(09-05-2026, 09:03 AM)Green314 Wrote: @encryptedsyntaxinstitute @Refusal @Snickerdoodle
Lot of veterans here, is it common to join the military where you're from? What made you enroll? Was it patriotism, job security, or something else?

(09-05-2026, 10:00 PM)encryptedsyntaxinstitute Wrote: The Army gave me the technical foundation, experience, and direction that shaped everything I built afterward.

(09-05-2026, 04:46 PM)Magictouch Wrote: I'm a multitasker, and one of the things I do is sell online subscriptions and related products.

(09-05-2026, 07:13 PM)OversouL Wrote: Crazy to think that I joined this forum back in highschool and now I'm working as an embedded software engineer with lower back pain 🫠

(09-06-2026, 07:58 PM)Snickerdoodle Wrote:

(09-05-2026, 04:46 PM)Magictouch Wrote: I'm a multitasker, and one of the things I do is sell online subscriptions and related products.

That's cool, do you also sell physical products?

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(09-05-2026, 07:13 PM)OversouL Wrote: Crazy to think that I joined this forum back in highschool and now I'm working as an embedded software engineer with lower back pain 🫠

Lower back pain is a telltale sign of aging. Welcome to the "Unc" Arc

(09-06-2026, 08:10 AM)Green314 Wrote:

(09-05-2026, 10:00 PM)encryptedsyntaxinstitute Wrote: The Army gave me the technical foundation, experience, and direction that shaped everything I built afterward.

Never having served myself, my perception of that world was largely shaped by cinema, until a university classmate joined state forces after our bachelor's degree.

Seeing his evolution firsthand highlighted a clear duality. On one hand, state institutions excel at building operational self-reliance, emotional resilience, and practical life-survival tools. On the other hand, there’s a distinct cognitive trade-off. This friend, who was never particularly intellectually inclined, returned deeply conformed and overtly nationalistic. It made me realize that while the state equips you with tactical independence, it often exacts a toll in ideological conformity, reshaping your worldview to serve institutional ends.

I would be curious to hear you guys perspective about that

(09-16-2026, 10:42 PM)Snickerdoodle Wrote:

(09-06-2026, 08:10 AM)Green314 Wrote:

(09-05-2026, 10:00 PM)encryptedsyntaxinstitute Wrote: The Army gave me the technical foundation, experience, and direction that shaped everything I built afterward.

Never having served myself, my perception of that world was largely shaped by cinema, until a university classmate joined state forces after our bachelor's degree.

Seeing his evolution firsthand highlighted a clear duality. On one hand, state institutions excel at building operational self-reliance, emotional resilience, and practical life-survival tools. On the other hand, there’s a distinct cognitive trade-off. This friend, who was never particularly intellectually inclined, returned deeply conformed and overtly nationalistic. It made me realize that while the state equips you with tactical independence, it often exacts a toll in ideological conformity, reshaping your worldview to serve institutional ends.

I would be curious to hear you guys perspective about that

Honestly the current military now is Gen S and millennials and it's full of bad leadership and power tripping. However the core values you learn in the military are really worth it as it helps shape your life going forward. For me personally, the Army was always a dream of mine and I adapted with little resistance to the standards there because for a majority of my life I've been wanting to live to that standard of discipline and respect and integrity. They talk a lot about about RESPECT being:

R – Respect
E – Excellence
S – Self-discipline
P – Professionalism
E – Ethics
C – Commitment
T – Teamwork

For me at first, with my leadership it made me feel like none of this was true, but when I had my deployment to South Korea, and was around much more likeminded individuals, it really changed my perspective of the military. If you're young enough you can still join. The Army is the easiest to get into with all the waivers they'll allow you to have. Even if you dont feel like you can make it through basic or AIT or OSUT if you're a badass, there's always a way forward or a way out. It's all ultimately your decision to keep your promises and integrity or to turn away from the opportunity.
I love the military now and it was the best experience I've had that I would be willing to do again just to experience the time I shared with my fellow soldiers who were at my side.

(09-16-2026, 10:42 PM)Snickerdoodle Wrote:

(09-06-2026, 08:10 AM)Green314 Wrote:

(09-05-2026, 10:00 PM)encryptedsyntaxinstitute Wrote: The Army gave me the technical foundation, experience, and direction that shaped everything I built afterward.

Never having served myself, my perception of that world was largely shaped by cinema, until a university classmate joined state forces after our bachelor's degree.

Seeing his evolution firsthand highlighted a clear duality. On one hand, state institutions excel at building operational self-reliance, emotional resilience, and practical life-survival tools. On the other hand, there’s a distinct cognitive trade-off. This friend, who was never particularly intellectually inclined, returned deeply conformed and overtly nationalistic. It made me realize that while the state equips you with tactical independence, it often exacts a toll in ideological conformity, reshaping your worldview to serve institutional ends.

I would be curious to hear you guys perspective about that

Honestly the current military now is Gen S and millennials and it's full of bad leadership and power tripping. However the core values you learn in the military are really worth it as it helps shape your life going forward. For me personally, the Army was always a dream of mine and I adapted with little resistance to the standards there because for a majority of my life I've been wanting to live to that standard of discipline and respect and integrity. They talk a lot about about RESPECT being:

R – Respect
E – Excellence
S – Self-discipline
P – Professionalism
E – Ethics
C – Commitment
T – Teamwork

For me at first, with my leadership it made me feel like none of this was true, but when I had my deployment to South Korea, and was around much more likeminded individuals, it really changed my perspective of the military. If you're young enough you can still join. The Army is the easiest to get into with all the waivers they'll allow you to have. Even if you dont feel like you can make it through basic or AIT or OSUT if you're a badass, there's always a way forward or a way out. It's all ultimately your decision to keep your promises and integrity or to turn away from the opportunity.
I love the military now and it was the best experience I've had that I would be willing to do again just to experience the time I shared with my fellow soldiers who were at my side.

(09-17-2026, 09:06 PM)Oni Wrote:

(09-16-2026, 10:42 PM)Snickerdoodle Wrote:

(09-06-2026, 08:10 AM)Green314 Wrote: Never having served myself, my perception of that world was largely shaped by cinema, until a university classmate joined state forces after our bachelor's degree.

Seeing his evolution firsthand highlighted a clear duality. On one hand, state institutions excel at building operational self-reliance, emotional resilience, and practical life-survival tools. On the other hand, there’s a distinct cognitive trade-off. This friend, who was never particularly intellectually inclined, returned deeply conformed and overtly nationalistic. It made me realize that while the state equips you with tactical independence, it often exacts a toll in ideological conformity, reshaping your worldview to serve institutional ends.

I would be curious to hear you guys perspective about that

Honestly the current military now is Gen S and millennials and it's full of bad leadership and power tripping. However the core values you learn in the military are really worth it as it helps shape your life going forward. For me personally, the Army was always a dream of mine and I adapted with little resistance to the standards there because for a majority of my life I've been wanting to live to that standard of discipline and respect and integrity. They talk a lot about about RESPECT being:

R – Respect
E – Excellence
S – Self-discipline
P – Professionalism
E – Ethics
C – Commitment
T – Teamwork

For me at first, with my leadership it made me feel like none of this was true, but when I had my deployment to South Korea, and was around much more likeminded individuals, it really changed my perspective of the military. If you're young enough you can still join. The Army is the easiest to get into with all the waivers they'll allow you to have. Even if you dont feel like you can make it through basic or AIT or OSUT if you're a badass, there's always a way forward or a way out. It's all ultimately your decision to keep your promises and integrity or to turn away from the opportunity.
I love the military now and it was the best experience I've had that I would be willing to do again just to experience the time I shared with my fellow soldiers who were at my side.

The other one I always heard was the 7Ps:
"Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance"