The Oath

Would like to take a moment to thank all of the service men and women I’ve ever had the honor of meeting, of simply being in their lives for a while and learning so much about the human spirit. Take a moment to think of the sacrifice once that oath is taken, once the protect and defend responsibility becomes yours and changes life forever. Any path or journey you were on or hoping to be on becomes inextricably a part of something much larger.

At some point, early on or long after basic training, the sacrifice of self, of family, of the many benefits of life stops becoming a burden. Service life changes and is no longer a sacrifice for the soldier. Instead, each and every soldier becomes part of a bigger family with a great many benefits to life. The oath becomes a foundation, a solid rock to stand on. For if the soldier did not believe in the oath, there would be no soldier.

Endless training, being pushed to the limit and beyond, all to prepare for the possibility of conflict. Underpinning all service, at any time the soldier may be called upon to sacrifice their self. From one small oath, the unconditional devotion that the soldier carries with him or her is undeniably the most honorable achievement one could do for their country.

There was a time I worked with the military — directly with for twenty or so years and a mix of civilians and military for another twenty. For most of those years I was a one-person shop and working for the top tier of management. A bit scary for a hippie-looking fella being around all that brass.

I kept my head down and worked hard. Had sort of lucked into the job and with a growing family, mounting bills, really needed the work. I was good at what I did, but for the next 40-odd years, I knew I could’ve been dropped from the rolls with one upset boss.

Never having served in the military, I felt out of place at first with all the green suiters. Out of the turbulent 60s, misguided notions of troubled youth, two older brothers already on their own paths, I didn’t understand the true soldier ethos, not knowing a thing about anything.

The backdrop to all of this was a stepfather, an enlisted man who married my mother along with four children. He was a drinker who later stopped, but there were turbulent times on the home front frequently. He ran the house with inspections and there was plenty of negativity going on. By the time I left home, I wanted nothing to do with the military. Still didn’t know much about a thing.

What I did eventually learn changed my life dramatically. Working alongside both enlisted and officers for all those years, I grew to appreciate and respect the people they were. I learned of the commitment, the perseverance and dedication that soldiers have.

Even at the end of their service years, soldiers remain true to the oath. Their last assignment after twenty years of service to the country might net them a year and a half in Korea on an unaccompanied tour (no family). The soldiers I knew grumbled a bit, but never really complained. Rather, they prepared themselves and their families for strength and resolve they would need to make it through.

Active duty, prior military, doesn’t matter. These men and women, their families as well, are true blue American heroes and are to be thanked for their service, their devotion to duty. Enlisted or officer, the road is long and hard and at times a bit unfair. The life of a soldier, however, speaks to character. These men and women chose a tough path…in a sense, their sacrifices were our gain.

Respect for those fallen and for all those alive. For the ones who pulled pranks and gave this civilian a hard time, just because. For the countless soldiers I met and worked alongside with, learned about, and learned from…thank you. You have trained me well.