They Signed up for it. A phrase I’ve heard or seen several times over my years as a Military spouse. At times it was in response to how we should honor the service of the fallen. Other times it was in response to honoring those who currently serve. It’s an accurate statement to some degree, they did, after all, sign up for it. I wonder though, how many would do it again once they truly understood what they signed up for? When you join the Military you get a job title, some training and a uniform and you are sent on your way. There’s no handbook on your personal experiences to come.
Some sign up because they want to serve their country, some sign up because they want to be the ones actively protecting their families, and others sign up because of the free education opportunity. There are many reasons why someone might sign up, but do they truly know what they are getting into when they do?
Most pilots think that their main job in the military is going to be flying, but that job typically comes second. They aren’t always aware that their squadron job will often take up more time than their flying job. They don’t always realize that depending on which plane they fly, they can end up stuck all over the world for days or weeks on end due to a broken part. The KC-135 for example has been around since 1954, the B-52 since 1955 and the list of aged aircraft goes on. They don’t always know that at times they will be stuck in questionable countries under questionable and dangerous circumstances. Some so dangerous they have to spend the night on the runway in the plane. They don’t know what a deployment is ACTUALLY like or how it will impact their family until they live it.
Not every troop on the ground immediately knows the “rules” of war when they are up against people who don’t have any. They haven’t experienced watching their friend and brother getting blown up by an IED right in front of their eyes prior to signing up. They haven’t been faced with the gut wrenching task of choosing to kill the enemy because if they don’t, the enemy will kill them and not think twice. These are things they may have thought about, but thinking about them and experiencing them are two completely different things. It’s not a war movie, it’s real life. They can’t just walk away and forget what they’ve seen.
A medic may have an idea of what it’s like to treat war wounds, but what happens when someone has both of their legs blown off? In war, there isn’t a hospital on the battle field. They are tasked with keeping the wounded alive while trying to get them safely to proper treatment.
When they sign up, they are at the service of their country. They do not decide where they go, what they do or when/where they deploy. They don’t get to say no, even if they don’t agree with every aspect of the job.
So yes, they signed up for it, but did they really understand what they were signing up for? The sacrifices they would be making? The mental and emotional impact it would have on them and those they love? The answer is almost assuredly, no. Is that bravery or foolishness to decide to serve not knowing the magnitude of what’s to come? Most of the men and woman I know would make that same choice again, even knowing what they know now. I call that bravery.
That’s what service is. The desire to serve something outside of yourself, and taking a leap without fully understanding what that means for your life.