Medal of Honor

As with all things, perception is reality and the historic reality of the military seems to revolve around foul mouth roughnecks looking to find any reason to fire up the enemy but what if I told you that the stereotype is so far from the truth that many in the military and those that have served find it both laughable and insulting. In an effort to dispel stereotypes let me try to take you through the mind of a soldier.

A Social Snapshot

Most don’t know it but the military is far from mindless drones all doing the same thing in the same order and the same time. True that training, organization and discipline are tools of the trade but the minds, attitudes, races, creeds and colors are all represented in the military. This community is made up of everything that makes up the citizens that are defended and equally has its flaws, insecurities, cares and concerns. The difference is a profound sense of duty not only to the country in which they serve but in defending themselves, their families and those around them. The military is proof that if you can focus a diverse group to a single purpose you can achieve almost any goal. This is not an easy assignment and not without its hardship, differences, bigotries and attitudes but as the whole is compressed against a common enemy it becomes hardened as coal becomes a diamond.

We Stand Resolute

Doing for you what you cannot or will not do for yourself. This could be an unofficial tagline of the military simply because it says what all military feels at one time or another. They will stand at the line because they are able and willing. They feel a sense of self-worth and purpose in serving a greater good and paying for some of the freedom they hope to enjoy later. They stand up for you whether you agree or disagree, care or not, protest or promote and they do it as professionals and volunteers. Some simply enjoy freedom, others pay for it and despite the sometimes unimaginable cost it does get paid.

Love is an odd word in the Military

“There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends” This single line sums up the core of what it is to be part of the military community, you’d be hard pressed to find a soldier, sailor, airman, marine or coast guard member using the world love (or using it in this context at least). Recently I was reminded of the attitude in which many members of the military operate “they do what they do NOT because they hate the enemy but rather because they love the ones who they serve with and want to see them home safe”.  For a group that is normally portrayed without such virtues, the military community is as strong in a bond forged by this concept.

Creating a new Perception

Maybe this blog entry will give you pause, maybe it will only be a brief stop until your next online battle but I hope you take away even the smallest bit of realization that the men and women in uniform who serve or have served are people like you. They are sometimes asked to do terrible things on your behalf and do so because they serve the will of the people they are sworn to defend. You might hear foul words, harsh attitude or what you may think is a hard heart but this is just a shield. It is the defense around the heart of a soldier with so much compassion that they have chosen to protect you even though you may never meet.

The reality is that there are few in this life that care more for you than these men and women.

--
Mark Christianson is the Editor-in-Chief of Off Duty Gamers

Tweet