>> I think - I think the military is - the military is a calling.
If you want to look at it as a career, you have to embrace the fact that it is a calling
and that it will dominate your life.
You will not have freedoms in the same way people have in the civilian world.
You will not have - like, weekends and things, you may not have them.
Time off, I mean, you do get leave; but it might be that, you know, your leave gets canceled
and you have to go, you know, do your job.
That's the nature of the beast.
But a lot of people underestimate how overwhelming it becomes.
Like, it's very hard to maintain a life outside the military,
like a social life outside the military when you're in.
And so I tell people right up, if you're thinking about joining the military,
be ready that all your friends are going to be military.
All of your cowork - you know, all of your social circles are going
to be military or military related.
It really is almost like a cult in that sense.
But it's extremely rewarding.
And if you're the kind of person that you just want to push yourself and sort
of see what you're - not see what you're made out of.
That sounds very cliché, but kind of see where your limits are both in terms of mentally
and physically, I also encourage that.
I don't think I would be nearly as developed as a human being and as a citizen of this country
if I hadn't spent 4 1/2 years in the military.
It just taught me lessons and made me appreciate things
that no other institution in America can teach you.
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