For those who were or are in the military, did you go in with specific reasons or ideals as to why you were joining; did you join because of economic restraints or (for those of a certain age) were you drafted?

If you joined for ideals, such as to “serve your country” or to “fight the enemy where he lives and to protect the home front” or “because of 9/11” or whatever reasoning you had; were your expectations met or were you disappointed that things were not what you expected?
Where did these ideals come from? Schools? Peers? Government? Family members?
Did you end your service with the same ideals intact? How did they evolve or devolve or did they simply disappear and if so, what replaced them?
I am not asking whether your military service was good, bad or even indifferent but whether or not your own expectations of what your service was for were met and how did your service change you personally.