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What I Wish I Knew Then: Veterans Share Their Experiences

09 May 2017

From Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jacob Goff, USS George Washington Public Affairs

"I remember in ROTC (Reserve Officer's Training Corps) we were doing an exercise moving troops around on a table," said George Reynolds, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel.
"I remember in ROTC (Reserve Officer's Training Corps) we were doing an exercise moving troops around on a table," said George Reynolds, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel.

"When it was my turn to move the troops, I couldn't decide which way to move the troops. Our professor of military science said 'Make a decision. Do something, even if it's wrong.'"

Reynolds was commissioned as an Army 2nd Lt. in 1967. He felt it was his duty as an American to serve his country, but he also had other motives in mind. He wanted more confidence in himself. His first lesson: Do something, even if it's wrong.

"It's like a ship in the harbor," said Reynolds. "You can turn the wheel all you want, but you won't go anywhere until you get underway. If it isn't the right move, you'll get correction and do it right the next time."

He spent a year in the Vietnam during the war as a supply officer and got married when he returned to the states in 1970. His confidence was put to the test when his wife became pregnant with their first son.

"I thought,'I'm not sure I know how to do this!,'" said Reynolds. "But you learn by doing. As soon as the baby was born, we just loved her. Two years later, we were expecting again and I thought 'will I have enough love to share with the next one?' I learned that your ability to love expands, and we wound up having five children."

It was after his 12-years on active duty that Reynolds and his wife had their fifth child. By then, his confidence had grown enough that instead of nervousness, he felt excitement.

"[My wife] was very upset, so she broke the news to me gently," said Reynolds. "I figured, what's one more person? What's one more mouth to feed? We can handle it! That confidence has grown as we've raised our children."

In turn, raising children helped Reynolds through his Army career.

"I always tried to set a good example for my kids to follow," said Reynolds. "I wanted to always do the best I could do in the Army, and I wanted to instill that in my kids, too."

The Army played a massive role in making Reynolds the man he is today. Because of that, he urges others to serve their country.

"There's nothing wrong with being in the military. In fact, I recommend it to anybody," said Reynolds. "You can grow and mature in the military, whether you make it a career or just for six years."

Taking steps with sure footing does not build confidence; moving forward on uncertain ground does. Like many of Reynolds' mentors said throughout his career, do something even if you're not sure it's the right move.

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