Do you consider yourself lucky/fortunate/grateful for the opportunity to serve or have served?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 23:40:02 -0500

Was wearing the hat I have on in my profile photo, and a guy said, "Thanks for your service," and shook my hand. I asked him if he was a vet as well, he told me no, and trailed off into the "I wanted to enlist, but couldn't for xyz reason" spiel. Afterwards, I began thinking about how many people have told me they tried to enlist and got denied for various reasons. I'm sure some of them were just blowhards trying to feel good. But many of them really did try to enlist, and many of them really did want to serve in the armed forces of the USA. And I have had the opportunity to do just that. And I do feel grateful and thankful to have had and have the privilege to continue to do so. I believe my new reply to "Thanks for your service" is going to be, "Thank you, I'm honored to be able to."

Response by COL Charles Williams made Nov 4 at 2015 11:58 PM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 23:58:05 -0500

All three... SSgt Private RallyPoint Member

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Nov 4 at 2015 11:58 PM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 23:58:40 -0500

I sure do and if I had it all over again to do, I wouldn't change anything! What a hell of an experience and it shaped my life forever!

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Nov 4 at 2015 11:59 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 23:59:45 -0500

Whenever I hear "I wanted to serve, but... ", the conversation is promptly concluded. In fact, that is one of two pet peeves. Anyway, I agree: We're ALL lucky, fortunate, and grateful to have served. Nice perspective, SSgt Private RallyPoint Member.

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Nov 5 at 2015 12:29 AM

SGT Lou Meza — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 00:29:55 -0500

I consider myself honored to have had the opportunity to serve my country .

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 5 at 2015 12:37 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 00:37:22 -0500

Yes I do, as I realize that not everyone is able to serve. There are those, like you stated, that truly did want to but couldn't for whatever reason, and they're the ones who truly make me feel humble for being a veteran.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 5 at 2015 12:43 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 00:43:26 -0500

I tell them that it was my honor and privilege to serve.

Response by PO3 John Jeter made Nov 5 at 2015 12:47 AM

PO3 John Jeter — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 00:47:26 -0500

I have the greatest respect for those who just say, "The service wasn't my thing". I tend to tune out the excuse makers. I always was proud of serving, but I didn't appreciate it to the full extent until I hit civilian life. Especially when I hear some whiny entitlement crybaby fuss about "not being given respect"......."GIVEN?" Please!.......

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Nov 5 at 2015 12:52 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 00:52:38 -0500

I consider myself fortunate to have served. Those were some of the best years of my life. I especially consider myself fortunate to have had good leaders and good assignments. At a different time and at a different place things might have been different but for me everything was great. As for people wanting to serve but not being allowed to I have known a number of people who really did try to enlist but were rejected for various reasons so I tend to believe people when they tell me that.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 1:04 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 01:04:29 -0500

I am proud to have served and honored that I was able to serve my country.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 5 at 2015 1:05 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 01:05:23 -0500

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member Not everyone can qualify.
Initial entry to the service is a CHOICE I was fortunate enough to make. Have been LUCKY to have made to this point in my career, both health and development. And I am Grateful to have been FORTUNATE and LUCKY enough to have served so long for this great Nation! Some of our brothers and sisters were not so fortunate, and I strive to honor their sacrifices and carry the torch of freedom that they are no longer able to carry.

I have seen good times, bad times, hard times, bar brawls, ass whippings, trials, tribulations, illnesses, death, divorces, violence, joy, births and marriages (not necessarily in that order), promotions, demotions, IG Investigations, deployments, shenanigans.............................Through it all, when someone thanks me for serving, I respond by saying Thank you, but it is MY honor to serve.

You are on the right page. It is good to sit back and think about how fortunate we are.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 5 at 2015 1:32 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 01:32:34 -0500

I feel all three when it comes to my wife because she's a ton more than I deserve. That's very much internal. About the career? My thinking has morphed over time. 32 years of getting beat up every now and then and having a couple of skipper jobs, I tilt a bit different perhaps. I was lucky (blessed is a better word) that God placed me in this Country to serve. I'm fortunate to have worked with so many heroes. I'm grateful that I was able to keep my people alive and bring them home safe. Bottom line, those feelings are more how I feel to the external world than within. I feel proud that I "stood the watch". I miss those close that were lost over the years. Some leave us later on such as Dave Brown in the Columbia burn-up on re-entry. So it's really how you assess yourself in the mirror. That will mature over time.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 7:08 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 07:08:04 -0500

I feel very grateful for the opportunity to serve...something my wife and I have tried to instill in our children is "serving something greater than yourself." To those that couldn't enlist for whatever reason, the opportunity to serve your community, church, or neighborhood isn't limited to military service.

Response by SPC Mathew Brady made Nov 5 at 2015 7:59 AM

SPC Mathew Brady — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 07:59:53 -0500

I would have say not only all 3 but throw in there privelidged as well if that makes sense. We are part of the greatest brotherhood there is and for that I feel privelidged my country let me serve and deploy in a time of need. Absolutely a great question to wake up to and thank you for the fond memories it brought back. The deployments were hell on earth but I'd do it again for brothers.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Nov 5 at 2015 8:58 AM

LTC Bink Romanick — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 08:58:42 -0500

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member I am both fortunate and grateful to have served.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Nov 5 at 2015 10:31 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 10:31:38 -0500

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member very classy response...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 10:40 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 10:40:03 -0500

Indeed I do. To serve in the best Army on earth, how awesome is that? Being a soldier is a large part of who I am as an individual.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Nov 5 at 2015 11:32 AM

SGT Scott Bell — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 11:32:02 -0500

Yes i do.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 11:43 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 11:43:09 -0500

I am very grateful for the opportunity that I was able to serve my country.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 12:24 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 12:24:56 -0500

All of the above. It is a great feeling to be able to serve this country. No matter the length of service.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Nov 5 at 2015 12:55 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 12:55:38 -0500

I feel fortunate and grateful to have served my country and my brothers and sisters.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 5 at 2015 1:15 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 13:15:38 -0500

Yes as I was serving something greater than me.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Nov 5 at 2015 2:18 PM

SSG Todd Halverson — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 14:18:33 -0500

I say yes to all three. Serving in the Military is a privilege that I truly enjoyed.

Response by CAPT Tom Bersson made Nov 5 at 2015 7:08 PM

CAPT Tom Bersson — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 19:08:16 -0500

I sure do.

Response by CAPT Tom Bersson made Nov 5 at 2015 8:38 PM

CAPT Tom Bersson — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 20:38:44 -0500

There are many who wanted to serve but could not for many reasons. Most of them are probably very good people who respect those of us who served. We should respect them as fellow citizens of our great nation.

Response by SPC Mark Beard made Nov 5 at 2015 9:20 PM

SPC Mark Beard — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 21:20:20 -0500

I was fortunate and grateful

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Nov 5 at 2015 9:21 PM

SSG Michael Scott — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 21:21:42 -0500

Lucky

Response by SPC Donald Tribble made Nov 5 at 2015 9:33 PM

SPC Donald Tribble — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 21:33:39 -0500

Yes, I am a member of the best 1% there ever was!!!

Response by Maj Jeff Dodd made Nov 5 at 2015 10:05 PM

Maj Jeff Dodd — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 22:05:52 -0500

Yes to all three. I am eternally grateful to live in a country and serve in a military where a person can go from guarding airplanes to flying airplanes. I'm not sure there are the same opportunities for advancement in other countries armed forces. Like you alluded to in your question, not everyone is physically able to serve... Doesn't make them bad people. I can't get mad at people who are color blind, have flat feet, or suffer from asthma. That said, I think that some level of national public service (military or civil/community service) would make this country even better than it already is. Your response is a very classy way to say thanks to the folks for whom you serve.

Response by SSG William Schaffer made Nov 6 at 2015 1:12 AM

SSG William Schaffer — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 01:12:35 -0500

It was my honor to have served beside so many talented Americans.

Response by SSG Jeff Binkiewicz made Nov 8 at 2015 8:30 AM

SSG Jeff Binkiewicz — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 08:30:00 -0500

Very grateful. Loved every minute of it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 7:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 19:08:50 -0500

Eternally Grateful. I don’t know how to say it, but I feel somehow my military service gave more to me than I can say.