[Wolfsong]

I wish I had been a little wiser, I wasted a lot of opportunities. I should have never, ever, ETS'd. That was one of the biggest inner turmoil's that I'd ever experienced in my life. That argument with myself to re-up or get out to go to college went on for an entire year. If there was anything I'd ever been born to do it was career Army. I knew though that in spite of the fact the military claims you can go to college while your on active is an option, it really is not. There was no way I was ever going to pass some of my courses and do the things that I was expected to do. I figured I'd gone in the Army to go to college and I needed to do the right thing and actually go to college. Ah well I have a degree.....and a commission.....which I likely would not have gotten if I stayed in. (OCS was not really on my radar while on active). The Reserves and the Guard were good to me but it was never really the same.

I think opening combat arms will open opportunities for women. If I was a kid now I'd go in and stay considering the economy. I don't know. You guys know that I have 2 buddies, Tim and Steve, that I got commissioned with that have spent the entirety of their adult lives at war? Literally from the 1st grain of sand in Desert Shield. They both recently came home for good safely and amazingly in one piece. I just don't know how you would assimilate to a civilian life after that. I ETS'd in February and by the following spring I was enrolled in college. That was the most miserable few months of my life. I didn't know how to be a civilian. I can't help but think about the kids now that have been stuck in this cycle for some real time. I think that it will change an entire generation in terms of how women view themselves, conduct their lives, and raise their children.