Military Members

I have learned how to become more aware of others ethnic backgrounds. I have also got to visit some amazing places. There are so many things that I have I got to do and see that I otherwise would have never got to experience if I was not in the military. I have also gained some life-long friends along the way.

I was a naive child who graduated high school and knew nothing about what was ahead. I joined for my own selfish reasons and soon after I set foot on those yellow footprints I realized life was much more difficult than walking to school. I learned about the physical and mental difficulties I had to deal with and also learned I would have gotten through these four years without these fine gentlemen to my left, right and especially Marine behind me who also had my back. We may be back in our respected states we probably grew up in, but I still know they are family and always will.

Proud to serve my country and my Navy! I'm thankful for the many opportunities the Navy has provided to learn many skills, travel the world and most importantly, meet and serve with a diverse and talented group of people.

The greatest accomplishment of my life was serving in the USAF. I was an officer, commander and served overseas for half of my 24 years of active duty. I served in the Operational Campaigns of Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. What I learned is Freedom is not Free. Respect, honor, courage and wearing a uniform of an armed team is an earned right of passage. I am proud to be a veteran of the greatest military in the world. God Bless the United States of America.

The military helped me learn about morals and learn how to build meaningful and impactful relationships with those around me.

What did you learn or accomplish that you would like to share that makes you particularly proud of your service? Loyalty, Respect, To be Humble, love for our country and family.

I moved to Joint Base Andrews, Air National Guard Readiness Center to help manage the multiple changes that are happening in the Cybersecurity Career Field.

I am currently completing my Doctoral Science Degree in Cybersecurity at Capitol Technology University and am using the Air National Guard Cybersecurity Career Field as my Dissertational Study for improvement.

Friendships formed in the military lasts a lifetime no matter how far apart of how often you see each other.

At 17 yrs old i knew in my heart, that military service members were not being respected in their own country. I cut my hair, and joined the Army at 17 yrs old to be a paratrooper at Ft Bragg, N.C. After 24+yrs. I was told i was too old, and time to go home. My time in Afghanistan was a blessing and evil in one. I had the privilege of meeting, and working and serving with so many service members. If i could sum up what i learned, and value it would be, mental strength, physical endurance, American pride. Don't give up, don't give in....

Being part of the United States Military is one of the things that makes me the proudest. This is next to the marriage to my wife and the birth of my daughter.

What I learned by serving in the U.S. Military?

This can only be answered by saying. "I saw, first hand, and well as participated in something that only you can free in your heart. The joy of protecting your family and ensuring that this country remains, as it always has been, the best place in the world to be born in, live and die in and for.

I started a Veterans Helping Veterans Archery Program. I teach Veterans and their families free archery lessons who suffer from PTSD or Depression. I am a disable archery shooter myself. I'm just passing on a talent God blessed me with to help other Veterans.

In my 13 years of experience I have had the chance to visit 43 countries across 6 continents. My service has made me realize that there is always a bigger picture and everything you do in the service plays a vital role towards accomplishing the mission. I will always be proud of my service and knowing that I made an impact in the world.

I needed a better Job and more education to support my family. I always wanted to serve and thought It passed me by. But with a supportive wife and family I was able to focus and commit myself. I had to get back into shape by losing 100lbs. My 2 children are toddlers and we are expecting a third this year. I look forward to what my future holds with this new life I am trying to create for my family and proud to serve along those who know what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself.

There was absolutely nothing better than knowing that I was working with some of the finest people in the world! All of us became family on a whole other level that very few experience. I'm proud of my service to our country and would do it all over again!

My take away from my 18 years of service is undoubtedly the quality of people that I have served with is second to none. My fellow service member's dedication, professionalism, and sacrifice is difficult to quantify. It inspires me every day.

I’ve had the opportunity to serve on a number of Coast Guard Cutters which are no longer in service and serve in locations from Alaska to Panama. I had the opportunity to meet people and experience things I never could have if I had remained home, and receive benefits with which I obtained a degree. Finally, I was able to meet the love of my life at my very first duty station who I am still with to this day!

I learned how to survive in stressful situations. I was in the Damage Control department on an oiler, USS Willamette AO-180. Our ship would provide other ships with fuel. On our way to Perth, Australia, another ship lost steering and crashed into our ship. My department had to be sure that there were no damage to our ship, no flooding, or fires. That stress helps me today handle troubles that may arise in my life. It helps me keep cool and determine the damage.

I love what I do, I get to travel, meet new people, have benefits wearing my uniform and working every day for my family and my "buddies" (fellow soldiers)!

I joined the US Navy when I was 19 years old in 2009. Shortly after I got married and then went to camp Pendleton where I was stationed with the Marines. There I learned brotherhood and really learned what it means to have someone's 6. I learned so much being a corpsman and felt amazing saving the life of one of my Marines while on deployment. Something I look back on and know I will cherish for the rest of my life. Although today after 5 years of service, I am discharged from the military due to medical leave and my head injury, I still love talking about my service and have such pride in our troops.

I served in the United States Army from Feb. 2007 until June 2010 at Fort Campbell, KY with the 101st Airborne Division, along with a tour to Iraq from October 2007 until November 2008. My experience in the Military will never be forgotten as it has changed my life for the better and I have done things I never thought were possible. Thank you to all currently serving and to those who have served.

The army was my family away from my family. I was deployed to Iraq in 2004. I learned to live and love and protect my family. When I had nothing else I always could depend on them.

I was an analyst in Military Intelligence, but I think that by far the most valuable lesson I learned was much more general with respect to working within a large organization focused on a single common goal. Even though there is a multitude of occupational specialties, operational units, and levels of command within any military organization, everyone works together with a single ultimate goal in mind. Rather than focusing on individual or departmental accomplishments as an end result, those same accomplishments are instead the means to a greater end, which is the success of the entire organization. This same principal can be applied to everything we do in life--personal or professional and big or small-so that by giving maximum effort locally we can achieve maximum results globally. I always believed in that principal and have since shared it successfully throughout 30 years of civilian employment in a wide variety of industries.

I joined the army out of high school. As long as I could remember I always wanted to join the military. I was stationed at Fort Drum in New York with the 10th Mountain Division. While stationed there I deployed to Iraq twice. One for 12 months and the second for 15 months. My time in service was worth it for the experience, the brothers for a lifetime, and protecting my home, family, and country.

I joined the Army at 17 in 1981 and have performed several jobs in the last 33 yrs. As a 'weekend warrior' I started in Public Affairs writing and editing stories as well as taking pictures. After a few years I changed positions to a more administrative skill based arena and helped Soldiers maintain their records etc. As a fulltime employee(since 1994) of the Vermont Army National Guard I have worked in the computer field for 10 years, admin. and logistics for the National Guard Biathlon program for 7 years and currently am working with new recruits preparing them for Basic Training. Every day is an adventure. I deployed in 2011 to Kosovo and served initially as Public Affairs NCOIC and then further as Joint Visitor's Bureau NCOIC. I have traveled throughout Europe, North America, South America and more recently Africa with the military. I have been fortunate.

I join the military and got a chance to travel and see the world. While doing this I didnt get a chance to see alot of concerts and sporting events. But now with TicketClub I can finally take the time to enjoy a few events.

I deployed to Iraq in 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as Operation New Dawn. We simultaneously trained and augmented Iraqi Border forces along a major Iraqi border crossing with Iran. The friendships I built with my foreign counterparts and knowing that they would develop in a competent fighting force were the highlights of my deployment.

I enlisted in 2012 and in such a short time I have learned what it means to find friendships and bonds, with people that would truly take a bullet for you. The military brings people together in a manner that is unlike any other. The training and time spent away from my family taught me independence, discipline and a gave me overall a better head on my shoulders and I am grateful for that. Being that 1% gives me a sense of pride I never had before and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I'm a youngin' but I am proud to be a soldier and continue to strive towards excellence for this country.

Joining the Marines right out of high school, I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. I knew I wanted to fight for our country and I wanted to make my family and friends proud. I also wanted to get an education. The Marine Corps helped me accomplish these things. A college degree was something I always thought was important growing up. I was able to attend the school I wanted (USC) and earn my Bachelor’s degree with some financial assistance through the GI Bill. I was also deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom, and it was an experience I will never forget. Seeing different parts of the world opened up my eyes to what we actually fight for; not just for our freedom in the USA, but freedom throughout the world. I love this country and I love the support we military members receive from companies like Ticket Club.

I didn’t do much cooking because me and another young guy Jefferson were considered the kids to the older cooks.  We did more serving than cooking. So I can’t really make a meal except by recipe!

One of the main reasons I stayed in the service was the camaraderie. I still keep in touch with my brothers that I was in Basic Training with at Fort Knox, Ky. Nothing can prepare you for the things you are going to encounter in the Army but, in the same breath you become so close to the ones you are going through it with and through that you are successful together. I wouldn't trade my experience for the world.

The army has taught me many things, but one that stands out most is life. Being thankful to be alive puts every choice I make into perspective.

I'm a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army, an institution I love and respect, and one that has made me a better man. The Army has taught me how to relate to people of various ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic classes. It has taught me how to stay calm under fire and in other stressful situations (an especially handy lesson says my wife). It has taught me how to exact discipline and how to approach people with different personalities in different ways. All these lessons I learned in the army had made me a better friend, a better husband and even a better father.

A huge thing that I learned from being in the Army was becoming familiar with diversity. Growing up in a small town, I wasn’t exposed to very many different types of people. My Army training and service really opened up my eyes in a positive way. The military brings together people from different backgrounds (people of different ages, races, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc.), all working together for a common goal, like no other organization ever could. In terms of accomplishments, I will always be proud of my year spent in western Iraq, and also helping out people here at home after natural disasters struck.

I served in the United States Army from 18 September 2008 until 23 February 2014 when I was medically retired from Active Duty service at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. I was assigned to the 289th Military Police Company, 4th Battalion, 3d Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard. “The Official Escort to the President of the United States” During my time in The Old Guard I was privileged to be a part of countless missions involving Foreign Dignitaries, Top Senior Military Officials, US Secret Service and other agencies. I was a part of the security detail for Senator Kennedy’s funeral and many General Officer retirements. Our unit also provided Security for all State of the Union addresses from Arlington National Cemetery, and the ultimate honor of placing flags on every headstone (approx. 300,000) within the cemetery walls on Memorial Day for four consecutive years. I am very proud of my unit and the people I served with. A special thank you to my fellow veterans of all conflicts and those that continue to Assist, Protect, and Defend our nation both in Peace time and War time. I am ever grateful to be a veteran of the world’s best military.