re: What motivated you to join the military?

I was 17 and my mother was driving me crazy, seriously and I hated school at the time and didn't want to go to college. I also grew up in a little town with absolutely nothing to offer. After I enlisted I found out I freaking loved it, wound up staying long enough to retire and got out with a BS and MS degree and a commission.

Now to that Reb guy: You know absolutely nothing about what motivates military folks. Many go in for all kinds of reasons, but most stay because they like their job, the adventure, the camaraderie, or believe it or not some because of patriotism. I still get chills when I hear our national anthem.