What was your reason to serve your country? Did this reason change while serving?

I first looked in to enlisting about six months after 9/11 during my Senior year of high school. Part of it was that and wanting to serve something bigger than myself, and part of it was almost as if a switch had flipped and something deep inside said it was what I needed to do. Prior to that point, I had always had respect for service members but felt the military was not for me.

Those who chose to serve like my oldest son have heart and metal within. ..

As a cadet, I have not been able to serve yet; and am anxiously awaiting the day to serve along side my brothers and sisters. While some people do not like this response, I stand by it, although it is nothing against my country, what we stand for, and where we go; I value my fellow service members lives above all. My Great grandfather, Grandfather, Father, and I all decided to serve for the men and women to our left and right.

It was something the men in my family line had done for generations. I followed suit with my father, grandfather, and etc. We took pride in service to our country. I simply stayed for a career (something my forebears did not).