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My military career spanned two decades. The last 3 years was spent training our future Army officers who for the most part were 5+ years of age when terrorist decided to attack us on US soil. These young men and women were too young to understand what happened on 9-11.
These same young men and women are now leading troops as Army officers wherever they may be, knowing they would have to make life and death decisions of sending your children into harms way.
I always had taken my job seriously, but this particular task I took to heart.
I always had taken my job seriously, but this particular task I took to heart.
I did everything possible, and with in my abilities to prepare them. They weren’t privileged, they weren’t victims, they were Americans who swore the same oath I swore. I am proud to have rendered their 1st salute and received a token of their appreciation a silver dollar.
This morning my thoughts were turned to them because I know I what trial, tribulations, joys, and pains they would face in the coming years. Hoping they would never in their careers face the horrors those of us have faced fighting the Global War on Terror.
9-12 through 9-15 I sat waiting with thousands of others for the orders to go and make the enemies of our great nation face the might of the US Army. We were stood down with great disappointment on 9-15.
While stowing our equipment away in the motor pool, we heard the C17s engines reeve and the their take off. Everything on Fort Bragg stopped. These were the 1st aircraft to fly into the sky from Bragg in what felt at the time like years.
I asked my Platoon Sgt who he thought was one those plane, and he said, “somebody cooler than us”. The next week I volunteered to be a Green Beret.
Going to Assess for SF became my passion. Being selected was a dream come true. But it came with a price.
Going to Assess for SF became my passion. Being selected was a dream come true. But it came with a price.
Years later I was in Afghanistan sitting on the roof in the early hours of the morning watching the sun rise. It was my second combat deployment, and my first in Afghanistan. I felt invincible. On that morning, I accepted a few realities.
One of the realities was the possibility of never returning home to see my wife and daughters. This particular reality helped me understand that life is precious. Taking in the beautiful Afghan landscape, my mission was to be the best me I could possibly be.
Fast forward 15 years later, the end of 2 decades of war, coupled with losing too many friends from combat and suicide, I have accepted another reality, that God left me to fight another day, in a different capacity.
For those that read this tweet, be grateful for all that you have and take nothing for granted.
