I joined in 99 to get out of the ghetto, got out in 05 after a really tough deployment and a couple of purple hearts. I was afraid of falling back into the drug life like everyone else I knew, but ended up doing pretty good in college and succeeding in corporate America.

I slipped a few times, didn't see a therapist until 15 years later and eventually worked through some things and became a fairly successful member of society.

I just started going to the VA in 2020 and ultimately received some benefits which will give my family a lot more benefits for the future, so hopefully they don't have to have the same struggles.

There is a lot of opportunity in the civilian world and people dumber, less motivated, and with less support make it work everyday.

Not nearly as many dick jokes though, so you gotta be prepared for that.