Having spent many years before SF as a regular Infantry grunt. I'd say the difference in Army lifestyle is getting to do more of what you want to be doing instead of what someone else is telling you to be doing.
Hey, Sgt, no gore-tex in the PX,
- yeah, OK thanks I left my poncho in the bottom of my ruck.
There is a reason people say "Think outside the box." The Army's box is about one-meter-square and already filled to the max with stupid. Once you are in SF there is whole 'nother world of experience to search; until you trip over that box once in a while - with unauthorized boots.
