1. Kate

   01/05/2009 at 9:30 pm

   My husband is a Marine (OIF) Vet and I am enlisted in the Air National Guard. And when it comes to outside people talking about either of us – when it comes to us serving, everyone assumes it’s so difficult. Like he was never home when in the Marines and I’m never home now (which is ridiculous because I am only Guard and hold a full-time job I love).

   I get the feeling most people don’t understand that to many of us, it’s a job that we accept with open arms. That we truly enjoy what we do in ALL aspects. And that going home to our families is what really matters – whether I’m coming home from working with the dogs, or I’m coming home from the hangars.

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2. Scott

   01/05/2009 at 10:36 pm

   And furthermore… how many of them WANT to understand us. Those with the ‘connection’ surely do. But for those without, I sometimes feel that they don’t WANT to understand.

   For some it may humanize us, which may run contrary to their strongly held political beliefs. And we, militarily related, couldn’t possibly understand this.

   Others may not want to for fear of “knowing” someone and eventually having to grieve.

   Yet others may be the “sheep”, not willing to acknowledge the ‘sheepdog’ until the wolf is nearby and he is needed.

   Of course, the most likely thing, is that I’m full of crap and just putting what I know about a few people into the context of the larger group.

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3. Sean

   01/07/2009 at 12:18 am

   I am a service member proudly serving in the Army. I thought this article brought up a very good point. I agree that most people do not realize that service members are ordinary people with friends and families just like they are. I think much of peoples perspectives on service members is based on what they see on the news, on how they view the military politically, or on their family members or friends that are serving. The only true difference between service members lives and civilians lives, is that service members proudly put on a uniform, and place themselves in harms way because they realize that freedom is worth fighting for. Service members are patriots that proudly defend the cause of freedom. The only real downside of being a service member is the emotional strain that a mobilization or a deployment places on both the service members and their families. The fear of what happens if a service member doesnt come home or comes home wounded, is shared by themselves, their family’s and friends. Service members have to deal with the stress of being in combat in a far away land, unable to spend time with their families, or to take care of simple things such as looking after their children, fixing things around the house, fixing a car that has broken down. But they realize that if freedom isnt defended, it will be taken, so they are willing to lay their lives on the line and defend it. All that aside, service members and their families have the same hopes, dreams, wants and needs as civilians do. They simply took up the cause of freedom, and defend it. The only thing a service member asks in return, is that people realize how precious freedom is, and that they dont take it for granted.

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4. MIckey

   01/08/2009 at 10:08 am

   Thanks for all these wonderful comments, I know what you are saying is so true. But I have found that most people don’t want to know, because they may have to learn to rethink about what is really going on next door to them. As a Gold Star Mom, I can tell you that even all the friends I had before Jason died, don’t know want to know about military life, or even that he loved his job. And like many jobs there are parts that we may not like, but we still do the BEST we can to make it better. Sorry for the rambling. God Bless

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