Columbia, SC
Fort Jackson, SC
I went in the military at 31 back in 2009. I was a Private First Class E-3 because I had 48 credits from Capital Community College at the time (the more credits or degree (s) the higher the rank you are when you are in the military). In all honesty, I was happy that I had the opportunity to pay off my credit card debt while I was in Fort Jackson, SC. When people hear about people who say that they are thinking about going into the military or who are in the military the natural thing for them to say out of fear, "You're going to go to war!" Relax I was in the Army Reserve (Part-time) and people who are in the Reserves or National Guard (also Part-time) rarely get deployed, so the likelihood of them getting deployed are slim to none to the following places: Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc., which was the case with me (I was not deployed). I remember when I first started going to Community College (when I was 19-20) how much I used to get letters in the mail from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, etc. I used to think that I would have to go to war so naturally that was common thing to think that way & I also was thinking about how really rough boot camps would be like in the military. You have to do push-ups, sit-ups, and jog for a mile but it is not all bad as it sounds.
I learned discipline during the time I was in boot camp in 2010 and realized the more I was a soldier how much I missed civilian life. Firing a rifle (which I have never done before in my life) was something I wasn't going to be doing for the long haul even after getting a general but honorable discharge in the military. Whatever fears & anxieties that you have about the military, you should think about it in a sense that there are so many brave souls that are enlisting both men and women. The men & women who are Active Duty (Full-time) are deployed after they go through boot camp to the following places: Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc. The men & women sign that contract have the attitude, "I will fight for my country and I'm willing to die fighting for my country!" I was glad at what I was able to accomplish while I was in the military. A lot of parents are in the military or have served in the military have children who are serving and who are military veterans. I've tried to re-enlist a few times in the military but I was told by recruiters that I'm over the age limit to try to re-enlist. I'm not discouraged at all & I would enlist all over again If I had to go in the Reserves or National Guard to earn steady income. There are a lot of people who are enlisting in the military because they are having a hard time finding work. There are people like myself who are actively seeking employment online. I enjoyed going to church while I was in Fort Jackson & I had a wonderful time at the soldier's conference (President's Day). In all honesty, the next time I'm in South Carolina again (whenever that is) I want to visit Ron Carpenter's church in Greenville. I really enjoy watching & hearing a good word from Ron Carpenter on TV (Channel 392 on TBN where I'm from) Sundays at 11:30 AM.
