I serve my country, because it provides a sense of purpose to my life. At some point in our lives, we all find ourself searching for the meaning of life. We sit outside and stare up at the stars; contemplate the vastness of the universe ( and our relative insignificance), and ask ourselves the age old question, “Why am I here?” For some people this has a religious or spirtual answer, but for me I have created the answer through service to my country. I remember when I first figured this out. It was during the summer between my junior and senior years of high school, and my mother and I were taking a tour of universities to get a better feel of where I should apply to attend college. In a flurried week-long trip, we visited Harvard, Yale, MIT, and a couple of other schools that I have now completely forgotten. I enjoyed the tours and the talks with current students at each of these places, but it wasn’t until we visited the United States Military Academy at West Point, that I found what I was looking for. From the moment we drove through the gates, I had decided that I wanted to attend college at West Point. From that point forward, contrary to what I told my mom, I never even applied to another school. I felt a connection and a path leading to the sense of purpose that I had been looking for at West Point. Through my service to our country, I feel part of something greater than myself.
While attending West Point, I was introducted to and I am constanstly reminded of another resason that I serve my country; the absolutely amazing people who are doing the same thing. I enjoy working with people who are committed to the same ideals as I am. Sometimes in the shuffle of countless emails and lengthy meetings, I lose sight of the truly amazing people that I am surrounded by; but some event always draws me back in. The most recent incident occurred at the retirement of a good friend of mine. He gave a deep and thoughtful farewell speech, issuing a wide swath of thank yous, scattered with a few statements that really hit home and allowed me to re-remember that it is the people that make the units we all serve in great. He told stories about fellow soldiers who had moved heaven and earth to help him in his times of greatest need, and relayed how everytime he was amazed at what other soldiers were willing to do to help a fellow soldier. I always say that the greatest thing about the military is that you will pick up the radio in the middle of some cold and rainy night; call up someone you have never met before and ask them to come out of their warm and dry tent and help you do something difficult and probably dangerous… and expect them to actually show up to help you, since 99 times out of 100, they will. Being able to work alongside of some of the most amazing people this country has to offer is another reason why I serve my country.
As I have gotten older and have had children of my own, another reason for my service to my country has come into being; the desire to set an example for my children. Unfortunately, I think that the modern world is full of examples of how to live your life for yourself, but very few role models of selfless service, what it means to serve others, and be part of something greater than yourself. There are countless professional athletes, musicisans, movie stars and other entertainers who offer a “good” role model of how to serve yourself, but there are few role models out there that get any press coverage who are selflessly serving others. It probably is a sign of the times, that the fact Lindsay Loughan is out of rehab appears to be of greater concern to most Americans than what is occuring in Iraq. I want my daughters to understand that there is more to life than self promotion and the pursuit of wealth for wealth’s sake; and the best way that I think I can teach them this is by showing them through my self less serve.
My service to our country has provided me the opportunity to repay our country for the opportunities it has provided to me and my family. My grandparents emigrated to this country when they were small children. This country presented them so many opportunities which they were able to take advantage of to create a better life for their children. My parents passed this down to me and allowed me the advantages that I have and can pass down to my children. I truly believe and try to live by the quote “For to whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (King James Bible - Luke 12). Through my service to our country I feel that I am able to do this.
I choose to write about this topic since I thought it would be very easy to do. Unfortunately as I got into it, I realized how sometimes it can be very difficult to put into words that which we defines us. Saying that I served my country since it provided me with a sense of purpose was an easy answer, but even though the other three stem from this root purpose, it was a little harder to articulate those. Working with amazing people who are focusing on serving their country, providing a role model for my children, and paying back this country for the opportunities that I have been provided are all reasons why I serve my country.
Major Todd Vydareny
Student, Command and General Staff School
US Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, VA
The views expressed in this blog are those of tthe author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the US Government.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Why I Serve My Country
Captain Wayne A. Sanders
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this "blog" are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Whether serving as a police officer, fireman, public official, or a member of the Armed Forces, serving your country comes at a great price. You and your loved ones make sacrifices in order to pursue a life of service to this great nation. These sacrifices can take many forms, including time away from home, financial hardships, and risks to personal safety. For these reasons and others not mentioned, only select individuals choose this path. In fact, many people ask me why I have decided to dedicate my life to serving in the United States Army. My answer may be surprising. I serve my country as a member of the Army because I believe the Army to be an honorable organization that protects freedom and democracy. I also serve my country because I feel that service to your country is a vital part of active citizenship. And finally, I continue my service in the military because I want my children to live in a safer world than I have lived. I am blessed to be a citizen of the United States of America and I am honored that I can serve in its defense.
The United States is arguably the greatest nation that has ever graced the global stage. It is also the only current superpower in the world. Holding such a distinction comes with great risk. Many other countries view the United States as an aggressive capitalistic society that constantly pushes their values of freedom and democracy upon other nations. This potentially threatens regional stability throughout the world and makes the United States a logical target for attack. The United States Army and other services of the Armed Forces have been entrusted with the defense of the nation. I can think of no other time in our nation’s history where national security has been more paramount. Because of rogue nation states such as Iran, China, and North Korea, the Armed Forces must prepare for conventional warfare against these formidable potential adversaries. However, given the current security threat posed by non-state actors such as al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah, the military must also prepare for irregular warfare against threats that do not acknowledge borders or rules of engagement. Therefore, as an intelligence professional, I choose to serve my country to counter both of these threats and protect freedom and democracy. If my analysis and intelligence collection skills can help keep Americans safe throughout the world, I will use them. I would rather be a player in the game of national defense than a spectator wondering who the players are.
Watching the news does not always guarantee that you are informed, nor does it afford you the opportunity to make a difference. I serve my country because I wish to make a positive difference. Many citizens of the United States watch the news and believe they have the answers to all of the country’s problems. However, all they ever do about it is rant to their neighbors or whoever will listen to them at the grocery store. Very few people actually choose to participate in the government process. I believe that serving the nation is a vital part of active citizenship. In order to understand the inner workings of an organization, you must actively become a part of it. If you believe that there are problems in the local legislature, stand up and be heard at city council meetings or volunteer to run a campaign. By actively participating in government, the general populace would better understand the constraints and limitations to domestic and foreign policy, and they would better understand the budgeting requirements to fund all the needed programs within a community. I serve my country because I want to actively participate in shaping the country’s future. Serving in the military may only afford me a small opportunity to do that, but I will gladly serve in that capacity.
As selfless as active participation in government may seem, one of the most selfish reasons that I serve my country involves my family’s future. I chose the Army as my method of public service because I want my children to grow up in a safer environment than my generation has. I do not want my children to worry about transnational drug smuggling rings, sex trafficking gangs, or terrorist organizations. I want my children to be able to grow up in a world free of these worries. Now, this may seem like a lofty and unrealistic pursuit. However, I believe that if more people volunteered to raise their right hand and promised to serve members of the Armed Forces, this dream may become a reality. National security requires resources, personnel, and time to develop. Since September 11, 2001, a multitude of great Americans have come forth to help defend the nation. However, the military still consists of less than one percent of the American people. Imagine what our national security forces would look like if the military consisted of even five percent. We could secure our borders more effectively from the influences of Mexican drug cartels. We could track underground terrorist sleeper cells currently operating within the United States more effectively. I believe that my children can grow up in a safer world. However, it all begins with brave Americans willing to dedicate their lives to the service to this country.
Every time I hear Lee Greenwood’s version of “Proud to Be an American,” I tear up with pride. Every time I see the Stars and Stripes, I stand up and pause at its greatness. Many great Americans have given their lives in service to the United States of America. I am glad that I can be counted among those who have served this democratic republic. I serve because I support the ideals of freedom and democracy. I serve because I want to make a difference as an active citizen. But I also serve because I want my family to be safe, living a better life than I have lived. I want my children to grow up free of the worries that have plagued my life since I was a child. I serve my country because there is nothing else that I would rather do. I am a patriot!
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this "blog" are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Whether serving as a police officer, fireman, public official, or a member of the Armed Forces, serving your country comes at a great price. You and your loved ones make sacrifices in order to pursue a life of service to this great nation. These sacrifices can take many forms, including time away from home, financial hardships, and risks to personal safety. For these reasons and others not mentioned, only select individuals choose this path. In fact, many people ask me why I have decided to dedicate my life to serving in the United States Army. My answer may be surprising. I serve my country as a member of the Army because I believe the Army to be an honorable organization that protects freedom and democracy. I also serve my country because I feel that service to your country is a vital part of active citizenship. And finally, I continue my service in the military because I want my children to live in a safer world than I have lived. I am blessed to be a citizen of the United States of America and I am honored that I can serve in its defense.
The United States is arguably the greatest nation that has ever graced the global stage. It is also the only current superpower in the world. Holding such a distinction comes with great risk. Many other countries view the United States as an aggressive capitalistic society that constantly pushes their values of freedom and democracy upon other nations. This potentially threatens regional stability throughout the world and makes the United States a logical target for attack. The United States Army and other services of the Armed Forces have been entrusted with the defense of the nation. I can think of no other time in our nation’s history where national security has been more paramount. Because of rogue nation states such as Iran, China, and North Korea, the Armed Forces must prepare for conventional warfare against these formidable potential adversaries. However, given the current security threat posed by non-state actors such as al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah, the military must also prepare for irregular warfare against threats that do not acknowledge borders or rules of engagement. Therefore, as an intelligence professional, I choose to serve my country to counter both of these threats and protect freedom and democracy. If my analysis and intelligence collection skills can help keep Americans safe throughout the world, I will use them. I would rather be a player in the game of national defense than a spectator wondering who the players are.
Watching the news does not always guarantee that you are informed, nor does it afford you the opportunity to make a difference. I serve my country because I wish to make a positive difference. Many citizens of the United States watch the news and believe they have the answers to all of the country’s problems. However, all they ever do about it is rant to their neighbors or whoever will listen to them at the grocery store. Very few people actually choose to participate in the government process. I believe that serving the nation is a vital part of active citizenship. In order to understand the inner workings of an organization, you must actively become a part of it. If you believe that there are problems in the local legislature, stand up and be heard at city council meetings or volunteer to run a campaign. By actively participating in government, the general populace would better understand the constraints and limitations to domestic and foreign policy, and they would better understand the budgeting requirements to fund all the needed programs within a community. I serve my country because I want to actively participate in shaping the country’s future. Serving in the military may only afford me a small opportunity to do that, but I will gladly serve in that capacity.
As selfless as active participation in government may seem, one of the most selfish reasons that I serve my country involves my family’s future. I chose the Army as my method of public service because I want my children to grow up in a safer environment than my generation has. I do not want my children to worry about transnational drug smuggling rings, sex trafficking gangs, or terrorist organizations. I want my children to be able to grow up in a world free of these worries. Now, this may seem like a lofty and unrealistic pursuit. However, I believe that if more people volunteered to raise their right hand and promised to serve members of the Armed Forces, this dream may become a reality. National security requires resources, personnel, and time to develop. Since September 11, 2001, a multitude of great Americans have come forth to help defend the nation. However, the military still consists of less than one percent of the American people. Imagine what our national security forces would look like if the military consisted of even five percent. We could secure our borders more effectively from the influences of Mexican drug cartels. We could track underground terrorist sleeper cells currently operating within the United States more effectively. I believe that my children can grow up in a safer world. However, it all begins with brave Americans willing to dedicate their lives to the service to this country.
Every time I hear Lee Greenwood’s version of “Proud to Be an American,” I tear up with pride. Every time I see the Stars and Stripes, I stand up and pause at its greatness. Many great Americans have given their lives in service to the United States of America. I am glad that I can be counted among those who have served this democratic republic. I serve because I support the ideals of freedom and democracy. I serve because I want to make a difference as an active citizen. But I also serve because I want my family to be safe, living a better life than I have lived. I want my children to grow up free of the worries that have plagued my life since I was a child. I serve my country because there is nothing else that I would rather do. I am a patriot!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
What the Professional Military Ethic means to me
Major Charles Hartley
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Three words synonymous with serving in the military are Duty, Honor and Country. What does it mean to have honor? What does it take to be honorable? Soldiers know right from wrong, it is one of the many common bonds that exist between those of us in uniform. Ethics have been commonplace in the American military since its inception. Rules must be applied to derive a professional force whether in combat or garrison, if these rules are broken those in violation need to be held accountable for their actions. The globe looks to the United States Military for guidance in many ways; our ethical standards should set the bar for other countries to attain as well. The foundation of ethics from the American military institution is a model for all and has matured me to adulthood and provided me the cornerstone of morality that I use in and out of uniform.
It’s no secret that civilian employers seek former service members for employment due to their resiliency and strong work ethic. General’s Washington, Grant and Eisenhower are probably the best examples of Soldiers that transitioned to very successful careers out of uniform. Many government and non-government organizations host job fairs that cater exclusively to Service Members ready for the work force. Eager employers seek not only the leadership, knowledge and skill set of the US Service Member but also the moral tenacity. 18 years ago I transitioned to a civilian career after coming off of active duty. Like most of my co-workers I was recruited because of my military service. My employer demanded a strong work ethic and prospered with the team that he had built. In addition to my civilian job it seemed right for me to continue my military service and join the National Guard. The moral foundation that I received in basic training is the premise for my continued education and success in my civilian career and strong work ethic.
What would Ethics be if they did not lie within the institution? Many military institutions and sub-institutions have a “code”, standard ideals of how to live, work and perform. As a prior enlisted Soldier and now officer I have seen both perspectives of how the Army teaches and conducts ethics. The Soldier’s/NCO’s creed and Warrior Ethos are the standards that Soldier’s live by today. These ethics instill the willingness to accept the challenge and the desire to accomplish the mission despite all adversity; this is what makes our military mighty and great. The National Guard mirrors the policies and procedures set forth by Big Army and also conducts ethics training on an annual basis to remind and ensure that its Soldiers are held to a higher standard. Ethics to me is a promise, a promise to do the right thing, a promise that is based on trust. I trust that the institution will take care of my family when I am not there. I trust that the institution will provide for the ones that I love until I return. I trust the institution will provide for the ones I love if I don’t return. Without this trust I am not able to perform my duty, I am not capable of focus. Knowing that my family is provided for enables me to seek the trust of my Soldiers and perform my job unhindered.
As an officer I need to set the ethical example despite being in or out of uniform, a unit is a reflection of its leaders; my soldiers are looking towards me for guidance and direction. As a leader and as a commander I always live and conduct myself by the “code”. This responsibility is great and I take it seriously, the soldier’s in my unit are somebody’s son, daughter or spouse. These individuals have put their trust in me, and ethics and trust work hand in hand.
Ethics on the battlefield is especially important, if compromised the result could be fatal or an embarrassment to the United States or Host Nation governments. As a former team leader of a Police Mentor Team in Afghanistan, my Soldiers needed to be disciplined in ethics. These professionals by conducting themselves as such are setting the example in theater and conducting counter insurgency by adhering to the principles set forth. Rules of engagement and battle drills are the two most important of these principles. Doing the right thing on the battlefield is a must, whether conducting a humanitarian drop or detainee operations, the media machine will be quick to make Soldiers famous or infamous.
It’s said that the United States of America is a superpower, but no superpowers are required to adhere to the professional military ethic, only a willingness to do what is right. I am proud to associate myself with a “brotherhood” of individuals held to a higher standard who truly know the meaning of honor and what it takes to be honorable.
"The views expressed in this Blog are those of the author and do not reflect any official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Three words synonymous with serving in the military are Duty, Honor and Country. What does it mean to have honor? What does it take to be honorable? Soldiers know right from wrong, it is one of the many common bonds that exist between those of us in uniform. Ethics have been commonplace in the American military since its inception. Rules must be applied to derive a professional force whether in combat or garrison, if these rules are broken those in violation need to be held accountable for their actions. The globe looks to the United States Military for guidance in many ways; our ethical standards should set the bar for other countries to attain as well. The foundation of ethics from the American military institution is a model for all and has matured me to adulthood and provided me the cornerstone of morality that I use in and out of uniform.
It’s no secret that civilian employers seek former service members for employment due to their resiliency and strong work ethic. General’s Washington, Grant and Eisenhower are probably the best examples of Soldiers that transitioned to very successful careers out of uniform. Many government and non-government organizations host job fairs that cater exclusively to Service Members ready for the work force. Eager employers seek not only the leadership, knowledge and skill set of the US Service Member but also the moral tenacity. 18 years ago I transitioned to a civilian career after coming off of active duty. Like most of my co-workers I was recruited because of my military service. My employer demanded a strong work ethic and prospered with the team that he had built. In addition to my civilian job it seemed right for me to continue my military service and join the National Guard. The moral foundation that I received in basic training is the premise for my continued education and success in my civilian career and strong work ethic.
What would Ethics be if they did not lie within the institution? Many military institutions and sub-institutions have a “code”, standard ideals of how to live, work and perform. As a prior enlisted Soldier and now officer I have seen both perspectives of how the Army teaches and conducts ethics. The Soldier’s/NCO’s creed and Warrior Ethos are the standards that Soldier’s live by today. These ethics instill the willingness to accept the challenge and the desire to accomplish the mission despite all adversity; this is what makes our military mighty and great. The National Guard mirrors the policies and procedures set forth by Big Army and also conducts ethics training on an annual basis to remind and ensure that its Soldiers are held to a higher standard. Ethics to me is a promise, a promise to do the right thing, a promise that is based on trust. I trust that the institution will take care of my family when I am not there. I trust that the institution will provide for the ones that I love until I return. I trust the institution will provide for the ones I love if I don’t return. Without this trust I am not able to perform my duty, I am not capable of focus. Knowing that my family is provided for enables me to seek the trust of my Soldiers and perform my job unhindered.
As an officer I need to set the ethical example despite being in or out of uniform, a unit is a reflection of its leaders; my soldiers are looking towards me for guidance and direction. As a leader and as a commander I always live and conduct myself by the “code”. This responsibility is great and I take it seriously, the soldier’s in my unit are somebody’s son, daughter or spouse. These individuals have put their trust in me, and ethics and trust work hand in hand.
Ethics on the battlefield is especially important, if compromised the result could be fatal or an embarrassment to the United States or Host Nation governments. As a former team leader of a Police Mentor Team in Afghanistan, my Soldiers needed to be disciplined in ethics. These professionals by conducting themselves as such are setting the example in theater and conducting counter insurgency by adhering to the principles set forth. Rules of engagement and battle drills are the two most important of these principles. Doing the right thing on the battlefield is a must, whether conducting a humanitarian drop or detainee operations, the media machine will be quick to make Soldiers famous or infamous.
It’s said that the United States of America is a superpower, but no superpowers are required to adhere to the professional military ethic, only a willingness to do what is right. I am proud to associate myself with a “brotherhood” of individuals held to a higher standard who truly know the meaning of honor and what it takes to be honorable.
"The views expressed in this Blog are those of the author and do not reflect any official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Why I Serve
MAJ Tim Stewart
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
I have spent the better part of fourteen years posted in faraway countries. I have been several time zones and several hundred, even thousands of miles away from my family and my friends. The time away was exemplified for me when last fall I flew back to the U.S. from Yemen for my grandmother’s funeral, and I saw members of my extended family who had not only entered grade school while I was away, but were now graduating from college, and on the verge of getting married. To those who saw me for the first time in over a decade, I was something of a mythical beast--talked of at times yet never seen. At that point, I was again forced to review (and answer repeatedly) a question that I had often thought about in the dark quiet hours of the morning staring out over a foreign land, while a foreign people slept nearby—why do I do it?
Why do I serve my country? What has caused me to spend all of my adult life in locations where I consider myself fortunate if I can see either my brother, or my mother, or my father for a Thanksgiving or a Christmas? For me, the answer lies in the definitions of my chosen vocation, the profession of arms.
According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary (www.M-W.com) the term “arms” can either mean it can mean military service, or open hostilities. In my career I have had the privilege of one, and the misfortune of the other. Indeed, the questions I was asked after the funeral were almost entirely from those two veins, vacillating between fear, and bordering at times on awe.
For me, the decision to serve my country was simple. One simply does not take without giving back, so I naturally gravitated towards the profession of arms that I have selected as my career. The sacrifices that I have endured and continue to endure are firmly rooted in the definition of ‘arms’ pertaining to military service. For me, my job, indeed my entire adult life has been focused on military service to my country and the attached ethics and culture surrounding it. In many ways, I think it was the culture that drew me towards the military, as opposed to some other service to the nation. I desired to serve with honorable people, who had a sense of service greater than of self, and were willing to make great sacrifices towards the noble end that service was focused on. I wanted to be able to say that I was one of those people that rarely walked past a mistake, that I was a brick in the wall that let others sleep the night away in peace, and that I was connected by tradition and experience with those great patriots who went before and sacrificed in order to provide me with the opportunity for the education and childhood that I enjoyed.
I think the professional aspect of military service appealed to my analytical side as well; the ethics of the American soldier are well understood by not only most Americans, but most of the world, although most would be hard pressed to articulate them. They are centered on protecting the innocent in an honorable manner. They are about tempering violence with compassion, and the U.S. military takes as much pride in its pictures of sandbagging for hurricanes as it does with pictures of engaging insurgents. I would argue that often we take more pride in the sandbags.
There is another definition to arms, and that involves hostility, both in dealing with it and producing it. This is the root of the fearful questions from half-remembered relatives, who somehow saw my last decade and a half of absence as a whirlwind tour from one conflict, one battle to another. For them, military service consists of only what they see today on the news: combat, violence, loss and death. The irony becomes that while this is the state for which most of my time in service has been focused on, preparing for, and dealing with—it is not the creator of the things that leap to mind first when I look back over the course of my career to date. It has been a shaping aspect of my life, but not a defining one. For me, the periods of violence were not as memorable as the people I knew at those times and shared those experiences with. For all the time away from family and friends, and for all the time spent in either remote locations, “sub-optimal conditions”, or both, I have met some of the finest people I could hope to meet (not all of them American), experienced events that I would not have thought possible, and enjoyed more than I would have hoped for.
I think my answers have taken me back to where I began. For me, there was no option on “if” to serve, only with whom, and it is the culture and the people in the U.S. military to whom I was drawn who make it possible to remember the good in the face of overwhelming bad. I have looked on in joy at a comrade’s newborn baby, I have handed a folded American flag to a grieving set of parents as we laid their son to rest. I’ve watched soldiers fall asleep standing while in the middle of a conversation from exhaustion, and I’ve seen them rally at a friend’s house after work to help them move yet again. In the end, I serve because I’m with the best people I know doing the most important thing I can think of, providing the opportunity given to me, to others.
The views expressed in the blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Goverment.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
I have spent the better part of fourteen years posted in faraway countries. I have been several time zones and several hundred, even thousands of miles away from my family and my friends. The time away was exemplified for me when last fall I flew back to the U.S. from Yemen for my grandmother’s funeral, and I saw members of my extended family who had not only entered grade school while I was away, but were now graduating from college, and on the verge of getting married. To those who saw me for the first time in over a decade, I was something of a mythical beast--talked of at times yet never seen. At that point, I was again forced to review (and answer repeatedly) a question that I had often thought about in the dark quiet hours of the morning staring out over a foreign land, while a foreign people slept nearby—why do I do it?
Why do I serve my country? What has caused me to spend all of my adult life in locations where I consider myself fortunate if I can see either my brother, or my mother, or my father for a Thanksgiving or a Christmas? For me, the answer lies in the definitions of my chosen vocation, the profession of arms.
According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary (www.M-W.com) the term “arms” can either mean it can mean military service, or open hostilities. In my career I have had the privilege of one, and the misfortune of the other. Indeed, the questions I was asked after the funeral were almost entirely from those two veins, vacillating between fear, and bordering at times on awe.
For me, the decision to serve my country was simple. One simply does not take without giving back, so I naturally gravitated towards the profession of arms that I have selected as my career. The sacrifices that I have endured and continue to endure are firmly rooted in the definition of ‘arms’ pertaining to military service. For me, my job, indeed my entire adult life has been focused on military service to my country and the attached ethics and culture surrounding it. In many ways, I think it was the culture that drew me towards the military, as opposed to some other service to the nation. I desired to serve with honorable people, who had a sense of service greater than of self, and were willing to make great sacrifices towards the noble end that service was focused on. I wanted to be able to say that I was one of those people that rarely walked past a mistake, that I was a brick in the wall that let others sleep the night away in peace, and that I was connected by tradition and experience with those great patriots who went before and sacrificed in order to provide me with the opportunity for the education and childhood that I enjoyed.
I think the professional aspect of military service appealed to my analytical side as well; the ethics of the American soldier are well understood by not only most Americans, but most of the world, although most would be hard pressed to articulate them. They are centered on protecting the innocent in an honorable manner. They are about tempering violence with compassion, and the U.S. military takes as much pride in its pictures of sandbagging for hurricanes as it does with pictures of engaging insurgents. I would argue that often we take more pride in the sandbags.
There is another definition to arms, and that involves hostility, both in dealing with it and producing it. This is the root of the fearful questions from half-remembered relatives, who somehow saw my last decade and a half of absence as a whirlwind tour from one conflict, one battle to another. For them, military service consists of only what they see today on the news: combat, violence, loss and death. The irony becomes that while this is the state for which most of my time in service has been focused on, preparing for, and dealing with—it is not the creator of the things that leap to mind first when I look back over the course of my career to date. It has been a shaping aspect of my life, but not a defining one. For me, the periods of violence were not as memorable as the people I knew at those times and shared those experiences with. For all the time away from family and friends, and for all the time spent in either remote locations, “sub-optimal conditions”, or both, I have met some of the finest people I could hope to meet (not all of them American), experienced events that I would not have thought possible, and enjoyed more than I would have hoped for.
I think my answers have taken me back to where I began. For me, there was no option on “if” to serve, only with whom, and it is the culture and the people in the U.S. military to whom I was drawn who make it possible to remember the good in the face of overwhelming bad. I have looked on in joy at a comrade’s newborn baby, I have handed a folded American flag to a grieving set of parents as we laid their son to rest. I’ve watched soldiers fall asleep standing while in the middle of a conversation from exhaustion, and I’ve seen them rally at a friend’s house after work to help them move yet again. In the end, I serve because I’m with the best people I know doing the most important thing I can think of, providing the opportunity given to me, to others.
The views expressed in the blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Goverment.
The reasons why I serve my country
Major Christopher Alger
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
The reasons I serve in the military is a question I have asked myself many times prior to and during my career as a military officer. My experiences with and reasons to serve the military started when I was thirteen years of age, for pure fun and the sense of belonging and continue to change and evolve as I serve now at thirty-six. A trip back down my life will reveal my reasons for serving.
I was first drawn to the military in high school when friends were enrolled in Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). These friends were joining the armed drill team and beginning to learn drill and ceremony and marching maneuvers. After school they practiced and it caught my attention. I participated and enjoyed marching and soon signed up for JROTC as well. I valued the new friends I made and the comradeship which drill team and JROTC provided. I participated in ROTC for my four years of high school and continued to excel within the unit, attaining the highest ranking position within my high school unit.
As a freshman at college I wasn’t convinced I wanted to join Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and make the military a career. This would have been logical having completed four years for JROTC. I was still very young, only seventeen, and away from home and family for the first time. I joined a fraternity and it fulfilled my need for friends and a sense of belonging with them. ROTC and the military was the farthest thing on my mind.
A year later, as a sophomore, my best friend from high school, who also participated in JROTC with me, was attending the same college and was accepted to pledge my fraternity. Upon his arrival we discussed joining ROTC. Having been involved in Navy JROTC, it was natural for us to want to join the Navy ROTC unit. The only issue was that once again this Navy unit was split between two colleges with the headquarters office/unit at the other college. The headquarters unit was only twelve miles away but neither my friend nor I had a vehicle to get us there. We overcame this by meeting others within the unit who would be able to transport us. Other issues or concerns for me with the Navy ROTC was their expectation for us to wear our Navy uniform on the college campus and to our classes at least one day per week and the need for us to attend mandatory Navy ROTC study tables in the evenings. Both of these requirements cramped my life style at the time. I wanted to fit in with my fraternity style of living and not be labeled as a “ROTC Nazi” in my uniform while on campus. Study tables weren’t appealing as a sophomore, having done so for my freshmen year within the fraternity. Needless to say, my stint in Navy ROTC did not last long.
Later that same year, I started talking with another fraternity brother who was involved in Army ROTC. This unit was set up much differently than the Navy unit, providing fun and excitement through Ranger Challenge, rifle ranges and rappelling classes. Class was only 1 hour per week and wearing of the uniform was not a requirement on campus. This was enough to convince me to join up and try Army ROTC. After my first year in the unit I was identified by the unit’s leadership and was provided an opportunity to attend the Army’s Airborne school and Fort Benning, GA. Upon graduation and earning my airborne wings, I was hooked and wanted to be an Army Officer. Once again I felt the comradeship and esprit de corps which you don’t find anywhere besides the military.
Upon graduation of college I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps. It was always a dream of mine to fly and having been disqualified on an Army flight physical prevented me from assessing Aviation Branch. The Medical Service Corps (MSC) offered me a second opportunity to pass the physical and attend aviation school as a medical evacuation pilot.
The MSC was new to me and I really didn’t want a career in the medical field with shots, needles and blood being a hard thing for me to see and stomach. As fate should have it, I was not but into a position of having to view these things, as a medical platoon leader. Rather, I started a role in medical logistics, ordering medical supplies when I reported to my first unit, the Army Medical Activity in Fort Eustis, VA.
I enjoyed the challenge of medical logistics and believed it was a great career field offering me the opportunity to gain valuable experience and make me competitive in the real world if I should get out of the Army. Soon my thoughts and dream of wanting to fly went away and I became completely satisfied in the world of medical logistics.
Another desire I had and a reason why I joined the military was to travel. My mother, who passed away just prior to my college graduation, was German and she loved Germany. She took my eldest brother and me there for three months when I was seven. I enjoyed visiting there and had a want to return. I started working with my career/branch officer after two years at Fort Eustis and was able to get assigned to a Medial Logistics Battalion in Pirmasens, Germany. Just after arrival to my new unit I flew back to Fort Eustis and was married. My new spouse joined me in Germany and we soon started our almost four year honeymoon traveling all around Germany and Europe. I thoroughly enjoyed the life style the military provided. The benefits of job and health care along with our opportunity to travel could not be matched. I served in the military for personnel pleasure. I was successful in my job, able to support my spouse and felt I had all the opportunities I needed. If I wanted to get out I could. With the experience and knowledge I gained while serving I could sustain a satisfactory lifestyle.
Then September 11th came. The world changed that day and my desire to serve greatly increased. I needed to be in the Army and do all I could to serve my country and the people of the United States. I believe this feeling was felt by all and many of them soon stepped up and joined the Military to do all that they could do.
The Army has been great to me and my family for the last 14 years. The opportunities I have had, the experiences and the education I have gained are second to none. I serve in the military because it makes me proud and a better person for it. I have a military affiliation for almost 23 years of my life and I have thoroughly enjoyed every day of it.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
The reasons I serve in the military is a question I have asked myself many times prior to and during my career as a military officer. My experiences with and reasons to serve the military started when I was thirteen years of age, for pure fun and the sense of belonging and continue to change and evolve as I serve now at thirty-six. A trip back down my life will reveal my reasons for serving.
I was first drawn to the military in high school when friends were enrolled in Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). These friends were joining the armed drill team and beginning to learn drill and ceremony and marching maneuvers. After school they practiced and it caught my attention. I participated and enjoyed marching and soon signed up for JROTC as well. I valued the new friends I made and the comradeship which drill team and JROTC provided. I participated in ROTC for my four years of high school and continued to excel within the unit, attaining the highest ranking position within my high school unit.
As a freshman at college I wasn’t convinced I wanted to join Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and make the military a career. This would have been logical having completed four years for JROTC. I was still very young, only seventeen, and away from home and family for the first time. I joined a fraternity and it fulfilled my need for friends and a sense of belonging with them. ROTC and the military was the farthest thing on my mind.
A year later, as a sophomore, my best friend from high school, who also participated in JROTC with me, was attending the same college and was accepted to pledge my fraternity. Upon his arrival we discussed joining ROTC. Having been involved in Navy JROTC, it was natural for us to want to join the Navy ROTC unit. The only issue was that once again this Navy unit was split between two colleges with the headquarters office/unit at the other college. The headquarters unit was only twelve miles away but neither my friend nor I had a vehicle to get us there. We overcame this by meeting others within the unit who would be able to transport us. Other issues or concerns for me with the Navy ROTC was their expectation for us to wear our Navy uniform on the college campus and to our classes at least one day per week and the need for us to attend mandatory Navy ROTC study tables in the evenings. Both of these requirements cramped my life style at the time. I wanted to fit in with my fraternity style of living and not be labeled as a “ROTC Nazi” in my uniform while on campus. Study tables weren’t appealing as a sophomore, having done so for my freshmen year within the fraternity. Needless to say, my stint in Navy ROTC did not last long.
Later that same year, I started talking with another fraternity brother who was involved in Army ROTC. This unit was set up much differently than the Navy unit, providing fun and excitement through Ranger Challenge, rifle ranges and rappelling classes. Class was only 1 hour per week and wearing of the uniform was not a requirement on campus. This was enough to convince me to join up and try Army ROTC. After my first year in the unit I was identified by the unit’s leadership and was provided an opportunity to attend the Army’s Airborne school and Fort Benning, GA. Upon graduation and earning my airborne wings, I was hooked and wanted to be an Army Officer. Once again I felt the comradeship and esprit de corps which you don’t find anywhere besides the military.
Upon graduation of college I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps. It was always a dream of mine to fly and having been disqualified on an Army flight physical prevented me from assessing Aviation Branch. The Medical Service Corps (MSC) offered me a second opportunity to pass the physical and attend aviation school as a medical evacuation pilot.
The MSC was new to me and I really didn’t want a career in the medical field with shots, needles and blood being a hard thing for me to see and stomach. As fate should have it, I was not but into a position of having to view these things, as a medical platoon leader. Rather, I started a role in medical logistics, ordering medical supplies when I reported to my first unit, the Army Medical Activity in Fort Eustis, VA.
I enjoyed the challenge of medical logistics and believed it was a great career field offering me the opportunity to gain valuable experience and make me competitive in the real world if I should get out of the Army. Soon my thoughts and dream of wanting to fly went away and I became completely satisfied in the world of medical logistics.
Another desire I had and a reason why I joined the military was to travel. My mother, who passed away just prior to my college graduation, was German and she loved Germany. She took my eldest brother and me there for three months when I was seven. I enjoyed visiting there and had a want to return. I started working with my career/branch officer after two years at Fort Eustis and was able to get assigned to a Medial Logistics Battalion in Pirmasens, Germany. Just after arrival to my new unit I flew back to Fort Eustis and was married. My new spouse joined me in Germany and we soon started our almost four year honeymoon traveling all around Germany and Europe. I thoroughly enjoyed the life style the military provided. The benefits of job and health care along with our opportunity to travel could not be matched. I served in the military for personnel pleasure. I was successful in my job, able to support my spouse and felt I had all the opportunities I needed. If I wanted to get out I could. With the experience and knowledge I gained while serving I could sustain a satisfactory lifestyle.
Then September 11th came. The world changed that day and my desire to serve greatly increased. I needed to be in the Army and do all I could to serve my country and the people of the United States. I believe this feeling was felt by all and many of them soon stepped up and joined the Military to do all that they could do.
The Army has been great to me and my family for the last 14 years. The opportunities I have had, the experiences and the education I have gained are second to none. I serve in the military because it makes me proud and a better person for it. I have a military affiliation for almost 23 years of my life and I have thoroughly enjoyed every day of it.
What being a member of the profession of arms means to me
Major Tage Rainsford
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Webster’s dictionary defines the word profession as “a principal calling, vocation, or employment requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.” (Profession, 2010) While not often looked on in such light by the public, the military should be categorized as a profession.
A person cannot walk down to their local military installation and apply for a job; there are barriers to entry. An individual must first visit his or her recruiter and ensure that they meet the physical and mental conditions of entry. They must then participate in a rigorous training regimen that involves both physical and intellectual study and development. Only after successful completion of this training, does a person earn the right to call themselves a member of the uniformed services -- the profession of arms.
This author entered the profession of arms over fourteen years ago as an officer in the United States Army and while I completed the steps and conditions mentioned above in order to gain entry to the profession of arms, being a member of said profession means more to me than just having met the barriers to entry. Membership in this prestigious profession allows me to be part of something larger then myself, a legacy organization with a sense of pride that is unrivaled and leaves me with a feeling of accomplishment and of giving back.
Aristotle said, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” (Quotations by Aristotle, 2006) This summarizes how I feel being a member of the profession of arms, part of something larger than myself that cumulatively, is greater than any grouping that its individuals could be. A great illustration of this would be the operations that have occurred in Iraq over the past seven years.
In 2006 and 2007, I was deployed to Iraq as a member of the 25th Infantry Division responsible for operations in Northern Iraq. Although I was but one individual in an organization that was over 25,000 people strong, none of us could have accomplished our personal missions without the efforts of each and every one of the other members of the team. From cooks to mechanics, aviators to infantrymen and privates to generals, not one individual could have accomplished their mission by themselves. Put into action, the professional military achieved something that had been missing from that area for some time, peace and stability. I would argue that no other organization in the world could have come together as a profession and accomplish what the U.S. military did. Integral to this synergy though, is the legacy from which the military draws its strength.
For over 235 continuous years, the military and U.S. Army in particular, has been a professional organization, charged with serving the nation. This history, heritage and resulting esprit de corps grows like a snowball and contributes to the greatness of the profession of arms. Not only does my membership allow me to feel as if I am part of something bigger as described before, but I now feel part of a living organization. I am not surviving off the glory of the past or merely passing time in the present; I am contributing to the future and helping to make the profession grow stronger by adding to the snowball effect.
Finally, being a member of this great profession provides me with a personal feeling and sense of accomplishment, service and gratitude. In looking back on my career thus far, I have had the opportunity to serve with an untold number of professionals, dedicated to the service of their country. I am often overcome by feelings of pride and joy when I think of my contributions to and membership in the profession. Duty, honor and country may ring through as a cliché to those who have never served, but their meaning is undeniable to those of us privileged enough to be a part of this profession.
While on the surface, the barriers to entry alone would classify the military as a profession; it is more than that to this author. The sense of pride that I feel from being part of something bigger than I am, with hundreds of years of history to build on, the opportunity to add to that legacy, all combined by the sense of accomplishment that I feel day in and day out. Those things make me proud to be part of the profession of arms.
Some may argue that in this day and age of turmoil, multiple wars and a never-ending operational tempo, the military should be thankful for my service and continuance to fill the ranks even though it is no longer required of me. I would argue that the honor is mine, and I awake thankful every morning for the opportunity to serve this great profession for yet one more day.
Works Cited
Profession. (2010). Retrieved September 2, 2010, from Merriam-Webster.com: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profession
Quotations by Aristotle. (2006, February). Retrieved September 2, 2010, from The MacTutor History of Mathematics Web site: http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Quotations/Aristotle.html
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."
Webster’s dictionary defines the word profession as “a principal calling, vocation, or employment requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.” (Profession, 2010) While not often looked on in such light by the public, the military should be categorized as a profession.
A person cannot walk down to their local military installation and apply for a job; there are barriers to entry. An individual must first visit his or her recruiter and ensure that they meet the physical and mental conditions of entry. They must then participate in a rigorous training regimen that involves both physical and intellectual study and development. Only after successful completion of this training, does a person earn the right to call themselves a member of the uniformed services -- the profession of arms.
This author entered the profession of arms over fourteen years ago as an officer in the United States Army and while I completed the steps and conditions mentioned above in order to gain entry to the profession of arms, being a member of said profession means more to me than just having met the barriers to entry. Membership in this prestigious profession allows me to be part of something larger then myself, a legacy organization with a sense of pride that is unrivaled and leaves me with a feeling of accomplishment and of giving back.
Aristotle said, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” (Quotations by Aristotle, 2006) This summarizes how I feel being a member of the profession of arms, part of something larger than myself that cumulatively, is greater than any grouping that its individuals could be. A great illustration of this would be the operations that have occurred in Iraq over the past seven years.
In 2006 and 2007, I was deployed to Iraq as a member of the 25th Infantry Division responsible for operations in Northern Iraq. Although I was but one individual in an organization that was over 25,000 people strong, none of us could have accomplished our personal missions without the efforts of each and every one of the other members of the team. From cooks to mechanics, aviators to infantrymen and privates to generals, not one individual could have accomplished their mission by themselves. Put into action, the professional military achieved something that had been missing from that area for some time, peace and stability. I would argue that no other organization in the world could have come together as a profession and accomplish what the U.S. military did. Integral to this synergy though, is the legacy from which the military draws its strength.
For over 235 continuous years, the military and U.S. Army in particular, has been a professional organization, charged with serving the nation. This history, heritage and resulting esprit de corps grows like a snowball and contributes to the greatness of the profession of arms. Not only does my membership allow me to feel as if I am part of something bigger as described before, but I now feel part of a living organization. I am not surviving off the glory of the past or merely passing time in the present; I am contributing to the future and helping to make the profession grow stronger by adding to the snowball effect.
Finally, being a member of this great profession provides me with a personal feeling and sense of accomplishment, service and gratitude. In looking back on my career thus far, I have had the opportunity to serve with an untold number of professionals, dedicated to the service of their country. I am often overcome by feelings of pride and joy when I think of my contributions to and membership in the profession. Duty, honor and country may ring through as a cliché to those who have never served, but their meaning is undeniable to those of us privileged enough to be a part of this profession.
While on the surface, the barriers to entry alone would classify the military as a profession; it is more than that to this author. The sense of pride that I feel from being part of something bigger than I am, with hundreds of years of history to build on, the opportunity to add to that legacy, all combined by the sense of accomplishment that I feel day in and day out. Those things make me proud to be part of the profession of arms.
Some may argue that in this day and age of turmoil, multiple wars and a never-ending operational tempo, the military should be thankful for my service and continuance to fill the ranks even though it is no longer required of me. I would argue that the honor is mine, and I awake thankful every morning for the opportunity to serve this great profession for yet one more day.
Works Cited
Profession. (2010). Retrieved September 2, 2010, from Merriam-Webster.com: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profession
Quotations by Aristotle. (2006, February). Retrieved September 2, 2010, from The MacTutor History of Mathematics Web site: http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Quotations/Aristotle.html
Why I serve my country by Larry Sharif
Major Larry Sharif
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S Government."
To many people, service to your country can be described as being one of the proudest and patriotic things an individual can do in his or her lifetime. For some, it can be described as fulfilling their civic duty as a citizen of this country. From the early beginnings of time up to the present there have been many opportunities for individuals to serve their country in one capacity or another. They have served as police officers, firemen, or doctors, who fulfill his or her commitment to his country by helping those who are sick. Out of all the opportunities to so serve one’s country I believed that joining the military, especially the Army, was the best way for me to pay for my college tuition, take on challenges that most Americans do not want to do or cannot do to serve my country and last but not least fulfill my civic duties as a American Soldier.
As a teenager in growing up in the Midwest I always played some type of sport in high school, no matter if it was baseball, basketball, and football. I remember during my senior year in high school an Army Recruiter would come out every evening during our football practices and sit and watch us run drills, plays and scrimmage. After the practice he would come up to us and ask those of us who were still around if they had ever thought about joining the military, especially the Army. The majority of the team who was still there would always say, “No thanks,” and run off to escape the recruiter. Normally I would stay there to hear his spill or pitch but in the back of my mind knowing I was going straight to college with a scholarship for football and baseball. He would always say if you have any questions don’t hesitate to stop by the recruiting office to talk to him. The recruiting office happened to be located right next to our public library. One day after speaking with my father, an Army Veteran, he told me go by and see the recruiter and see what the military has to offer. That day came and I stopped by the recruiter’s office and he showed me video of World War 2, video of basic training and some other stuff. He also talked about how the Army could pay for my college just in case I didn’t get those scholarships I was expecting to get. He also told me about the Army Reserve Program where I could be a citizen Soldier, which didn’t seem to bad considering I could go to college and be a part of the Army once a month and two weeks in the summer. After finding out I was not going to be receiving the scholarships I called the recruiter and told him to sign me up.
I told the recruiter I wanted to do all the challenging things he had shown me in the videos. He showed me all the challenging training I would receive in basic training and other training programs I could go after finishing my basic and advanced individual training (AIT) that would challenge me mentally and physically even more. I remember calling home during basic training and telling my parents everything challenging I had done and how I felt like Superman at times. I remember writing my buddies back at home and explaining the feeling of going through the Gas Chamber, repelling off a tower, and firing the numerous weapon systems that the average American citizen would not have the confidence or skill sets to do. Up to this point by serving my country, I had my college tuition being paid for, and I was doing challenging things most Americans would never even contemplate doing. Army life was great until September 11, 2001.
I remember September 11, 2001 I was preparing to brief our Brigade Commander during our monthly Commander’s Update Brief, when our BDE S2 walked in and whispered something in the Brigade Commander’s ear. From that moment on my outlook on the Army had changed from just being in the Army to do challenging things to now protecting our country and allies from terrorism. At that point it had become my civic duty as a Soldier to ensure the protection of this country with a new outlook that encompasses it is a privilege now more than ever to serve this country. I was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq from Oct 05 – Aug 06 as Company Commander of a Quartermaster unit and even though I missed my family and friends I felt proud to be doing what we were doing for our country. I remember coming back from deployment and how people asking me,” Do I think we should have been there,” and my response always was I took a oath to defend the constitution bottom line!
I have volunteered numerous times to go back to Iraq or Afghanistan and it’s not for the combat pay, or the challenging events that will take place but it’s my civic duty to protect this country; a duty that I take highly and I’m proud to wear this uniform. I always think what our military or country would be like today if 9-11 never occurred. One thing I do know is that my perception then of what civic duty to your country is totally different now and I am proud to serve my country as part of my civic duty.
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S Government."
To many people, service to your country can be described as being one of the proudest and patriotic things an individual can do in his or her lifetime. For some, it can be described as fulfilling their civic duty as a citizen of this country. From the early beginnings of time up to the present there have been many opportunities for individuals to serve their country in one capacity or another. They have served as police officers, firemen, or doctors, who fulfill his or her commitment to his country by helping those who are sick. Out of all the opportunities to so serve one’s country I believed that joining the military, especially the Army, was the best way for me to pay for my college tuition, take on challenges that most Americans do not want to do or cannot do to serve my country and last but not least fulfill my civic duties as a American Soldier.
As a teenager in growing up in the Midwest I always played some type of sport in high school, no matter if it was baseball, basketball, and football. I remember during my senior year in high school an Army Recruiter would come out every evening during our football practices and sit and watch us run drills, plays and scrimmage. After the practice he would come up to us and ask those of us who were still around if they had ever thought about joining the military, especially the Army. The majority of the team who was still there would always say, “No thanks,” and run off to escape the recruiter. Normally I would stay there to hear his spill or pitch but in the back of my mind knowing I was going straight to college with a scholarship for football and baseball. He would always say if you have any questions don’t hesitate to stop by the recruiting office to talk to him. The recruiting office happened to be located right next to our public library. One day after speaking with my father, an Army Veteran, he told me go by and see the recruiter and see what the military has to offer. That day came and I stopped by the recruiter’s office and he showed me video of World War 2, video of basic training and some other stuff. He also talked about how the Army could pay for my college just in case I didn’t get those scholarships I was expecting to get. He also told me about the Army Reserve Program where I could be a citizen Soldier, which didn’t seem to bad considering I could go to college and be a part of the Army once a month and two weeks in the summer. After finding out I was not going to be receiving the scholarships I called the recruiter and told him to sign me up.
I told the recruiter I wanted to do all the challenging things he had shown me in the videos. He showed me all the challenging training I would receive in basic training and other training programs I could go after finishing my basic and advanced individual training (AIT) that would challenge me mentally and physically even more. I remember calling home during basic training and telling my parents everything challenging I had done and how I felt like Superman at times. I remember writing my buddies back at home and explaining the feeling of going through the Gas Chamber, repelling off a tower, and firing the numerous weapon systems that the average American citizen would not have the confidence or skill sets to do. Up to this point by serving my country, I had my college tuition being paid for, and I was doing challenging things most Americans would never even contemplate doing. Army life was great until September 11, 2001.
I remember September 11, 2001 I was preparing to brief our Brigade Commander during our monthly Commander’s Update Brief, when our BDE S2 walked in and whispered something in the Brigade Commander’s ear. From that moment on my outlook on the Army had changed from just being in the Army to do challenging things to now protecting our country and allies from terrorism. At that point it had become my civic duty as a Soldier to ensure the protection of this country with a new outlook that encompasses it is a privilege now more than ever to serve this country. I was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq from Oct 05 – Aug 06 as Company Commander of a Quartermaster unit and even though I missed my family and friends I felt proud to be doing what we were doing for our country. I remember coming back from deployment and how people asking me,” Do I think we should have been there,” and my response always was I took a oath to defend the constitution bottom line!
I have volunteered numerous times to go back to Iraq or Afghanistan and it’s not for the combat pay, or the challenging events that will take place but it’s my civic duty to protect this country; a duty that I take highly and I’m proud to wear this uniform. I always think what our military or country would be like today if 9-11 never occurred. One thing I do know is that my perception then of what civic duty to your country is totally different now and I am proud to serve my country as part of my civic duty.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
