I can tell you now that my view of the army pretty much came out to it being one step above prison

I can sympathize. My dad was a DI and was adamant that none of his kids go into the service as "he and his father and grandfather" had done sufficient service for the entire family.

I was surprised at how pleasant my JROTC experience was - nothing at all like going to West Point (from whence I evacuated soon into the regular school year).
That was *REALLY* like being in a prison for me. (Great school, though, for persons of a certain bent.)

k