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July 22, 2004
Friends
Here's a wonderful essay by Sgt. Missick, a currently deployed soldier:
One of the aspects to this deployment and time in theater that I have enjoyed, has been the friends I have made from units, both active duty and reserve, from around the country. The deployment process is arduous for any reservist, the culture shock of immediately removing yourself from civilian life and all the comforts that entails, and becoming a soldier preparing for operations in theater can best be described as dramatic.The first time this form of “culture shock” surfaces for members of the national guard and reserves, it is a shared experience with those who will be entering active duty. Basic Training is more than a period of physical conditioning, it is a rite of passage into a new life structured by discipline and guided by values. The 9 weeks of basic training is continued as soldiers enter AIT, Advanced Individual Training, and receive class room and hands on training in their MOS, or Military Operational Specialty. After these months of joint training and rigorous preparation to become a member of America’s fighting forces, the experiences of Reserve/Guard soldiers and Active Duty soldiers becomes starkly different. Reservists return to their civilian careers and colleges, and active duty soldiers continue in their military careers, living their lives day in and day out as soldiers.
In theater however, we all must meet the expectations of being soldier’s on active duty, and as the nature of this war has placed 40% of the force in theater in the hands of America’s guard and reserve forces, the expectations of our performance are high.
Throughout this process however, the soldiers we come in contact with every day, and work side by side with, provide us with newfound friends and potentially life-long acquaintances. I have been fortunate enough to make such friends, particularly Sgt. Johnson and Specialist Doherty, as well as people stationed in places extremely diverse, from Germany to South Dakota and from all parts of the country. It’s amazing how much we as American’s have in common here, despite such massive geographical differences. Although we may have different tastes in music, have grown up in the mega-apolis of Southern California or the smallest of Mid-West towns, we are forged together by a love of country and commitment to the US Army. In regards to my MOS, we are not daily placing life or limb on the line, but we exist together in a an atmosphere that is tense, and share stories of dreams we hope to accomplish when we are once again back home. For most of us, there is always a person back home our heart wants to pursue, an education we want to fulfill, or a vacation we want to take. These conversations help fill the void that these dreams have left, and talking about them often helps us live them out vicariously. It is this commonality that we all share, that despite our differences we have dreams we want to pursue, that creates an air of magic in the midst of so much commotion. Perhaps it is these conditions that help us all recognize the basic humanity of each other, that allow us to see that below the surface differences, we have a great number of things in common.
In a way, I wish everyone back in the states had the opportunity to experience this aspect of what service to country entails. The sense of belonging to a singular purpose creates a spirit of unity even as we all become frustrated with one another from time to time. There is always the adage to fall back on, that we are all in this together. As I have mentioned here countless times, I hope that the coming years in our country help to sterilize the venom in our political discourse, and help us understand that we share the greatest human gift God has bestowed to men and women born in the 20th and 21st century, that is the gift of American citizenship and the proud title of American. If my role in this war has taught me nothing else, it has clearly shown me that the greatest social advance we can make in our country is to recognize that we are all one people and that wondrous accomplishments await us when we work together for a single magnificent goal, whether that goal be defeating terrorism, (which seems as insurmountable today as defeating communism seemed 40 years ago) rebuilding our education system, or any other aspect of America’s social structure that is in dire need of repair and real solutions.
My son has expressed those same sentiments. His brother Marines are closer to him than some family members - fighting together can forge unbreakable bonds of friendship.
Posted by Deb at July 22, 2004 01:02 PM
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