I hear all the time, “I didn’t sign up for this!” Most of the time I agree, i.e., when we’re out picking up trash that someone threw out the window of a passing car or when we’re on our hands and knees trying to get the last boot mark off the floor before and inspection. I didn’t sign up for that as I’m sure no one else did. It’s when people say it in reference to training or something that is actually beneficial to them. I know most of the people who join mainly do it because of the incentives but come on did you really think that once you got in you wouldn’t be training or deploying? In what crazy world are you to think that you won’t have to worry about going to war? Never in my life have I wanted to slap random people, let alone a comrade, except when they complain about something that will one day save their lives. If I knew only one thing before I joined it was that I would be deployed and there was some danger involved. To think otherwise is just foolish.

People say that if a democrat had been elected we wouldn’t be in Iraq still. That’s probably true, but like most of the Middle East, Iraq would also be harboring terrorist again. One way or the other we would have ended up fighting over there anyway. I would much rather die now then to see my children go to war that could have been prevented. These “terror states” are not willing to sitting down and talk things through, like many people claim they are. Even if they say they are it’s only to buy time. Look at North Korea; we have been trying to talk with them for how many years now? Every time we freeze their funds or stop sending aid they say they’ll change, so if start giving aid and they start with the nuclear tests again. Every time Israel dominates Palestine, Palestine calls for a cease-fire and Israel agrees. Three months later Palestine attacks again. Palestine doesn’t want to get along with Israel, they only call for the cease-fire to regroup and get more aid from other terror loving countries. To say that this war wouldn’t have happened if someone else was President is completely wrong. It might have happened ten years from now but rest assured it would have happened.

People join because they are pissed off. In one morning over 3,000 of our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons or daughters were killed for no other reason than we welcome diversity. If that doesn’t get to you then you have no soul. People make the argument that Iraq wasn’t the ones who attacked us. That’s both true and false, they didn’t directly attack us. However when Saddam was in power, he provided terrorist with a place to train and not have to worry about prosecution. Iraq served as a jump-off point. It was only a matter of time before he aimed the WMD’s toward us.

We join so that our family won’t have to worry about a second 9/11. We join because we are proud of what this country stands for. We join because we know if we didn’t we would be speaking Arabic and worrying about the secret police hauling us away to be beheaded in the middle of the night. To say that what we are doing is wrong is completely uncalled for. If you don’t like the way things are run you are welcome to leave. I’m sure some immigrant who is waiting patiently in line for their turn to enter this great country will be happy to take your place. To say that this war is wrong is a slap in the face to all of us who are putting our lives on the time to protect the ones we love and the ones we’ve never met.

I’m quite surprised at some of the insults that I’ve seen and heard made against the troops. Ones such as the ones the Westboro Baptist’s love to shout at funerals and the founder of hate groups (such as forsakethetroops) Michael Crook. Actually, I’m not surprised that people are saying these things. In 1965, I would have been shocked, but not today. Since the Vietnam War we have been attacked by people who don’t have the slightest clue as to what it is we really do. Yes, on occasion, shots will be fired. I, personally wouldn’t hesitate to shoot someone if I thought my life was in danger… Regardless of age, sex or race. I haven’t heard the term “Baby Killers” used yet but I do know of stories about how the military is going around killing innocent civilians. While this may be true sometimes, I assure you it isn’t true for the military as a whole. Our REO doesn’t include the phrase; shoot civilians. Some do though, it doesn’t mean everyone does. In the United States alone last year the total number of murders was 12,658. Alcohol related fatalities were 42,518. Even with the common flu kills approximately 20,000 each year. For those who don’t know that’s 25 times the amount of deaths than the casualties in the War for all 4 years. As for the civilians killed its roughly the same amount, most places I’ve seen say about 60,000. Remember that’s total number of deaths in the whole war. The figures for the states are only for one average year. That’s not all that bad if you ask me.

You ask why we serve? It’s to give you the right to protest, worship the god of your choosing and to make yourself look like a moron. That’s why we serve.