Reflecting on My Time Spent in the Military

My back to a wall, I kicked in the door.

“Clear!” I screamed.

It was time to move; we shouldn't stay in one place too long. I darted around the corner of a dilapidated building.

I'm in the concrete jungle.

I steadied my rifle and pulled the trigger, propelling one 5.56-mm ball-tracer round and terminating my enemy.  

I spent four years of my life in the tumbleweed-choked streets of Cheyenne, WY, and prairies of Nebraska fulfilling my service in the United States Air Force as a military police officer.

If my memory serves me right, the video game Halo was pretty new at that point, so I really honed my craft through Ghost Recon — and became a wiz on the first-person shooter pretty quickly.

OK, I’ve never actually shot anyone or even shot in any person's general direction, but I did play a heck of lot of video games and watch my fair share of films during my military stint.

I separated after serving my four years — Nov. 1 marked six years since I finished my enlistment  — and spent another two years in Cheyenne, waiting on my wife to finish her service.

And, I wouldn’t change a minute of my six years in Cheyenne.

Though, my time was spent controlling a war hero on the old TV tube via a Microsoft Xbox gaming console, and not in the desert protecting our country like the soldiers I admire so much, my stint served as the most valuable life lesson this journey called life offers.

I wasn’t en route to much after high school graduation, other than another 'N Sync concert — my favorite band at the time. Odd, I know, but I was an odd kid, and an immature kid.

The military was the best option, well my only option, according to my mom.

“You’re going, boy,” she said.

And, oh boy, I grew up fast in the military. I quickly learned respect, courage, integrity, persistence, work-ethic and so many intangible qualities you just don’t pick up elsewhere.

One story I like to tell is about this Duke Nukem look-alike named Sgt. Pike. One day he discovered I was allowing another cop to use the M16A2 rifle equipped with a M203 grenade launcher I had been issued for the tour of duty. Each cop is issued his or her own weapon for work but it was a real pain to go open the safe and grab your weapon at the beginning of each shift — so we shared. But, it's a big no-no. I was quickly feeling the sweltering and unpleasant scent of Pike’s breath on my face as he began to chew me out.

What if the other member had damaged the barrel of my grenade launcher and when I tried to engage a target at 150 meters and the gun backfired, Pike asked. He would be out there scooping up of little pieces of Airman McCoy with a Dairy Queen spoon, he added.

While Pike was a character, he instilled in me something I feel is especially important in both my former and current career — attention to detail. My Air Force career is full of this kind of stories, and led me to my wife of seven years, two children and some friends for life.

And, I don't have to occupy anything, as the military paid for my entire four years of education — I don't owe a penny in student loans. All that was left to do was ride .

So, this Veterans Day, I am so very proud of my service and the service of those who have served and are currently serving — thank you for being there for your country.

THANK YOU!