What it means to be a Service Member?

SGT Javier Silva — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 14:06:56 -0500

We all joined for a specific reason. The majority of the people joined not for money. Some yes, for a steady income. However those are reasons to join, what does it mean, beyond your reason, for you to be a Service Member?

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Dec 22 at 2013 2:26 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 14:26:55 -0500

To me it simply means to be a contributor. When someone asks what do you contribute to society, you will not only have an answer but a proud one.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 4:34 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 16:34:02 -0500

I joined because I was serving my community as a firefighter starting my Freshman year of High School. I loved every minute of it and thought continuing in the Fire Service by joining the Air Force would be the best option. I could also take it a step further from serving my community to serving my country.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Mar 10 at 2014 9:29 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 21:29:48 -0400

In RP it means that I am a SSG forever, I will never get promoted.

In my life being a veteran means that I am not like any other whom didn't serviced, while many truly wish they could but couldn't because of there conditions, I educate them in what it was like to be a Solider. being a Veteran to me means that amount of money uncle Sam paid for me to get an education and training that in the civilian life I still use. Being a Veteran means that in they eyes of the civilian sector I am not someone normal as they are, I am someone who knows discipline, able to get the job done if need to. To my family I'm looked at as someone who can remain calm when all hell breaks loose and capable of pulling them through. I am someone whom can go with out food and still maintain high stamina. being a veteran to me means that if I see an other veteran in the streets homeless I treat them as my brother and not turn always from them, but provide advice or guidance to everything I know regardless of branch.

Response by SPC Brian Jones made May 9 at 2014 7:36 AM

SPC Brian Jones — Fri, 09 May 2014 07:36:36 -0400

It simply means that I have seen things that, I hope, no one else has to see. Done things that others will not have to do. This was done for my love of Country and my naivety of truly what warfare encompassed.

It does my heart good to be thanked for my service as I, along with MANY others, gave some of themselves as part of the deal. However, be prepared to be crapped on by the ones who sent you to whichever hell hole you were stationed at one you ETS. 'Cause the govt does not give one shit about the vets they created.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2014 12:26 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 00:26:42 -0400

It means that I had the faith in my country that we for the most part are trying to do the right thing and that I'm willing to make a sacrifice up to the ultimate to defend that way of life. In return for that the service has provided me witha pretty good life with a roof over mine and my family's head and a steady income with some decent benfits. It also mean that I got an opportunity to see and experience some things, good and bad, that a majority of Americans may never get the opportunity to see and experience.