I joined the Army when I was a seventeen-year-old, and it was the best decision of my life. Once I graduated high school, I went straight to basic training. I thought I was ready, but I was not as prepared as I thought I would be. The first three weeks were the hardest, but I got the hang of it after that, and I was the best soldier in my unit, making sure that I stayed out of trouble and did what I was supposed to. Every...