by Jack Lee
Serving in the United States military is a privilaged obligation. Now let me explain that. It is a privilage because not everyone can be in the military nor should they be. It is an obligation because every citizen ought to serve their country in some form at some time in their life and a military obligation is the highest form of service.
For as long as we have been a nation, with our unique idealism and freedom somebody in uniform has had to defend it. Why should your son or daughter be any different than our sons and daughters? If they are merely thinking of joining that shows character and I would hope that caring parents would give them the encouragement to follow through on their desires. This is a tough thing to do because the world is a dangerous place and being in the military comes with a certain risk. But, life would a lot more risky without a strong military. Somebody has to do it.
Whether their enlistment lasts two years or twenty, what matters is they took that initial step forward to do their duty. And in exchange for that service their country will reward them with a first class education in what it means to be an American citizen. When they get out they’ll qualify for more rewards, like the G.I. bill for a home loan or education. But, this is not about benefits, its about patriotism.
A lot of people who have never served have this twisted idea that being in the military is like Hollywoods version of “Full Metal Jacket”. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, there is a certain amount of yelling and exhaustion that goes on in boot camp, but it’s all part of a program. Millions have gone through it and even boot camp just isn’t that bad today.
I’ve had a chance to observe our services evolve for many years and I’m convinced our military has never been better. Especially when you consider the educational opportunities…it really adds up fast to a good job. You can’t put a price on serving your country, but in terms of character building, military service pays dividends for a life time.