What motivates a person to serve his country?  The reasons are as diverse as the people who serve their country and the roles in which they serve.  Some serve out of a sense of adventure or idealism.  Perhaps a few serve because they are ambitious, and hope to rise in a position of power where they can initiate some sort of social reform.  Others may be more humble, and serve their country simply because they look at it as just another job.  I have my own motivations, and I am sure many of my colleagues share them.  I serve my country out of a family tradition of patriotism and service, and professional and personal fulfillment.

My family has a proud tradition of military service dating back at least three generations.  As is common with other stories of the American Dream, each generation has built on the achievements of the prior one.  My grandfather and his brother were conscripted enlisted men, my father and his brother-in-law were volunteer non-commissioned officers, and my brother and I are commissioned officers.  My grandfather, PFC Manuel Valadez, served as a coastal artilleryman during the Second World War.  His brother also served in that war, and both were in the European Theater of Operations.  My father, Machinist’s Mate 1 George Valadez dropped out of college to enlist in the Navy during the Vietnam War, where he served in the engine room of a missile cruiser.  One of my uncles also served in Vietnam.  I have proudly served in the Balkans and Iraq as an Armor Officer.  I have also been forward-stationed to Germany and to South Korea.  My brother also served in Iraq as an Ordnance lieutenant, filling the role of a Battalion Motor Officer.    

This common thread ties our family’s generations together in a unique way that most families outside of military service cannot understand.  Perhaps one of my most treasured possessions is a photograph of my grandfather and his brother, photographed on the streets of Paris where they met by chance during the latter stages of World War II.  It hangs on my study’s wall above another photograph – that of me and my brother, whom I met on Balad Air Base outside of Balad, Iraq, during the transition from OIF 1 to OIF 2.  Our family has always been proud to serve as a way to give back to the country that has given us so much. 

Also, the personal, professional and academic growth opportunities of a military career have no parallel.  My career has given me a level of professional fulfillment that would be difficult to attain in any corporate or business environment.  Growing up, I was always enamored with making a difference to a group cause.  Naturally, I was drawn to extracurricular activities such athletics, band, and student government.  Now as an adult, I serve my nation and as such, feel a part of something much bigger than myself.  I find this much more fulfilling than toiling away in a business environment with the purpose of increasing the wealth of anonymous stockholders.  No other career would have given me the opportunity to be in charge of 15 other people and millions of dollars of equipment immediately after graduation.  As my career has progressed, I have always served in positions of increasing levels of responsibility, ensuring challenging me to grow professionally.  There have been opportunities for academic growth as well – the Army gave me full funding to earn a graduate degree through the Advanced Civilian Schooling program.  My family has always placed great value on education, and so I consider the additional years of obligated service to be a bargain on my end. 

Additionally, the pay and health care benefits have given me and my family a modest, yet comfortable lifestyle.  Also important is the Army’s attempts to be a family-oriented institution.  To be certain, my family and I have made significant sacrifices in time spent away from another during deployments, and the possibility of my family enduring an ultimate sacrifice is always present.  But the Army has done its best to make up for these sacrifices with programs and activities for family members, flexible time during duty hours to attend to family needs, and generous leave time.  And in a time when other families worry about health care, the security of having my family’s health care taken care of is a great relief.

Perhaps the greatest honor of my career was commanding Soldiers as a company commander.  They were a reflection of America – a diverse collection of our nation’s finest youth coming from every part of the country and from all walks of life.  I was always humbled and awestruck by skill of my officers, strength of my NCOs, and ingenuity of my Soldiers as they tackled any mission set before them.  Leading them was a privilege.  This experience alone has made it worthwhile to serve my nation.  

            There are a myriad of opportunities for service to our country.  Many serve their country outside the military.  Some serve their country by serving their communities as police officers, firefighters, or paramedics.  Others serve their country through public service as civilian employees of the government.  I recognize and honor these individuals for their service for all play an important role in our country’s success.  As for me, I am proud of my service in the military.  I know that my military career must one day end, but that service to my country does not necessarily end with my retirement.  My reasons for service – a proud family tradition and a professionally rewarding experience – will still resonate with me, and I look forward to continued service to my country.

MAJ T. Valadez

Student, Command and General Staff School
US Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, VA
“The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Dept. of the Army, Dept. of Defense, or the US Government.”