Do you feel that your are appreciated by your service?

1SG David Niles — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 21:33:48 -0400

So do you feel that your are appreciated by your service? Do you care? is the pay check enough? Do you feel that if you did not go to a combat zone that you did not serve enough? Thoughts?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2014 9:56 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 21:56:54 -0400

After my first 8 contract, I ETS'd without a deployment. Somehow, I held that service cheaply. No one, besides the VFW, seemed to agree with me. I have come to realize there is a certain degree of luck, good or bad, to serve in combat. Somehow, there are those who want to cheapen an "easy deployment" or play up a tougher stretch.

In truth, I am and have always been honored to serve. Stateside, and deployed. I served at the pleasure of the President and now the Governor of New Hampshire. The pay isn't great, but the honor is priceless. I can't say I always feel appreciated, but I always have a purpose. For me, for now, that is enough.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 9 at 2014 4:31 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 16:31:25 -0400

You train for all those years and personally I wanted to know if I had what it took at my rank to be successful. Don't get me wrong I don't think any one prays to go to war, OK maybe Rangers, but its the final exam in your military career and you want some proof that you did good. I would have been disappointed If I never deployed.

Response by COL Randall C. made Jul 9 at 2014 5:01 PM

COL Randall C. — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 17:01:14 -0400

To refer to the old saying of MOAA, just because the government didn't cash the check you wrote, doesn't mean that you didn't write it up to and including your life.

That's sort of like saying that a veteran police officer on the force for 20 years didn't serve enough because he was never shot at or had to shoot anyone in the line of service.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 7:04 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 19:04:08 -0400

I am very proud that I have served. I have momentary lapses when an young asshat comes along and runs their mouth about having been in combat and I wasn't a real Marine. But I quickly get over that. Point of fact my dad a 20 yr Marine GySgt tanker with a purple heart stated the same thing. "You weren't fleet, you aren't shit" Well, we did not get along at the best of times so I temper his responses with the knowledge that he was an asshat. I like the response from COL Randall C. that just because I wasn't tapped to go to combat doesn't mean I wasn't ready to go. Luck of the draw some would say. Both of my duty stations were stateside, one on either coast.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 9 at 2014 7:07 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 19:07:33 -0400

Call me Cdr in the VFW. I get free Breakfast at Hy-Vee on Veterans Day and Free Dinner Applebees. What is not to like and who wouldn't feel appreciated. Did I earn it, that is debatable. I just went where they told me and did what they needed me to do. First 2/3 of my career I think the term would be "in the Rear with the Gear" Staff/Flag Officer Commands and Isolated Locations. Last third made up for it as Shipboard Tactical Intelligence. If anyone asks you to do Tactical Intelligence. Tell them to go to Hell. Tactical Intelligence is poking a bear or a hornets nest with a stick to see what happens.

Response by CW4 Aaron Rasmussen made Oct 29 at 2014 7:38 PM

CW4 Aaron Rasmussen — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 19:38:36 -0400

I felt appreciated while I was serving. I don't think there is even a second thought about me or any of the rest of us retirees now except how much we cost. It doesn't bother me.

I didn't make it to a combat zone - I definitely served enough. I didn't give nearly as much as some of my friends who were injured or killed. But I certainly served enough.

When I retired, I was committed to my new life. I let go of my military role as an Army Warrant Officer and embraced my new roles. I'm good with the paycheck.