I'll add something my Dad once told me about the military:
"You are government property from the time you sign up to the time you leave"
He went on to say that you follow orders: you go where you are told when you are told to do so; you do what you are told to do, when your are told to do so, etc. Sounded pretty harsh to a kid that preferred to kick around the boonies daydreaming all afternoon.
"What?? They won't let me do what I wanna do?"

"No, son. And they will not
ask you to do something. They
tell you. And you
do it! Now mow the lawn."