My life needed to change, so in 1995 I enlisted in to the United States Air Force. I was 19 years old and knew if I didn’t move out of my small Kentucky town I would be a bound to factory work. Unsure of what was to come, I kissed my family good bye with the hope of seeing the world and getting a great education for my sacrifice. Little did I know that my sacrifice was going to be greater than missing my birthdays and holidays with my family.
"To the author let me start by saying "Thank you" for your service and sacrifice. I also want to congratulate you on having the courage to stand up and honestly say what so many others would not, that had the thought of going to war, going into combat be vocalize by the ad campaigns or even by the recruiter that you may have given pause about joining or better yet would have been prepared for the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. I too served but with a little different outlook. I joined expecting to at some point (if I stayed past my first four years) that I would be called to battle as were those who came before me. Yes, for me it was about the education and experience but I knew that they both came with a price tag. Nothing is for free. Someone, somewhere, somehow pays. Keep in mind that we were already involved at that time in an undeclared war in Iraq and Afghanistan on that fateful day. I do not know how many of those that I and you served with would have joined the military if even one of those advertisements had shown even a glimpse of the reality that they may face one day but I pray that they would have. As I watch the procession of young Airman go through Lackland AFB each week I know for sure that despite the "cool" ads that speak only of the safer side of things we have a generation of patriots that when given the chance will and do stand up and say count me in.
Thank you again for sharing and providing another prospective on the phrase…. “Truth in advertising” God Bless you and all who serve."
