As a Solider over time you begin to hate waking up early. Its only after you have ended your service that you realize how much is done so early in the morning. So many women and men have woken up early in the morning for your protection and for you basic human rights. I think the public understanding of what soldiers really do is misunderstood greatly. Before I joined the Army I only had stories that my father would tell me and let me tell you those stories would make anyone not join. My father was a Marine during Vietnam, he taught me how to respect officers, what kind of Non Commissioned officers I should be friends with and how to stay out of trouble. I knew how to properly salute before I went into the service and I also new drill and ceremony before day one. In so ways I think I was over prepared, but none the less it was something my father taught me.
Growing up he was always the first to rise and the last one to bed. I never understood why he was like that and now that I’m at that same age I understand. It doesn’t take an alarm clock to wake me anymore. The Army instilled one within me. For years I have been able to just tell myself what time I need to be awake and it never fails, I wake just minutes before said time. I can’t stand that I can’t sleep in on the weekend like the rest of my family but I have realized over the last few years that its been a blessing because I get that one on one time with myself while everyone is sleeping. I also can effectively finish a lot of things before my family even decides to rise from bed.
In a way the Army has shaped me into something I otherwise wouldn’t have been, a disciplined early riser that is resourceful, respectful and a fighter. I heard something last night that reminded me of myself. A fellow Veteran said that without the military he wouldn’t know where is life would have gone and that the military truly turned him into a man. This is true. No matter at what age you join you will mature quickly and become a man of this country. Those that join the military and aren’t these things when they leave joined for all the wrong reasons and I am glad they aren’t still serving.
As the old saying goes, “The early bird gets the worm.” This is true. The military and Veterans will do more before 9 am than any other American will do. You will have your exceptions, but none the less, the military makes well oiled, self sufficient machines called Veterans. The true American backbone. They have been the backbone of this country since its founding and will continue to be for years to come.
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