My Love Hate Relationship With The Military Part 2
If you can remember way back in August, I wrote a blog on some of the things that I disliked about being in the military, Here is the other side with
the preface of the previous article immediately below.
After 17+ years in military service, 4 years USMC, and 13 more in the US Army I figured this would be as good a place as any to throw out a few statements regarding military service. Disclaimer: Not all "Loves" or "Hates" will apply for all users but many things will be similar.
I'll start with the easy ones. Stick around for part 2 tho' I may surprise you. I doubt it but hey... here it is, part 2.....
1. I have found that for learning about people from all walks of life, there is nothing better than shared suffering and shared satisfaction of a job well done. you also get to learn a lot of things that make people individuals, and a lot of what makes them similar.
2. Although the starting salary is not exactly high, I can say that there has never been a time when I worried about whether or not I could feed my family. (And i cannot honestly say that about my civilian experience.)
3. I have traveled to 47 of the 50 states, either on duty or en-route to them. This gives you a better overall picture of America.
(Yes it's still outside the window, not in a can Chip)
4. I have had the privelege of visiting 8 foreign nations either as part of my duties or in my free time.
Now let us get down to the real nitty gritty of the good things.
5. I get to work with a group of soldiers who's average intelligence dwarfs the population of most major universities. Now that fact doesn't make them any easier to work with but it sure makes the talk in the break area a whole lot more interesting than most places.
(That is, as long as they stay away from the Homo-eroticism.)
6. 1SG Case, 1LT Wells, CSM Robb, CSM Golden, SGM Guley, and to many other leaders who have taught me a great many things, even if i don't always do it the exact way you taught me, hey, I'm trying. I only hoped you learned something from me.
7. The soldiers I work with, grey, pseudo, SPC NBS, Talisein, and all the other pseudonym soldiers you have come to know on the pages of JU. To work with professionals who are firm in their belief that the job they do is important enough to do right, for the good of their fellows and our nation.
8. When I talk to my Sons and they wish I was with them, but they know what I do is important and know that the job my soldiers and I do makes their home a safer place to be.
9. The fact that I do believe in the Constitution of the United States of America, and know that what I do helps to support it, along with all that it entails.