Why me? Why did I join the military?

My entry into the US Army in 1984 was not a planned event. I didn't set out to become an infantryman in the Army.    Really, my going into the Army was purely by happen chance. My step brother Kenny used to hitchhike to get from point A to point B and was given a ride by Army recruiters. The catch was he had to agree to go listen to their pitch. 

So, it was a Saturday as I remember it and he said he was going to the Tacoma Mall to talk to Army recruiters. My ears perked up and I said I would join him.

At this point in my life I was out on my own. I was 16, had moved out from Mom's at 15, was working full time and living life the best I knew how. This living, given I was 16, and to this point had lived a crazy childhood, I was just wanting to find some sense of normalcy.   I would work and party; rinse, lather, repeat.  I was living in with a room mate in an apt complex in Tacoma, had a moped for a car, and really, didn't have much direction.  I dropped out of high school by this time and based on what I learned from my family, you got to work and kept on living.   I didn't know any other way.

Off me and Kenny go....to the recruiters. The Army recruiting station, was, and, still is, at the Tacoma Mall. We both took the ASVAB test. This is a test to see your knowledge level and determine, to some extent, what military job you might be fit for given what you know. Well, when we were both done they said they wanted to talk to me........I had not expected this to happen at all.  I was just tagging along with Kenny for, really, who knows why. Me and Kenny spent a lot of time together during this period of my life.   

The recruiters did their job well. They showed me the shiny pamphlets, told me of my opportunity to travel to great places, and, I was sold. Now, I was 16 at this time, near 17, but, still 16. They said "no problem!".  My mom could sign for me to go in at the age of 17. I followed with the reality that I was a high school dropout. No problem they said, I could agree to get my GED while in and that would take care of that issue. Mind you, this was in 1984.........the military was needing to fill the ranks with an all volunteer force with no significant conflicts happening.  They were willing to forego certain things to get people to sign up.   

Keep in mind my earlier reference to having moved out on my own at the age of 15. Mom and Tom had made the decision to move to Bremerton and that was the kicker for me to move out. I had very little interest in moving away from Tacoma. Mom didn't resist. It was just how things went in our family.  Where some parents might have said it wasn't going to happen, in our family, these things were normal.   Lot's of moves, and, lot's of family members moving in and out. Normal, as crazy as that sounds.

I talked to mom.......I must have. I don't have a memory of this specific conversation, but, I DO remember the recruiter driving me to moms to sign papers. We drove in his olive green Plymouth Reliant K car from Tacoma to Bremerton. Mom was waiting. She had a fresh baked loaf of bread ready and pen in hand.    Papers signed, I agreed to become the property of the US Government.

I remember my time in the military as being something that has made me, in many ways, the man I am today.  It took a long time to stop making my bed perfectly and ensuring my t-shirts were dress right dress.  It also took a while to stop walking like I was marching....I still walk faster than most having learned at a young age how to "range walk". I have never stopped using "sir" and "ma'am" when talking to people in certain in environments.  One of my big pet peeves is not having the flag flown properly.   My love for bald eagles (served in the 101st), while it's not as obsessive as it used to be, will always be there, always.

Some may disagree with the following, but, it is my belief based on my life experiences to this day.  I think every young person should have to do some type of service before launching into life. Mine was purely by accident, and, I am grateful to this day it happened. It doesn't have to be military service either. There are many great opportunities for a young person to serve through both, government and non government sponsored opportunities. Of course, as I have experienced, there is the military.  If that isn't an option there is AmeriCorps or Peace Corps. If a young person is going straight to college there are countless opportunities to volunteer in the communities they will be in for four years of their lives. For young people who follow a religion there are many opportunities in that realm.   

I believe, now more than ever, we need to teach young people the value of team work and camaraderie.   Teaching them the value of in person contact with other humans and the importance of this over only connecting through screens.  With technology infiltrating every aspect of our lives, and creating the effect of us being more disconnected than ever, we need to help young people find ways to connect.   Service in some fashion, in early adulthood, can be the tool to help.


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