proudly for almost 8 years in a wide assortment of duties. I began my career in 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, we were soon reflagged as the 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division only a few months after my arrival to the unit. I have served seven years with 3rd Squadron 61st Cavalry Regiment moving from the rank of Private all the way to Staff Sergeant; serving on three deployments to Afghanistan and a fourth coming up this year. I was a 120mm Mortar Gunner and Assistant Gunner while serving in Apache Troop during our deployment in 2009-2010. I was then reassigned to HHT and served on the Personal Security Detachment (PSD) as the lead truck for our Squadron Commander during our deployment in 2012. I was then put into our Bandit Troop where I served as the

I joined the Army in July of 2002 wanting to be an Airborne Infantryman. After the completion of One Station Unit Training (OSUT) and Airborne School, I was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. During my four years as an Airborne Infantryman, I was taught to be the

I served three years in the Army from June 1988 to June 1991 as a Combat Engineer (12B). I then spent over four years experiencing civilian life and college. In March 1995 I reentered the Army with plans to make the Army my career leading to retirement. I served my first eight years in the Army as a Combat Engineer. I discovered a desire for a different career path in 1997 when I was required to reenlist for an assignment to Germany. While in Germany I sought out an additional duty as the Company Reenlistment NCO in a desire to assist Soldiers and NCOs

According to Anderson and Goodman (2014), transitions “can be a complex process of adjustment across both life and career” (p. 40). Many veterans find it challenging when they leave the military and rejoin civilian life. There are over 200,000 military veterans’ transitioning into civilian life each year. This can be a daunting task for the most organized and well-adapted person. Soldiers with multiple deployments and/or serious injuries seem to be affected the most; however, with excellent transitional strategies and support, veterans can make a successful transition back into civilian life.

After serving in the military for over five years and attaining the rank of SGT (P), I was sent orders for recruiting. This was not the path I wanted my career to go down, so I opted to decline the orders. Once I had done this I was faced with a decision, what should I do now? I decided I would try to get hired at a local police department. At the time I was stationed in Manhattan, KS and had to choose between Manhattan, Salina, and Topeka. Topeka and Manhattan were testing on the same days and as fate would have it I decided to give Manhattan a try.

PFC Lear, This is where reality sets in. You are moving companies and have a chance for a fresh start. I know that you may have run into some trouble on the 16 SEP 2015 but shouldn't let this define the rest of military career. The time for dreaming big must be balanced with an objectively honest self-analysis about where you are at this very moment, what assets you have to leverage, and what limitations are standing in your way. You have to ask yourself where you would like to take this or if this life isn't for you and go from there. I know I would like to think you for all of the hard work you put in while you were assigned to the S-3 Shop and hope that you will go over there and do the same.

So, in 2003 I joined the United States Navy as a means to try and stay productive in the midst of my lack of true direction. It was during my seven years of service that I learned how to work with a diverse group of people, developed leadership skills, and learned who I was as a person. I got married and started a family during that time and decided to leave the military and pursue a career would afford me the opportunity to stay home with my family and have a more active role in my children’s lives. I wanted to be able to provide better opportunities for my children then I had, as any parent

While trying to detonate and destroy the cache, a team member set off a prestaged bomb that killed every member of the team except Jeff. Jeff survived his injuries. A day after hearing the news I went to the nearest recuriting stattion and joined. On 3 September 2002 I left for boot camp and corps school followed shortly after eventually leading to BUDs. I began with class 249 and graduated with class 252. After SQT I completed 18D from which I graduated a SOCM Medic. I was then assigned to Seal Team 2, A Platoon. My platoon was deployed to Germany and Africa from winter 2007- spring 2008. I returned and was reassigned to B Platoon where we completed a deployment to Iraq for XXX mission in fall 2009- spring 2010 , there we participated in 100+ DAs. After our return I was forced detailed to 18D to be an instuctor, where I spent the next 2 years. Upon completion of the assignment I was selected for a Zilon Vail mission with NSWG-10 from 2012-Present. I completed one deployment to XXX with BHT/XXX. My only child was born following my return. While at NSWG-10 I was promoted to the rank of Chief at which time I was moved to operations where I currently

Lately, I have had to come to a very serious decision, re-enlistment. I have had over twelve years in the United States Navy. Something I am proud of. But as I grow older, I find myself disliking the system I work for. I understand the reasons we do what we do, yet, not the way we act with one another. This is a very hard decision, simply because of my girlfriend. If we move down the path that we are continuing, her and her kids will become my family as well. Taking all of this into account, I am deciding with the less safe path of the

I was still young enough to get out and start over but at what? By this time I had started to establish myself as a professional and competent soldier. I really didn’t have any marketable skills for the outside world and going back to school wasn’t really an option for me. So, I decide to re-enlist one more time.