Millions of American need to better understand the costs of serving our country. Please share your answer to this question. Lets hear from civilians and veterans. Your experience and thoughts will help us to appreciate and to be inspired. — Why do US veterans deserve honor and our respect?
Honoring All Who Serve
Here are some of this civilian’s reasons. Please add to them and help fellow Americans better understand the difficulties, sacrifices and hardships of choosing to stand in the ranks of our nation’s defenders:
It is very unfortunate to have to go to war. Most people, including warriors, wish that taking the lives of others was never necessary. But Evil exists. The world is full of very bad people who manipulate others into doing horrible things and threaten the peaceful existence of nations. And so it is required for our country, which believes in “liberty and justice for all,” to make a stand for righteousness, freedom and the defense of innocent people.
Killing others is never an easy job. It changes a person forever. Of course, with today’s advanced weaponry a warrior may not see his victims eye to eye when using his deadly skills. The warrior may only see the aftermath of carnage and destruction. Artillery gunners who fire rockets from miles away also experience remorse for killing. And support personnel who participate in the machinery of killing also are commonly troubled by their actions.
We ask these defenders of truth to do the most difficult job on earth. The personal cost of taking on this responsibility is often significant.
Every warrior also has a family. His ties with them are inevitably strained, particularly if they are married and have children. A four year enlistment can mean two years or more apart from loved ones. Much is missed.
Transitioning back into civilian society is also difficult for GIs. They have sacrificed several years of their youth to protect others. Their education and vocational development is tardy. Many have to start all over again where they were before enlisting several years ago. Catching up is difficult and can take years.
Who volunteers for this? And why would they? – The primary answer has to be: Extraordinary Americans. Our country exists because of these particular citizens. They have proven their patriotism by the willingness to give their lives so that others we can live.
Americans must be devoted to the support of these exemplary servants of our country. They have done everything to deserve it.
Please add your reasons. — We especially need to hear from veterans.
Mark Baird
As a veteran who served during the cold war era I can tell you that serving our fine nation was an honor. That said, I find that many people who have not served do not realize the sacrifices that a person goes through to serve in the military. The main sacrifice is the seperation from their family. Service members serving aboard our naval ships are at sea for months at a time and may not see family members for months. This can be a struggle on young marriages. These brave souls may be seriously injured or even killed while protecting the rest of the citizens here at home. Just because they may be over in Iraq or Afganistan, this does not mean that they are not protecting us here at home. Sure war is bad but if it were not for our brave service members we would not have the freedoms that we now have.
Christian Networking Group (Online Community)
Jeff Holsinger • I retired after 22+ years of service to this nation and the reason we should support our Armed Forces is that they are the reason we have the Freedom to have a “Christian Networking Group”. They are the reason that America is the most Free nation on earth. I have been all around the world and no one—no one has the freedoms we have. May God bless them and keep the safe so they can protect us and keep us safe.
Christian Networking Group (Online Community)
Jo Lawler • Regardless of our views on politics or government, we absolutely must support our troops. They are our fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, our brothers and our sisters. They volunteered to do a job that is often unrecognized, thankless. Yet, it is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. If they are willing to take all the risks, why on earth would anyone refuse to support them, much less thank them for their service?
They understand, perhaps better than we ever will, why we must do everything we can to keep the war off our own soil. How quickly we forget the horror of 9/11, when the war was brought to us. The price would have been immeasurable higher had we backed down. We are not the aggressor, we are the defender. If defending our own country and freedoms means that we fight for other oppressed people, then so be it.
To all who serve, who have served and who will – thank you!
Security Industry Professionals
James Peterson • Thanks for the reminder that we need to thank those who have served to protect our freedoms here at home. As a Navy veteran I feel honored to have served this fine nation.
As a retried Marine myself, I belief that we need to support all those men and women that serve in our military forces. Quite often they experience many family separations and are deployed for many months out of the year. Our military folks are our defenders of freedom and I for one respect and appreciate their dedication and service that they signed up for. Too often civilian people complain about the military but most of these complainers have no idea what a military person goes through in peace time and especially what they go through during the hardships that they encounter in war time. Our great country is great because of the men and women that wears the uniform and I for one say “THANK YOU” to them!
* Group: Federal Government Contractor Network (TFCN)
* Subject: New comment (11) on “Why should we support our Armed Forces? Please share.”
10 Reasons to hire a Vet
1. Being in the military or being a veteran, these people have already made a key decision to join a team that is greater than themselves. They know how to take the long view of what is best for the team. They know that TEAM can be an acronym for Together Everyone Achieves More.
2. The military mindset leads to focus on the goal. Whether it is “Take that hill, Sergeant!” or “The old man needs that report ASAP!” the veteran or active military person focuses on “Make It Happen!” and gets the job done.
3. Military personnel make lasting connections that last a lifetime. When you recruit a veteran or an active duty person you are getting all of the contacts they made in Basic Training, Technical Trade School, and in every unit they ever served in. Imagine what this could do for your network.
4. On the same note, when you recruit a military person, they continue to make connections based on their military service; ie, VFW, American Legion, AMVETS, DAV, the VA, etc. Imagine if you got just 10% of the local veterans service organizations membership on your team.
5. The military teaches those who serve to look “outside the box” and look for non-traditional solutions to those challenges all of us face. Wouldn’t that be an asset the next time you had a “no show” or your reservations were lost, or some other type of situation cropped up?
6. Military personnel learn how to cope in stressful situations. You will find that when you recruit a veteran/military person, you have someone who does not quit every time they face a difficulty. They face challenges head on and find solutions.
7. You and your network should be recruiting military and veterans because you need to have a team that is teachable. Aren’t you tired of having team members ask “Why?” and ask for the same information over and over? With veterans and military people you get a team of professionals who know how to receive instructions, take notes, prioritize tasks, and most important, carry it out. The questions you will get from them will be how they can get it done in the most efficient manner, maximize profits, etc.
8. If your network operates internationally you really need military and veterans involved. As stated earlier, military personnel make connections that last a lifetime. Some of those connections end up being people from those international communities in which they have served. So, if you have markets in Europe, Asia, or Latin America, it makes sense to connect with someone who has connections in those places.
9. Career military and veterans have learned the lesson of delayed gratification. They have served for 20 or more years for a pension that is 50% of their base pay. Oh yeah, and the benefits. Most of them know they will have to work to supplement their retirement income. This is a plus.
10. Military and veteran personnel are realists. They know that to be successful in networking, WORK is involved. And you will find they have the best work ethic. They are used to pulling 24 hour shifts, walking a post that is a long way from home, and a wide assortment of other tasks that civilians find repetitive or boring.
Oh, one more bonus reason: Military and veterans know how to answer the phone in a professional manner. No more, “Yeah, whose this?” or cutesy phone messages. You will be amazed at the volume you will produce when you include veterans and military in your recruiting strategy.
Posted by Bobby L. Matthews, Jr.
* Group: Federal Government Contractor Network (TFCN)
* Subject: New comment (36) on “Why should we support our Armed Forces? Please share.”
Being a veteran, first and foremost, the support one receives from your family is most important. I remember a co worker asking me about my time in the military. I eventually started recalling the time we were out at sea for 97 days straight without stepping one foot on land and during that time we were working 12 on 12 off without a day off. This co worker was just amazed when I told him that there were no days off when a ship was underway. I guess people who have never served never really understand what that is like.
My father was very active in the American Legion and I remember him telling me that the only ones who truly support veterans were other veterans. I guess it was his way of saying that veterans really did understand what other veterans had to endure.
It is always comforting to hear about others supporting veterans other than just displaying a magnet on their car.
Posted by Robert Fish
* Group: Federal Government Contractor Network (TFCN)
* Subject: New comment (37) on “Why should we support our Armed Forces? Please share.”
I think it is a great question to obtain others point of view. I support the armed forces because they help protect our freedoms that we so often take for granted. My daughter (20 yrs. old) recently joined the Air Force Reserves while attending college and she has a brand new respect for our country, freedom, accountability and responsibility. I wish most of our youth coming along today would chose this experience as a part of their life journey. I believe they would have a newfound respect for our freedoms and privileges.
Posted by Tangela Davis, MBA