veteran
It's imperative to look up to and learn from army veterans; only then can we truly understand the sacrifices made by men and women in uniform.
Best Resources for Veterans Returning Home
War is hell. We all know this, but no one knows it better than a veteran who has seen it personally. Those who have done their patriotic duty and are now returning home often end up feeling a new type of culture shock they didn't expect.
Rowan MarleyPublished 6 years ago in ServeReasons Why Veterans Go Back to War
Do veterans really need to reason why they go back to war? Every single vet among the myriad of unsung heroes have experienced the battlefield in different ways, few ever returning as the same person they had left as. Eventually, as seen by caseloads of Vietnam veterans, combat and war itself are then interpreted more as a medium for psychological peace, escapism, or spiritual closure than anything else. If you're not a service member yourself, imagine being sent overseas with a group of your most valued friendships, only to see much and more in the form of degradation, painful loss, and horrors with unimaginable dimensions. Found within the deepest bowels of every service member is the courage to not only face these evils again and again, but to stamp them out in their every added rendition, which is probably the best you'll get in the form of reasons why veterans go back to war.
Gerald OppugnePublished 6 years ago in ServeWhat Happened to Me?
I try to remember the turning point. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to put my finger on one specific event or moment that changed it all. I had such lofty plans for myself. I had such hope. And now, all I can do is wonder how I became this puddle of depression and anxiety.
Melanie BanarPublished 6 years ago in ServeMarching in a Different Parade
When I was about eight-years-old, I was still living in Germany. My uncle took me to see a military parade in our town. That was almost 60 years ago. I don’t remember what the occasion was, and it likely doesn’t matter. What I do remember is something that has been with me all of these years. I didn’t know then exactly what all of those machines and men with guns did but I knew that they could hurt you. I remember fear. I remember the absolute fear that those machines instilled in me. I saw massive pieces of iron rolling along. I closed my eyes and could hear the roar of the engines and the gnawing of the cleats, the stomp of the boots. When I opened my eyes, they were still there steadily rolling on in what seemed like an endless line. We left the parade, but I could still hear the sounds of the military might grinding and pounding away. And today, I can still hear them.
Heinz WeverinkPublished 6 years ago in ServeSimple Ways Veterans with PTSD Can Get Help
There are plenty of ways veterans with PTSD can get help, and starting anywhere is a start to be proud of. Coping with such an invasive disorder such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is draining, life-halting, and a constant struggle.
Adrian ScottPublished 6 years ago in ServeUnsung Heroes
Rain came down in sheets, soaking everything it could at this time of year it was not expected. My colleague and I were working the front desk when a familiar face popped in, drenched but smiling. The night before we checked him in, a vagrant traveling up from from Colorado to get to a town nearly an hour further away. He was dressed in a way that made me think of an post-apocalyptic merchant, even sporting a large brim hat full of different decorations. We already knew he was having a tough time ending his journey; the last leg of it was just an hour away but he sat out for three days hoping for a ride to his destination without success. So he had to stay another night to get out of the cold wet, have a shower, and enjoy the indoors for a moment. We knew he was a botanist and had a job waiting for him whenever he was able to arrive and we respected that.
Shamus RoanPublished 6 years ago in Serve5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Joining the Army
Five things I wish I knew before joining the army: 1. You will encounter a lot of sexism. Sexism is very much alive and it is in full force while being a female service member! Often times, before my deployment I would use this to my advantage and get out of doing certain physical tasks, which at the time I figured it to be harmless. As time went on, I started noticing that some of my male battles were starting to view me as weaker? Which to me, I found to be completely insane! I can do anything that these men could do, and often times I could even do it better! I would start seeing these men get chosen to be on special op teams that I wanted to be a part in, and in the back of my head I always had a feeling it was due to my sex, but never spoke up. I learned very early on that you need to hold your ground from the beginning, it's much harder for a female to gain respect in the military field (especially being a military police) than it was for a man. It wasn't until we had deployed and my staff sergeant was ONLY putting me in office positions (I am a military police! Not a desk/officer person!) that did I speak up. I told my sergeant I am smarter than these men, more levelheaded and just as capable, IF NOT MORE, than these men you are putting out in the field, I am competent in everything that I do, I want to be doing the job that I trained for! So, after that they started putting me with the rest of my male battle buddies, which I was super excited for! I thought "YES I WON! THEY SEE ME AS A SOLDIER, NOT A FEMALE!" After the momentum of that win went away, it went to the same thing. Granted, I was never put in the office again, but I still wasn't being given the same jobs as the rest of my battles, but I didn't make a fuss about it, didn't want my "female hormones" to bother any of my male counterparts. But then Osama Bin Laden was killed, and our FOB was being rioted and they needed reinforcements from our unit (The rule for our unit was if anyone needed reinforcements, the first five people to our equipment room was the Force Team for that job)! So naturally, I would always make sure I was RIGHT NEXT to this room so when the time came I would be there! The time came! I was the first person in this room and started gearing up for battle! I was so excited! My sergeants and the men in this room were quiet, and looking at each other, then looking at me. Another male was disgusted at the fact that he wasn't on the team because I took HIS place. The rule was set, fair is fair. So finally, I looked at my battle buddies and told them "I went through basic training, JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU. I graduated, went through military police school JUST LIKE YOU. I went through combat training and passed everything with flying colors JUST LIKE YOU. There is NO REASON why I can't do this, I have trained for this. You can NOT tell me NO!" I was just upset! This was so insane! My sergeant just replied " You understand? They want to kill you, its not games in there." I responded "They want to kill us all. It's no different." So they let me go, and the mission went without issue. You encounter a lot of this in the military and you need to stand your ground from early on or it will become who you are. You are a strong soldier and no one's opinion of you can change that. Don't fall into the stereotypes.
Natasha SantosPublished 6 years ago in ServeWe're Letting You Go!
Generally, when you enter the military you plan on making it your career. For some that enter, it means we enter as a child and leave as a more mature adult. When I look back on my time as a committed airman, I am proud to have been a part of the journey. However, I am saddened and regretful that I couldn't make at least the 20 year mark.
US Veterans
We all celebrate the Fourth of July, Veteran's Day, even Memorial Day. We like to say thank you to a gentleman or woman we see on the street displaying veteran status, or to express our appreciation to the veterans that we know personally. But many do not realize the staggering number of veterans who are homeless, or who are struggling with mental illness, substance abuse, or chronic unemployment. These men and women were willing to sacrifice their lives so that we could continue to enjoy the freedom to tweet about hating Donald Trump, or simply vote in an open election. Little do we know what often happens to them if they are fortunate enough to return home.
Kira MariePublished 6 years ago in Serve20 Per Day
The other day I asked in a Veteran's group on Facebook, "Why do you think so many vets suffer from depression? Even those that did not deploy?" and the response I got was overwhelming.After reading every single comment that was made, I really learned a lot from my fellow Veterans and let me tell you, just a glimpse into their life made me feel like I am not alone. But it also made me feel extremely sad that there are so many of us out there who suffer from this sadness.One person said, "Because you go from being surrounded by and with your best friends 24/7/365 enduring some of the toughest shit imaginable to being thrown out alone into this bullshit world. You miss it. Humans are tribal by nature and when we are in platoon sized groups we are in our element. When you get torn away from that, you suffer."Another commented, "Because you were once a part of a team who valued each other more than themselves, an altruistic group. The depression comes when you realize that you may not ever experience that again."These are both incredibly true. Although I have some amazing friends that I love and hold dear to me, no friendship will ever be like one you had when you were in the military. It is a truly, and completely different lifestyle. A different mentality. And different family. Yeah we might not get along with each other, but we all went through the same shit. It is similar to a blood bond I guess. There are no words to describe the bond you have with people when you are in the military to someone who is not.Some other comments that really spoke to me were, "In my experience working with my fellow vets, I have found that a majority become depressed when they lose that sense of purpose or belonging that they had while serving in the military. We go from being a part of something, having a sense of importance, to being a nobody in the civilian world. Often with no idea of where to go or what to do with ourselves. So we drink, we self medicate, we isolate, and we ultimately tear our selves apart from the inside out.""We leave a life of structure, purpose, and brotherhood and find ourselves in a civilian world filled with chaos, deadend jobs and apathetic people.
Ashley BonePublished 6 years ago in ServeWhat Is This Journey?
I wish I could think of something quick whited to say here. I wish I could tell you exactly how this journey will go, or what direction I want to take. To be honest though, if you are reading something I've written, you are one of those who enjoy piecing together the random thought fragments into a strange and twisted story that reads as my mind and life.
Tim LawsonPublished 6 years ago in ServeA Shattered Soul
To all of those who have served in the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fidelis! Also to Reisae, Becky and Kathy for the overwhelming support and dedication.
Charles UahinuiPublished 6 years ago in Serve