8
8
0
I've been in for over 4 years, soon to get my stripes (hopefully). Been on overseas rotations, slept many nights in the field, served time in a battalion staff section, reenlisted and PCS'd between duty stations, made friends and... not friends, and seen soldiers of all ranks come and go.
At some point, I think I've 'bought in' to the military mindset. No, I'm not gonna lie to myself and say I love every day of my life, but I do have a sense of pride in my service and the army culture.
Point of the question is this; is it 'healthy' to think that I should serve for the sake of benefiting my fellow servicemen and women? Like, is there a point to 'being a good soldier', anymore? Or should I just look out for number one and do what's most beneficial for me?
I don't really know if it's some sense of naïve sense of camaraderie or ego that influencing my view on this, or is there actually something honorable about actually caring about being a good soldier in the hopes of... something. Anything that's bigger than the individual, I guess.
At some point, I think I've 'bought in' to the military mindset. No, I'm not gonna lie to myself and say I love every day of my life, but I do have a sense of pride in my service and the army culture.
Point of the question is this; is it 'healthy' to think that I should serve for the sake of benefiting my fellow servicemen and women? Like, is there a point to 'being a good soldier', anymore? Or should I just look out for number one and do what's most beneficial for me?
I don't really know if it's some sense of naïve sense of camaraderie or ego that influencing my view on this, or is there actually something honorable about actually caring about being a good soldier in the hopes of... something. Anything that's bigger than the individual, I guess.
Culture
Service
Enlisted
Duty
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 20
11
11
0
Let’s be clear on this. You serve God, Country and service! If you do not care about your fellow soldier; Get Out! If your only in it to benefit yourself; Get Out! The Army is your life, take pride in yourself and your service. To often most people only care about themselves and forget there are other people that have it much worse. Demote Fi!!!
(11)
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MGySgt Rick Tyrrell
The point is to simple. If your in the service for yourself your in for the wrong reason!
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LCDR Keith Trepanier
MGySgt Rick Tyrrell - No wrong reason to be in the military. If there was, why would a recruiter try to sell college tuition as a reason for joining instead of telling those who join for that reason to pack sand and get out of their office? Why you join doesn't matter. How you serve does.
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5
5
0
Before you put on those stripes you need to decide. Serving yourself is not in line with Duty, Honor, Country or Service. You Serve your Soldiers they don’t Serve you.
Find the NCO Creed, read it, disect it, and talk to some good Senior NCO’s about it. If after that you are still thinking about yourself (only), get out and go to school.
Find the NCO Creed, read it, disect it, and talk to some good Senior NCO’s about it. If after that you are still thinking about yourself (only), get out and go to school.
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4
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0
Key word is SERVICE. Yes, you have to take care of yourself, but that comes secondary to your subordinates, your peers, the mission, the unit, and in a broader sense, the country. From your post, it sounds like you know this, you're just looking for confirmation that you're not the only one that feels that way.
(4)
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SGT (Join to see)
Thanks for the response, SFC. Yeah, you've pegged me pretty well with that summary.
The units I've been in have good camaraderie, but don't really foster a sense of loyalty for the organization at large. It is an organization focused on people after all, so I understand that people focus on their immediate professional relationships in their units, but there isn't much sentiment for our duty to the Army at large.
I also have my personal opinions on the state of our country, but even that doesn't detract from my desire to give back to my fellow servicemen and women in some way.
I know for a fact that my peers would laugh at this question I'm trying to come to grips with, and it's frustrating knowing they wouldn't take the question seriously affects my outlook on the organization on a broader scale. It's normal to be calloused and prioritize one's self over the unit, mission, and organization as a whole.
How can one be 'patriotic' one moment, saying things such as "'Murica, hell yeah!", and then the next "Screw this BS, I'm not doing this" when faced with the exact job we signed on the dotted line for?
The units I've been in have good camaraderie, but don't really foster a sense of loyalty for the organization at large. It is an organization focused on people after all, so I understand that people focus on their immediate professional relationships in their units, but there isn't much sentiment for our duty to the Army at large.
I also have my personal opinions on the state of our country, but even that doesn't detract from my desire to give back to my fellow servicemen and women in some way.
I know for a fact that my peers would laugh at this question I'm trying to come to grips with, and it's frustrating knowing they wouldn't take the question seriously affects my outlook on the organization on a broader scale. It's normal to be calloused and prioritize one's self over the unit, mission, and organization as a whole.
How can one be 'patriotic' one moment, saying things such as "'Murica, hell yeah!", and then the next "Screw this BS, I'm not doing this" when faced with the exact job we signed on the dotted line for?
(1)
(0)
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