On Military Service – First and foremost, Service is about Sacrifice. I’m not just talking about the Ultimate Sacrifice – the Sacrifice of ones’ Life – although I am prepared to make that Sacrifice if need be. I’m talking about all the other stuff along the way. Service Members sacrifice Freedom. Once they voluntarily take the Oath of Enlistment, they are bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice and as such (for the sake of discipline and unity) surrender freedoms that the citizens they protect take for granted everyday. They sacrifice financial gain by taking a military pay check for their skills rather than accepting a more lucrative position for the same skills in the private sector. They sacrifice time – going into the field for training and on long deployments that take them away from family and friends, often from supportive religious communities and are sometimes forced by these circumstances to put personal academic growth on hold. Reservists are required to train one weekend a month and two weeks a year. They follow a year long training schedule made in advance without regard for the Service Member’s personal lives. This schedule can change according to the needs of the Military and without prior warning. Reservists are required to adapt with it. Consequently, Reservists miss weddings, anniversaries, events for their children and sometimes funerals if they can’t be scheduled around the pre-determined training weekend.
Sometimes duties require long hours for days even weeks or months at a time and they sacrifice sleep and personal comfort. Many are injured or weakened as a result of their service and sacrifice physical and mental health. Some are captured and sacrifice in unimaginable ways as they suffer at the hands of their captors.
These are the realities of service. Anyone contemplating entering Military Service needs to understand and accept these sacrifices as they are expected regardless of why (college money, bonuses, job skill training, free heath care) they chooses to serve.
If you are not prepared to make these sacrifices, don’t join the Service.
Tags: Military Service, Nic's Manifesto
