As an American Servicemember (Active Duty or Retired) what can we do to make America a better place to live?

PO1 Steven Kuhn — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 11:26:27 -0400

With all that we have learned and seen, what can we do to share our love and pride for America, share our patriotism, vote wisely, help our fellow man, etc., to help America continue to be the best nation in the world to live?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2014 12:34 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:34:07 -0400

I would say, take what we learned back to our families and our communities. "Talk up" the military and our experiences. Walk the talk, as it were, of the values we learned during military service. And encourage others to do the same. "War stories" (not literally, but maybe ... old Army, Navy, Air Force, etc. stories) are a great way to promote the military and our way of life. If we can end the story with a reference to the value(s) that applied to the situation the story was about, we have hit a homerun.

I've never really thought much about this much, PO1 Steven Kuhn, but it's a great way to improve our country, one story and one person at a time.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2014 12:41 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:41:26 -0400

We pay less taxes now than at any point in decades. We're leaving our kids with a mess because we don't fund things like education and infrastructure, and we put our heads in the sand over serious issues like climate change. We're the generation of greed and too many only care about themselves.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Sep 29 at 2014 1:12 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 13:12:18 -0400

As an individual, you can make the most impact by being involved in your local community (however you choose to do so), and VOTE, locally and nationally.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2014 2:08 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 14:08:08 -0400

One of the lessons I took from my grandparents was to lead by example. Show proper respect to elders. Treat everyone fairly and honestly. Shirk no duties - especially jury duty - back then there was no $5 a day and a meal - you went, sat, listened, judged and went home. When our military men/women came home we had a party - not because it was expected, but because we were glad our family members and town members were home. We saw the differences in what our men/women came home as - some missing limbs, but all changed. We couldn't understand what had changed (how could we? we had no point of reference.) but we knew that war had somehow changed them. We saw the difference in how our returning vets had a different point of view about the world. They had a 'bigger picture" of how the world was interlinked. Many spoke out about how things that happened thousands of miles away actually affected us - something a simple country boy like myself could only shake my head at.

But we could see our military men/women had been changed. I used to sit and listen to the men talk about people, places, things that happened a world away. Then the war hero's went to work.

So...how do we, today, our group/generation(s) tell our side and have people understand. Action speaks louder than words. We become leaders in our communities. We don't have to get into politics, but we can still be leaders. We demonstrate our leadership and expanded world experience in our daily lives and actions. When someone pipes up with a statement that is patently a lie - we speak up, politely, with true facts and knowledge from our own experience. We are trained to be disciplined, courteous in our comportment - we show this daily as a civilian. When questioned about our knowledge of world affairs we speak honestly - not from a youtube or twitter blast - but from our own personal knowledge. We are not ashamed or afraid to render honors when we see the colors passing, going up or coming down - we demonstrate the proper way.

By our actions, people will see the difference in how we behave and the general public. They will know "something" is different. They will see and know that we are the "real deal" by our actions and then we can teach.

True story: I walk daily. Not as far / fast as I'd like, but I do it religiously. Part of my walk takes me by several "old timers" who have flags in their yards. Each time I approach I render honors. After several years of this folks have become accustomed to seeing me render honors - and sometimes it's embarrassing because people actually come out to see me render honors. One nite, I was running a bit behind in my time schedule and had just started my walk - about 30 minutes later than normal - it's getting dark. I approach the first flag and render honors, moving on. As I approach the end of my walk it's getting darker and darker. I see folks ahead in the streets probably 20 or so ....there's a big truck in the streets, yellow lights flashing. As I approach the house I can finally see what's going on...the truck is one of the big electric company trucks and its search light is shining on the colors. There's an old, wizened gentleman standing with a cane and five young children (grandchildren?) all standing at attention. As I look around, one of the younger women from the neighborhood said: "he made the electric guy wait for you cuz you're not supposed to have the flag up without a light and his light is broken". I stop, face the colors and come to attention. I render honors. The young ones all put their right hands over their hearts. I count to 21 and lower my salute sharply. A little boy looks up at his grandfather and asks: "why can't we salute like he does?" Grandpa says: "because he earned the right, just like your daddy did before he was killed."

The old gentleman looks at me and nods........ I walk away with a tear in my eyes.....

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2014 9:04 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 09:04:50 -0400

being invovled with our government both federal and local will always be a great help to our country. But I feel if you really want to make a difference volunteer! yes i know we are an all volunteer army, we already have. But reach out there, become a boy scout leader. Become a girl scout leader. Co-ordinate blood drives, some local universities and schools will let you volunteer within the scools. Impart your knowledge and experiences within the community and help it grow.

Response by CPO Bernie Penkin made Oct 8 at 2014 9:12 AM

CPO Bernie Penkin — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 09:12:00 -0400

Try to live an ordinary life. Take pride in your family, home and work. Get involved with a charity you are interested in. Vote! Introduce your kids to history and get them involved in the scouts, young marines, sea cadets or 4H. Talk up your military service when you get the chance too.

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Oct 8 at 2014 10:38 AM

SPC David Shaffer — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 10:38:59 -0400

While anyone is in my company respect is given to others. I think we could make America a better place to live by raising our children to be respectful to others, make them accountable for their actions and, teach them to live clean. There are many other things I could put down but the point of what i'm saying is that it all starts with our kids and the people we raise them to be. I know it has already been said but you have to lead by example. Not just when it's easy or when you feel like it but always. I call everyone sir and ma'am and you can see that because my children do the same. I always hold the door for others and everyone that knows me can say they have seen me turn my car around many times to help elderly carry groceries to their cars or help them get to where they are going. My kids already do the same and so do their friends because they see my children and I doing it.

Response by 1SG Harold Piet made Oct 8 at 2014 11:13 AM

1SG Harold Piet — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 11:13:13 -0400

If we want a better country it starts with me (or You) Study the constitution, Study the bible, study the people we are to elect to lead and vote accordingly, not with what is popular. The Supreme court determines if something legal is constitutional, but the majority of the decisions that they make are not keeping with the constitution of this country. They normally vote according to political allies. Namely the party that made them supreme court justices. We can vote them out and improve this country but it will take the same thing that it took to create this country. GOD< GUTS< GUNS.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2014 11:34 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 11:34:31 -0400

I think that we as service members can show the rest of country how to live for each other, and not so selfishly. Even though there are selfish people within our formations, there is not a single person that I have met within any of the branches that I would not lay my life down for; the same can not be said for all civilians. I think that showing people that there is more to life than what is going on with that specific person would help to show people that there is more out there. We can also help by showing the rest of the country what it means to have discipline and respect, and that should start from the lowest level all the way to the top. With things like service members speaking ill of the CinC, and just overall being shown in a negative light in some instances within the media.

What we need to do is show the rest of the country that we as service members have experienced a different life, and that it's ok that people didn't join the military, but we did, and for some us, we would again.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2014 12:10 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 12:10:52 -0400

PO1 Steven Kuhn - That is the best question on this board. Because the ways to help are limitedless you only need to network. Then cash in your chits to get PR, I can show you how to do that. I am doing that right now, for a racetrack in upstate NY. I help the World Racing Group out of Charlotte, NC and Tony's Stewart's track in Ohio. I love weather and I love the people in racing. I could tell you many funny things about some of my experiences.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 8 at 2014 12:50 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 12:50:21 -0400

Get involved in your community, your local and state governments. Get actively involved. Not one of us can fix anything in Washington, but the "fix" will trickle up. Local government is not the bush leagues for federal government. It is where we can meet our leaders and have our voices heard. The "bubble" that they speak of in Washington is more like the "cone of silence".

Encourage local government to refuse to accept handouts from Washington. That way control will remain in our hands.

These things we can do...