Between active and the reserves, I served in the Army for sixteen years. I attained the rank of Sergeant First Class, E-7.
A few years after I left the service, I was approached by an acquaintance at work who wondered if I would like to join the "militia?" At first it sounded interesting until he asked what my rank had been. When I told him I was an SFC he said I could join as a major. That set off alarm bells as I had never heard of even the most seasoned NCO ever getting promoted to officer level beyond First Lieutenant.
I begged off the offer and pretty much forgot about it.
A year later I took my family to a parade. I saw a military unit approaching and as they drew closer saw that it was a bunch of rag tag, beer belly, out of step troops in mismatched uniforms. The only thing they had in common was lots of fire power. And right in the middle was the guy who tried to recruit me.
I heard a few years later that he had been arrested for attempted murder. He discovered his estranged wife had a boyfriend. He got the boyfriend's address, put on his BDU's (Battle Dress Uniform), grabbed his AR-15, and set up an ambush in the guy's front yard.
Luckily, a neighbor across the street spotted him setting up and called the police.