Nicole Talbert:  

itary Army Basic Training was an experience that I would repeat over and over again, given the chance. The drill instructors are paid to make you or break you. The training that you receive is applicable not only to the military, but to life in general. There are many lessons to be learned, and values that will serve you well in civilian life if you take the time to learn them. Some of the friends that you make in Basic Training will become some of the greatest people you have every met, and they will help you through the toughest parts of your training, just as you will help them. The same applies to tours of duty. You have to have at least a few dependable friends with whom you can speak freely, regardless of rank or gender, nationality or religion. Diversity makes the Army work as a team, and that will help you through the tough times. Whether your problem is that you're away from family and loved ones, or you miss civilian food and clothes and vehicles, your friends are going through the same thing, and that will help you realize that you are not alone in your sorrows or your joys. As members of the National Guard, my friends and I have the best of both worlds, both military and civilian. But the transition has been hard on us all. Currently serving in the Middle East for twelve months, we have seen everything, from people and vehicles blown up to the different way of life that these people live. The cultural and geographical differences never cease to amaze me, and I embrace them, because it makes me truly "see" people, instead of just the beliefs that they hold, which we believe to be "wrong". If you want to truly experience the world, the military is the way to go. It's not for everyone, especially if you have a problem with authority. haha But it's a wonderful chance at really living your life instead of just surviving it.