Why do you love serving your country?

2015-05-05T20:12:22-04:00

Why do you love serving - or having served your country ? I'm assuming that if you are on RallyPoint and wore the uniform, you have some sort of pride in your service. Or you wouldn't have taken the time to join this online community. So, what about serving your country gives you pride and satisfaction?

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 8:14 PM

2015-05-05T20:14:34-04:00

My country was good to me. I tried to give something back. I hope I succeeded.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 8:29 PM

2015-05-05T20:29:48-04:00

Service above self, patriotism cameraderie, sense of belonging to something, desire to do my bit part to help protect and defend my country. (despite all the political issues, very few other countries have our standard of living and freedom-- our contstitution has stood the test of time thanks to our brave milutary members!)

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 5 at 2015 8:34 PM

2015-05-05T20:34:02-04:00

I like to believe the military is the keeper of the nations values, defender of the nation, and the point of the spear when diplomacy fails.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 8:38 PM

2015-05-05T20:38:56-04:00

Chicks dig the uniform.

I have a family history of service and followed in their footprints...they were Navy and I don't hold that against them. I feel that we should all serve the country. I wish we had a mandatory service requirement because a lot of our youth could use the help. I feet it eventually made me the man I am today. I'm respectful, disciplined, and a better person.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 5 at 2015 9:04 PM

2015-05-05T21:04:32-04:00

Knowing that I was one of the few who would step up and put on that uniform. I surrendered some of my freedoms to ensure the freedoms of others. That is what I am proudest of doing.

Response by 1LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 10:35 PM

2015-05-05T22:35:25-04:00

I do it for my Kids and my Wife and their future.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 6 at 2015 6:05 AM

2015-05-06T06:05:47-04:00

Made me more of a World Citizen and a Better Citizen of that World. 21 years of Travel exposed to many different cultures and as a Geek with an Ubber Clearance I had unlimited access to everything from Intelligence to the Latest Greatest Toys. It fed my need for knowledge.

Response by SPC Ward Taber made May 7 at 2015 1:38 PM

2015-05-07T13:38:52-04:00

I served because I felt it was my duty and I was proud to put on the uniform as my Father and Grand Father had done before me. I wanted to do my part to ensure a safe and free home for my wife and children where my Christian values were not compromised. I felt like I had accomplished that until I got out and found that due to the time frame I was active (4 years from 85 to 89) I was not involved in any conflicts so as the American Legion informed me I am not a real veteran but "I can join the auxillery and make pies and quilts with the wives of the real vets"
Regardless... I AM proud of my service and if called I would honor the blank check I wrote to defend My country.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 7 at 2015 3:55 PM

2015-05-07T15:55:44-04:00

I liked using my authority to yell at people, so I could feel important. Seriously, I enjoyed the opportunity of serving the country to defend it and prosecute wars if needed. We are the keeper of the nations values and protect it with our mere presence. I liked the disparate opportunities which kept me from getting bored. I also like riding in 70 tanks and watching my grunt brothers taunting us, and I replied by pointing at my much larger gun, which they had no reply to. It was all good as I got a chance to do a rotation in Kuwait with a Bradley company. I took my tank flying twice much to the terror of the crew, at which time, I would yell BRACE! I chuckle as we had to report our status, all 4 tanks started the engines at the same time and reported REDCON 1, which means we are ready to go. I think the Bradleys spoiled the grunts because they looked like campers sleeping under canvases and ponchos tied to their vehicles. I could hear the CO saying you don't look like REDCON 1 on the radio and subsequently ordered us to move. The Bradleys look quite comical as they were dragging canvas and other camping gear on the ground.

The military gives you time to do things out of the ordinary like the grunts wanted to wrestle me. I came out undefeated out of the desert. However, their platoon leader did the same against my platoon.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 3:59 PM

2015-05-07T15:59:16-04:00

It comes down to perspective, what do I mean? My Grandparents used to ask me to be objective to all things, in other words, is your glass half full or half empty. A person who sees their glass as half full has a positive attitude and works for the best for all around them; while the one who sees his glass half empty always complains and is self centered because nothing goes their way. For those of you whose glass is always half empty, the answer is simple yet true, move to a different country. People who don't think America is special are short sighted, empty and do not like the truth.

Response by MSgt David SanMarco made May 7 at 2015 4:13 PM

2015-05-07T16:13:03-04:00

I served because I wanted to be part of something greater than myself, in general I wanted to serve my country.

Response by SSgt Rose Ferguson made May 7 at 2015 5:40 PM

2015-05-07T17:40:35-04:00

I loved serving this country. For our rights, freedoms, protection, and what we stood for. But now I'm pretty mad at what these Americans see as their rights. What happened to freedom of # without infringing on other's rights? Plus people take these privileges and abuse them or twist the definition. Go live a life for just 6 months without most of your rights, no alcohol, stay on FOB, work everyday (no overtime), timeframe unknown. The point is, you don't really understand how great your life is or what your freedoms really are until they are taken away. Even as being military personnel, we are not allowed to say certain things about our government opinion based or actually based on facts. I'm glad I deployed to Iraq and fought for this (America) great land and provided some support to people from the middle east. From what I know, I knew we should have never left. This was back when Obama was in support of all boots OFF ground. I saw how bad it was when all of us were already over there, in place, on FOBs, etc. Back in 2006. I knew the threats would never stop, but I didn't wish for or anticipate a strong group called ISIS, or sympathizers in America to include Americans. There is no safe place. I'm honored to fight for this place. But the outcome is disturbing from our youngster to young adults. I don't regret what I've been through but I feel the invisible and visible wounds everyday. I would volunteer in a second if asked again or react in America to protect this land from sympathizers trying to commit terrorist acts on us.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2015 6:16 PM

2015-05-07T18:16:18-04:00

It's simple! It's My duty and I'm following in both my Grandfather's footprints.

Response by LCpl James Robertson made May 7 at 2015 6:54 PM

2015-05-07T18:54:23-04:00

Can't say I loved what I done, since my MOS were change, and being tricked by the Recruiter as to what the Marine Corps were all about, back then you would be told a very sick joke, that wasn't funny that could have led to your death.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 10:58 AM

2015-05-08T10:58:03-04:00

It was a calling.

My parents both serviced in the US Navy and retired from the Army National Guard.
Both Grandfathers serviced during the World Wars.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 11:05 AM

2015-05-10T11:05:17-04:00

I serve my country because I want to repay my debt to our great Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines who have given their lives past and present in the name of Freedom. I charge you all when you see our older Brother and Sisters who served in Vietnam/Korean wars, please welcome them home.

Response by Cpl Raul DeMoura made May 11 at 2015 11:17 AM

2015-05-11T11:17:31-04:00

This is a 2 part answer for me.First, my Father served 22 years in the Army. Being an "army brat", the SERVICE was all we knew! My oldest brother went in the Navy, my older brother, that Army. Myself? I didn't like the way my life was headed, and, I NEEDED self discipline! Only the MARINE CORP could give me what I NEEDED!! I think the service is a great way of life, & I believe EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD SERVE their country. Period.

Response by SGT Jimmy Carpenter made May 14 at 2015 7:36 AM

2015-05-14T07:36:47-04:00

I served because I love my country and all she stands for.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 7:48 AM

2015-05-14T07:48:11-04:00

To defend the safety of my family, and yours.

Response by PO2 Charles Gaskill made May 17 at 2015 4:48 PM

2015-05-17T16:48:36-04:00

I had a Navy family back ground, Grandfather was in WWII, Navy. I had several cousins in the Navy, step-father was a Marine in Vietnam. I had always been a fan of flat tops, even did a research paper on them in the 9th grade at school. I got to do something a lot of people didn't get to do; and now will never ever do again! I got to work on F-14 Tomcats, on several different Aircraft Carries, and did it during war time and peace time. For the family connection I was proud to join, for the call to duty I was proud to serve my country, I have personal pride for the things I did/accomplished while I was in.

Response by SFC Stephen King made May 17 at 2015 4:52 PM

2015-05-17T16:52:04-04:00

Family tradition notwithstanding I felt as if it was the right thing to do. I feel that service is the key to uphold our rights of freedom in the United States.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jul 14 at 2015 12:28 PM

2015-07-14T12:28:58-04:00

I am Very proud that I served my country. Especially since I was a leader.