I am not a veteran. I am an Army wife. I am a military spouse who represents veterans helping them upgrade their discharge status, helping them secure benefits, and helping them adjust to life after the military.

The civilian trend of only celebrating combat service is toxic.

In 2020, I counted three reports of veterans turned politicians who either exaggerated, misled, or flat out lied about what was otherwise incredibly honorable military service (+1 kid who just lied).

We need to have a conversation about what incentivizes that behavior.

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There is this image of a "war hero" that of a soldier in the midst of combat acting honorably, risking it all, saving lives--the things civilians watch in the movies.

And while people like that absolutely exist--we owe it to our service members to expand that image.

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The majority of service members never see combat.

But their commitment to our country--and the sacrifice that they + their family has made to our nation is no less deserving of praise, celebration, story-telling or honor.

4/

But many veterans will tell you that because they did not see combat they are not deserving of praise, resources or benefits.

They don't think they earned it the way their brothers + sisters in combat did--that the limited resources should be given to those most in need.

5/

This is a byproduct of their selflessness, courage, honor, and in some cases a legitimate depression that overcomes them for a number of reasons.

But I think civilians ought to do some of the lifting here by acknowledging that non-combat roles are equally important.

6/

There are service members who track terrorists down by tracing their financial networks.

There are service members who prepare food, who process paperwork, who inventory property + who provide medical care.

There are service members who maintain aircraft + vehicles +ships.

7/

There are service members who serve as interpreters, firefighters, divers, electricians, carpenters, engineers, paralegals, linguists, psychologists, dentists, and chaplains.

There are service members who spend months at sea never in combat, but always far from home.

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There are service members who spend years in foreign countries on non-combat deployment rotations.

There are service members who spend their career stateside as military police, public affairs officers, and airfield operators.

9/

So when I hear stories about politicians fabricating their service--trying to pump it up to make it look more Hollywood--I get extra Army wife pissed because instead of standing on their own honorable, decent record they don't think it's enough.

But it most certainly is.

10/

We must insist on the standard that whatever your service is--whatever you did--however you contributed--no matter what it was--it was enough.

Giving what you have to give is enough.

It is honorable.

It does matter.

You made a difference.

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And when we let veterans know that their valor is not dependent upon time in combat, but on their dedication to their assignment which enabled the larger mission to succeed--we create a culture of service that values every single human piece of the puzzle.

12/

Politicians hyping up their record does a disservice when they could set an example.

There's tremendous honor in serving, in sacrificing time with your family.

If you've ever felt like your service wasn't "real"--know that I see you. I thank you.

You made a difference.

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