I covered my journey back to civilian-hood in the "P" post, so why did I choose to join the Navy?
I grew up in a small town in SE Michigan. We had 2 elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. I graduated with most of the people I went to kindergarten with. It was very clique-y. Once we hit middle school / 6th grade - everyone was in their little groups and no one else was allowed in. I never seemed to fit in anywhere. I had a very small handful of friends (quality over quantity - I'm still in contact with them today!) but I spent a lot of time alone. We spent most weekends and summers up north so I was never home anyway. I also got my share of bullying, which did not endear anyone to me at all.
I don't know when I decided I needed to get out of Clawson, but I knew I had to. I loved being around horses, so I looked for and found a college in Ohio that offered Equestrian Studies. I applied and was accepted! Life was good! I was going to buy a horse and take him to school with me and I was going to start my own training stable.
Then one day at school, I walked past the counselor's office and a Navy recruiter stepped out. I locked eyes with him and my steps got slower and slower as I stared. I wish I remembered what I said to him, but it had to have been the easiest sell in recruiting history!
I went home that night and told my parents my new decision. They were surprised, but very supportive. I already had one brother in the Army and another in the Air Force. I went to the recruiting station and signed up into Delayed Entry. I was supposed to leave for boot camp exactly 1 month after graduation! But something happened and my ship date got delayed. To October, then onto the following March.
I finally left for Orlando on March 17, 1992 - not long after Desert Storm started.
#AtoZChallenge
yep!
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