There’s More to a Soldier, More to a Veteran

1.    What inspired Jesse to serve in the military?
2.    Name two ways Jesse is living the stories of the men and women from the VFW hall. Eleven are listed in the post.
3.    Name one way you can serve your school or your community.
Answers are at the end of this post

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​This is my Facebook friend, Jesse. He’s a West Point grad, army lieutenant, and Afghanistan veteran. For Veteran’s Day I wanted to do something from a military point of view, so I asked Jesse.
 
This is Jesse in action, on patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He paused for a photo with 2 other soldiers, but he said there’s more to a being a soldier than going on patrol. I googled military jobs. There are 150, ranging from cook to dentist to mechanic.
 
When I interviewed Jesse, I was surprised to learn he never wanted to be a soldier. That sounds like me. I’m a principal’s daughter, and I never wanted to be a teacher. Jesse and I should never have said never.
 
Everything changed for Jesse when he competed in the Voice of Democracy contest in high school. You can compete too. Contact your local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for details. You start at the local level. If you do well enough, you go to nationals and can earn up to $30,000 for college. That’s a nice chunk of change! When Jesse competed in 2010, America had been at war for 10 years. He wasn’t interested in a military career, but, listening to local veterans inspired him. It changed him, forever.
 
I had to ask how. How could talking to a bunch of old men/women change your mind? Jesse answered, that as he listened, he heard a common thread, that military service was the defining point in their lives. Not only did these people come of age, they became civically aware in a way he’d never seen before. These veterans were actively involved in their communities, finding problems and solving them. They were leaders in their communities. They made a difference, and for Jesse, this contest was a defining moment in his life.
 
I wanted this to be Jesse’s story so I asked what he’d like to say. He answered, “Being a soldier is more than wearing 60 pounds of body armor and carrying an assault rifle. It’s a commitment to others, to the left and the right, to the idea of America, and the ideas that make America unique. This commitment stays with you after you’ve served and takes on a different form. The veterans you see in your community, are inspired by their service to continue serving others.”
  
Then he said, “I’m living the stories of the old men and women in the VFW hall.” I asked how. How are you like those men from WWII, Korea, or Vietnam? He answered:
-        Those veterans talked about tough times spent away from home.
-        Time spent navigating army bureaucracy to get the things you or your men needed.
-        In dangerous settings, looking out for the guy to your left, and your right.
-        Jumping out of planes to complete a mission.
-        Marching towards an enemy you’ve never seen or met, because you are committed to the mission, and to the people around you.
-        Riding in an armored vehicle that opens to a blast of sand and mud huts poking up out of a desert. You see fields where villagers eke out a living. You’re here because your commitment required it, whether you’re welcome, or not.
-        You meet kids who might throw rocks at you one day, then ask for candy and pens the next. They use limited English and their hands to communicate.
-        You return to the base to talk with your buddies about what you’ve seen and heard, happy to see another day.
-        You’re rudely awakened by rockets attacking your base.
-        You eat poor army food, disgusting but edible, whether they’re from a cafeteria or MRE (meal ready to eat). BTW, they even come with a heating element.
-        Some nights you sleep in the open air, looking at the stars, but ready for action.

Wow, I can’t imagine living this life. I always thought teaching was hard, at least the way I did it. I gave of myself every day for my students. Looking back, it was the only way I could be the teacher I wanted to be. But, as tough as teaching was, it does not compare to what our military does every day. So today, and all days when you see a soldier or a veteran, please think why you’re thankful for their service. Be specific. If you’re in doubt, pick a fact from this post that means something to you.
 
So, I’ll finish by saying, “Jesse, thank you for your service, for giving your time and talent to the mission, instead of taking an easier route.” ​

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There’s More to a Soldier, More to a Veteran
1.    What inspired Jesse to serve in the military?
He was inspired by meeting and talking to veterans while competing in the Voice of Democracy Contest.
2.    Name two ways Jesse is living the stories of the men and women from the VFW hall.
-        Those veterans talked about tough times spent away from home.
-        Time spent navigating army bureaucracy to get the things you or your men needed.
3.    Name one way you can serve your school or your community.
Example: I can help at school by working with students who’re having trouble on a paper.
I can help my community by cleaning up trash I see in my neighborhood.

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