Support the Troops by Volunteering!

My friend, a soldier, sat beside a girl in class and she was very much infatuated with all things military. She joined Soldier's Angel and she certainly loved dating soldiers. She loved all things military! When someone is so in love with the uniform, the question must one day be asked: "So why didn't you join?"

I've heard plenty of excuses. From the very legitimate medical disqualification, to the incredibly illegitimate "I couldn't stand always doing what I'm told".

That was her reason. She was so independent minded that she would not have been able to follow orders. Of course, being a soldier, I have no mind of my own, much less any type of independence. I am simple minded and can only obey. At least, that's what her statement implies. Fortunately, the truth about soldiers is that the emphasis is on teamwork, not on blind obedience. Blind obedience creates a situation that is ripe for war crimes and is a mentality the Army has been fighting since the Viet Nam War.

I suppose she was attempting to compliment herself by saying that she was too independent, but I have a slight inkling that her infatuation with the military has less to do with the uniform but more to do with the ones who wear them. She's one of many that get called "tag chasers". It means that a pair of combat boots gets her weak at the knees. Unfortunately that type of admiration often wins them some embarrassment. They're like the boot camp groupie, hanging around the uniforms, looking for a slice of the patriotism pie sending flirtatious letters and suggestive pictures.

It's not that I want to de-value the contribution of those in Soldier's Angels or any other military support program. They give a very necessary boost to soldiers overseas. The mailman can make or break morale and hearing your name during mail call can give a trooper pleasant shivers of home because someone back home still thinks of them.

The thing is, when charity such as Soldier's Angels are done in lieu of service then they almost border on hypocrisy. All able bodied youths that claim to support the military but don't deign to volunteer for federal service are basically saying that they'll cheer from the stands, but never play the game. They will support soldiers until it becomes inconvenient or life threatening.

It's no doubt that soldiers need support from people back home, but we need volunteers too. We need battle buddies, commo guys, drivers, mechanics etc. Yes, soldiers always need people at home to just miss them and look forward to their safe return but the Army (and the military), undermanned and understaffed, needs are volunteers. It's great that people send letters and care packages of their own free will, but medically qualified youths should consider some tour of duty if they really want to feel like they support their troops. Support them by being one of them, admire the uniform because you are a part of it. Slapping that magnetic ribbon on the bumper of that car doesn't work because you never know if the couple dollars you shelled out to buy that yellow ribbon is actually going to support a military or some big franchise's bottom line.

The ultimate support one could give a soldier is to volunteer to be one of them if you can, otherwise you're not doing all that you can to support the troops and when I walk by a college booth of a "support the troops" charity, I will ask each and every one of them if they did sign up, if they will sign up. If they're doing neither, then I'll simply ask them "Why?"