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Why do you serve?

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Scott Robinson
  • 422nd Joint Training Squadron
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  When was the last time you took a moment to reflect on why you took the oath to serve our great country?

For some of us, it was recent and is still very fresh in our minds. For those of us who have been in the service for a while, we might have to reach pretty far back into the cellar of our mind to access those memories. Either way, reflection is essential to keeping ourselves grounded in our beliefs.

It's important to stay connected to those core feelings which inspired us to serve our country in the first place. Everyone knows these feelings -- the ones that exude honor and pride for being a part of something bigger than ourselves ... something critical to the safety and security of our nation.

It's easy to get bogged down in the everyday doldrums of work and it seems to be increasingly easier to fall in the trap of "the military is just a job." Truth of the matter, it's not just another job. Very few occupations in the private sector require an individual to lay his or her life on the line for the greater good of the company. Nor do those managers typically send employees to hostile lands at a moment's notice to do a job.

Not only do we expect this type of service from our Airmen, we expect every Airman to be fully competent in his or her specialty. The fact we hold ourselves to higher standards is out of necessity. To be an agile military force, we have to be mentally and physically sharp 24 hours a day. This is just the way it is ... the way to be the greatest military force in the world.

Now, you're probably thinking to yourself, I've heard all of this before ... blah blah blah.
Far too often today, I see an increasing number of servicemembers more worried about how the military can serve them, instead of how they can best serve the country. I'll admit this is easy to do, especially when you see so many people outside of the military, at multiple levels, looking out for number one. Just remember, last time I checked, we are still an all-volunteer force.

It's our responsibility to maintain the integrity of the institution. The service is too small (and getting smaller) to have folks who are not 100 percent vested and not willing to do 100 percent of what they signed up to do.

There are many issues currently discussed in the media that are alarming and require our attention and the attention of our leadership. Everyone has a voice and should voice their opinions in the proper forums and venues. However, the point I want to make is: don't let these issues distract you from getting the mission done and upholding the standards of the institution we were inspired to join in the first place. Take a hard look around at the struggles throughout the U.S., whether it's job market, financial markets or the economy in general. Times are tough and we need to do our part to turn the tide.

We each have a responsibility to make a positive difference in this difficult time. The armed service is a noble, respectable and honest way to provide for your family and protect our nation. Take a moment to reflect on why you took the oath to serve our great nation. Many times, this will bring back into focus why you do what you do, day in and day out, all over the world. This will provide some perspective on the myriad issues we, as a service, are facing today.