What have you done in your military career to help others off the battlefield?

2015-03-18T11:38:33-04:00

I saw this story on my other social network and it really hit a cord with me. People, for better or worse, look to Service Members as "heroes". Regardless how you feel about that label, I feel it's important that Service Members try to serve the community on and off the battlefield. The news is full of stories of scams and wrong doings by uniformed personnel. Heck, this very forum is littered with Stolen Valor articles and other stories taking away from some great information and ideas being shared.

So here is my question, what sort of thing have you done off the battlefield to improve someone's life? What can we do as Service Members to keep a more positive light on the men and women that wake up every day and put on a pair of all leather boots, pull the laces tight and step out when others stay inside?

Response by SGT Rik Thibodeau made Mar 18 at 2015 11:52 AM

2015-03-18T11:52:24-04:00

About 10 years ago, station in Vicenza, Italy, I dropped off my wife and kid at the Venice Airport and as we were waiting in line I noticed a young woman wit ha screaming baby in her arms at the desk looking frantic. After my family went in the terminal and I was leaving, I went to use the ATM and the same girl was there with an Italian airline worker, both her and the baby were bawling and she was just a mess. I asked what the problem was and she said her husband was deployed and she was supposed to fly home to stay with her family but she didn't know that she was supposed to pay some extra fee or something to pick up her ticket. Her ATM card was not working, she had no money and no ride back to Vicenza. I asked the Italian guy how much the fee was, he said 160 euros and I gave him my credit card and told him I would pay. The girl ended up making her plane at the last minute.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2015 12:28 AM

2015-09-16T00:28:51-04:00

SGT Ben Keen Great Story! Thanks for sharing this.

Response by SGT Jack Stevens made Jan 22 at 2018 1:55 AM

2018-01-22T01:55:03-05:00

In the late 90's at Ft Hood, I Had a friend who was married to a soldier in another unit and division than I was in. After he deployed to Kuwait for a 4 month deployment. I found out he had left her and her children in dire straits. I helped them out as best of my abilities. With me being an NCO, I knew I was walking a very fine line. And did everything I could possibly do with the limited resources this soldier and friend faced. I'll admit I pissed off a lot of higher ups than myself. But I also gained personal respect from alot more higher ranking than me as well.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jan 22 at 2018 11:23 AM

2018-01-22T11:23:35-05:00

!. Get involved with the Vet groups that are working in the community, volunteer to help with groups that are improving the community. Help your fellow Vets, particularly the homeless. Don't sit on the sidelines, hold you politicians nose to the grindstone on veteran and community projects.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 13 at 2019 9:56 AM

2019-08-13T09:56:20-04:00

Ensured my soldiers enrolled in correspondence and college courses!