Barry Albert:  

hough I don't work designing anything (way too stressfull...), the math still comes in handy and I'm really gratefull for the experience Military Basic Training was not too bad for me. I was the Platoon Guide for our company and was in charge of everybody when the Drill Sergants were not there. As a result, I didn't have to do stuff like KP, guard duty and other such duties. It was a lot of responsibility for a 17 year old, but I managed to survive and received a promotion for doing a good job. I went to Ft. Eustis, VA for AIT, where I was trained to work on helicopters. Did pretty well at that and finished 1st in my class, (got another promotion), so I went to permanent duty station as an E-3. I Spent about 2 years at Ft. Campbell, KY, and it was the pits! Probably the only highlight was hanging out in Nashville at Fisk and Tenn. State in my spare time. Got sent to Germany for my last 14 months where I had a ball! Europe is something else and I came home with plenty of stereo equipment, camera equipment, and tons of great memories. I actually hated the Army and it's way of life, so I would never have re-enlisted, no matter how much money they offered. But in retrospect; I'm glad I went because It gave me a taste of the real world. I had to go to my job (working on aircraft) from 8-4:30, Mon-Fri, had to budget my money, clean up my room and be responsible, real good lessons to be applied to non-military life. Also, I learned a good "sellable" skill, went to college on Uncle Sam, I've still got a G.I. Bill to get a house, but more importantly, the service really helped me grow up and mature....