Less than a month ago, I joined the Army National Guard. Why did I do it? Well, quite frankly, I felt like it was my patriotic duty to serve my country during this time of need. We have hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention all the troops stationed in other countries overseas – all while enlistment numbers continue to decline. The way I see it is, should another 9/11 happen, I want to be available to defend our way of life. I want our country to be able to continue it’s military operations in the Middle East, while maintaining a strong defense at home.Many people have asked me how I feel about the prospect of being deployed overseas. They always think that I’m crazy for enlisting while troops are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve quickly begun to realize that the ones who think I’m crazy will never understand why I enlisted. They don’t feel what I feel for this country. I will never take for granted any of the freedoms we enjoy, which is why I am willing to fight to protect them. I know that hundreds of thousands of better men than me died so that I could write this article today. Some may think that statement is far fetched, but I don’t. I feel that it is my duty – every American’s duty – to ensure that those great men did not die in vain. I am honoring their memory by joining their ranks. I am in the process of becoming a soldier so that someday I will also be remembered as someone who protected some other American’s rights.
Some people have asked me what I think about the war. I think it is crucial that we remain in Iraq and Afghanistan, until our job is done there. Those who wish to pull out immediately are totally wrong. If we were to pull out now, Iraq would be worse off than it was when we first went in. It is vital that we stay in Iraq to help develop their infrastructure, and newly formed government.
To say that I am an expert on foreign affairs, or even just on the war would be unreasonable. I have no formal training on foreign affairs, nor am I a military strategist. Hell, I’m a 23 year old accountant. I do know, however that the mainstream media does not report all that is going on in this war. There are terror cells in Iraq, which left unchecked will destroy all that we have worked for. There are still people in this world who want to destroy America and our way of life.
This is why we must stay. This is what we must fight against. This is why I joined.
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