I spent 23 years in the US Army on active duty, and retired as a Combat Engineer Company First Sergeant in 2006, best choice I ever made in my life was joining the military, i enjoy taking it a bit easier these days. My oldest son Christopher joined the Marines in 2005 while I was in Iraq, my youngest son Larry Jr joined the Army that same year, they are both still on active duty and are doing well, they have both done tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Larry Jr is currently doing his second tour in Afghanistan (funny, to watch the news, you would not know there is still a war going on)