I joined because I wanted to fly in the military, grew up around it, it was all I knew. My route to doing so was certainly a challenge, but I made it in. I've been very lucky to have flown several different aircraft types and flown at every single assignment. When my commitment was up, I was in a good place, doing awesome shit, with legit people. The plan was to keep doing that however someone else's temper-tantrum led to my trajectory drastically changing and sending me to to a flying staff job. Towards the end of that I artfully dodged a huge non-flying staff gig to end my 20 years. I'm wrapping up back were I started, flying 5 days a week, it's great. But I am old, my back hurts, and thus I am ready to move on to the next phase and spend more time with the family.
Zero regrets.