Sergeant Betsey Allain

Chicopee, MA

I was never really a great team player. I always wanted to do things my way, and then I joined the Marine Corps. It taught me how to commit to others and to feel pride in that commitment. I only served for 5 years, but they were the best 5 years of my life. I have lifetime friends that I would have never had the opportunity to meet had I not joined, and we have traveled to some great and some not so great places together. I learned so many lessons during that time that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I now no longer take so many things for granted. I don't complain about as many things. An 8 hour workday now seems like nothing, bad food is not an issue and I can sleep anywhere at any time. I have developed a wonderful professional network that has helped me in my transition back into the civilian sector. Again this could not have come about if not for the Marine Corps.