Why We Do What We Do

Wow, I would have been fortunate to have drill sergeants this forgiving! Or perhaps I would not. This would have been a cakewalk compared to the training that I had, and am profoundly grateful for. And this drill sergeant is right, they are indeed mentors. I did at more than one point say I want to be like Drill Sergeant Crutcher. He was not a senior drill sergeant, but our senior DS got reassigned halfway through our training. As far as I know, DS Crutcher is now off manning a sniper post in the middle of God-knows-where. He was always the best shot among us. On a completely unrelated note, I'm pretty sure that shot towards the end is dear old Charlie Company at none other than Fort Benning, GA- home sweet home!
At any rate, why this sudden bout of nostalgia? To be honest, I'm not sure myself. Lately those memories have been resurfacing, perhaps due to the tough times lately. I can never forget the training that I had, and the hard work I put in. My mom reminds me of this a lot- you made it through basic, and that's no mean feat. I suppose she's right. Now, it seems like second nature- what else can I do? There is something contained in the Soldier's Creed that applies to any situation- I first learned this in my early days in the Army, and it's called the Warrior Ethos- I have tried my best to live by it ever since first hearing it-

I will always place the mission first

I will never accept defeat

I will never quit

I will never leave a fallen comrade

And those four lines have led me to where I am today. I'm very proud of what I've become, and proud of the uniform I wear. It makes me want to keep on working harder and harder, and always push myself above and beyond. This doesn't make me a hero, just a soldier. Here is the full Soldier's Creed-

I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

Since I learned that by heart, it has always been dear to me. I've tried my best to be that Soldier that I saw in this creed. It hasn't always been easy, it hasn't always been without its shortcomings. But there it is, the reason that I walk the path I walk today. Not for glory, not for blood. But because I signed on the dotted line, and sought to be more than I was before. Every soldier is a part of something greater than themselves- I only hope I can live up to such a noble calling.