Veteran Awareness

Military service is the highest level of commitment to one's country. Deciding to enlist is one of the biggest decisions any individual will make in a lifetime. As a new service member, you will more than likely be leaving home for the first time. From the day you take the oath and enter basic training, your whole life has changed. This means being away from home for months or years, moving your family, being away from your family, missing births, missing birthdays, missing holidays, being the name on someone’s DD93 emergency contact and benefit notification papers, not knowing where home will be next, and more.

Being a veteran also means endless adventures, traveling the world for your job, the opportunity to continue your college education, access to the GI Bill, teaching others what you already learned, recognition for your service and sacrifices, a lifetime of stories, and sharing your pain with others who have experienced it and understand it. Most of us do not know what that is like. These are some of the bravest people in the U.S., and no two have had the same experience.

Every training assignment, set of orders, or deployment affects more than the one who signed their life over to the military. Every one of these folks has family and friends at home who don’t know when they will get a call to hear their voice or even see them again. These veterans have at one point had to say goodbye, not knowing if there would be a hello again. Moms, dads, siblings, kids, neighbors, friends, and others also pay a price to have a loved one in the military. They are riddled with challenges for the dirt we walk on, and our veterans have paid the ultimate price for us to fly our American flags and set off fireworks.

Before being a veteran, these folks signed up for a life-altering task, much of which is unseen. The commitment they make is both mental and physical. These aggressive changes are not without benefit. Military service provides training unlike any other you can receive anywhere else. You will push yourself mentally and physically. You will be trained to persevere and keep a level head in any situation. You will train with fellow service members to keep you in the best shape of your life.

Weighing these pros and cons is often done by individuals but felt by many. One thing is for sure: our whole country benefits from the sacrifices made by these brave service members. So next time you see a veteran, please take the time to thank them for their service. Remember that freedom isn't free!

Renee Rouser

Campaign Lead, CWA District 4