Posted on Nov 4, 2015
Do you consider yourself lucky/fortunate/grateful for the opportunity to serve or have served?
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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."
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Responses: 29
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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!
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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.
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TSgt David Bariu
Its God's way of guiding me to better myself ......am definitely thankful and grateful to have served in the US Military....
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I am proud to have served and honored that I was able to serve my country.
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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!.......
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SSgt (Join to see)
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.
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.
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LT (Join to see)
Very true PO1 John Miller. After seeing a few friends, who were very passionate about joining, get rejected during the entry process due to medical and other reasons, I consider myself honored and fortunate to have the privilege to serve.
I know we're all quick to smack down the "I wanted to serve, but..." crowd, but I think a bit of empathy is needed at times with those people. Some of them really did hear the call to serve and attempted to answer it and were turned away through no real fault of their own. I've personally seen how devastating that can be to some people as their perceived future and dream is squashed. It can really be cause for an existential crisis. That said I hope those people are able to turn their passion for selfless service elsewhere as I'm sure they can be put to good use.
I know we're all quick to smack down the "I wanted to serve, but..." crowd, but I think a bit of empathy is needed at times with those people. Some of them really did hear the call to serve and attempted to answer it and were turned away through no real fault of their own. I've personally seen how devastating that can be to some people as their perceived future and dream is squashed. It can really be cause for an existential crisis. That said I hope those people are able to turn their passion for selfless service elsewhere as I'm sure they can be put to good use.
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PO1 John Miller
LT (Join to see)
Very true Sir. I have a few civie friends who are going to nursing school and want to work for the VA when they graduate.
Very true Sir. I have a few civie friends who are going to nursing school and want to work for the VA when they graduate.
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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 (Join to see).
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