Ever wanted to join the US military forces just because you want to? Not because of necessity, money for school or the need to kill. I’m talking about looking at a commercial and feel that somehow you have the need to wear the uniform, the need to have the skills, the pride of going up ranks, the chance to control today’s most sophisticated vehicles, planes and weapons, the feel to know that you’re fighting for the lives of those you love and your country.
I would like to feel that way, every time I watch the TV show JAG, every time I see an Army, Navy or Marine commercial. To see them in those uniforms makes me proud of them and it makes me wish I was by their side sharing that life style. You’re probably asking yourself “if you feel that way then why don’t you just join the military forces and get it over with?”, but then you also probably have the answer to that question as well. Something along the lines of “ he’s not stupid, not with the war in Iraq going on” or “ he’s probably not up to it” and maybe even “he’s scared of dying”. If this is what you think I would have to say you couldn’t be more wrong. Till today I still believe we have done the right thing in Iraq ( but that’s just my opinion and it’s not the topic of this article so don’t go there) so I don’t fear doing my part if necessary, I may not be fit to handle the stress of the training mentally and physically but the only way to know is trying and yes I am afraid of dying, but who isn’t? This will not stop me from doing the things that I like, I will except that death will come someday regardless of how, dying as a soldier would only make it more honorable as far as I’m concerned.
So why not join? Simple, I can’t make up my mind simply because I think about my wife, kids and my mother. I fear of leaving them alone to face the world while I join, train and maybe even fight. I’m the man of the house, the one who brings home the bacon; my wife has yet to prove to me that she can replace me if needed. I guess you can also think if she is not given the chance to prove herself how can she do it on her own? I don’t see why she can’t do it today, with me here. I also fear leaving them alone if I was to lose my life. I feel it would be much worse than leaving them for a while. Even worse is I don’t wish to leave them behind, I will miss my children and I would hate to think that the last thing I see before I die is anything but them, that the last time I saw them was months and maybe years ago and to die far away from them sounds heartbreaking to me. I know many soldiers go thru this; some never get to see their newborns, others won’t ever see their parents, girlfriends, children or spouses again.
So, every time I see a commercial, every time I watch JAG, I ask myself should I join the military forces? Then I go into this circle of “I should” and “I can’t”. I’m only 30 and still able to join, I can’t make up my mind. I only know that once I make a decision I will not be ashamed of what I chose regardless of what anyone says.
(disclaimer: This is not a Bush bashing article, this has nothing to do with Bush, this disclaimer is the only time Bush is being mentioned. I will not allow this article to become a Bush bashing fest so please I ask to keep you comments to the topic. Say what you wish about me or what I think but I only want opinions and ideas about joining the US Military Forces. Thank you.)