I agree.
I did not want to make it a career, but I can safely say it was probably the most influential time of my life.
I learned a lot, including how to be *really* responsible, and how to stand up for myself and take care of myself.
Having come from a Navy family (son of 30 year USN veteran) I knew what a chain of command was, what it meant, and why it was important. I also knew how to take orders and answer them with "Yes Sir/Ma'am", "No Sir/Ma'am".
If you don't have those skills by being a military brat, the military teaches them when you join. And those simple skills can take you a long, long way in life.
.....absolutely.....!! of course, I went to boot camp
many, many years ago, too... our recruit company lived in mortal fear of our Company Commander, a First Class Machinist's Mate....he made no bones about who was in charge, too.... in retrospect, it was a very valuable experience...hell, I'd do it all over again, except I'd probably stay on Active Duty.... in the Air Force, though....!!!