Halfway heroes, ‘near veterans’ seek recognition for almost serving in military, Duffleblog!

2015-11-13T12:49:45-05:00

CHARLESTON, SC – Jody Siever spends his Friday nights like so many American servicemen and women, mingling while kicking back drinks at a local bar. Recognizing the giveaway military haircut of a fellow patron, he approaches with an arm extended.
“Welcome home, soldier.” Smiling, though apparently puzzled, the stranger returns a firm, brief handshake.
“Thanks, but I’m in the Navy. And I haven’t been anywhere—I’m in Nuke School,” he replies, referring to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Center in Goose Creek, S.C.
“That’s cool,” Siever says, “I almost thought about joining the Navy for a while, but if I did join the service, I would have gone into the Army. I’m just kind of hardcore like that. Shooting bad guys in the face—that’s the life for me. If I wanted it.”
Siever, you see, never actually enlisted.
Veteran servicemembers often find it difficult to relate their experiences in the military to friends and family back home, but a new civilian organization is working to expand that exclusive brotherhood. The Bros Before Joes campaign, established in 2011, seeks to legitimize the efforts of people like Siever, whose commitments to serving in the military range from the hypothetical to the nearly realized.
“We’ve got guys from all over the spectrum here. Some of our members, they merely thought about joining the Army a few times, or took the ASVAB in high school to get out of first period,” explains BBJ founder Trent Bower. “Other guys though, they got as far as making appointments to go to MEPS [Military Entrance Processing Station], but then something important came up.”
A near-Marine himself, Bower recounts his own brush with fate:
“I talked with a Marine recruiter a few times in high school, even attended a couple of pool functions at the recruiting office. It got to the point that I was there so often, the recruiters even started calling me ‘Boot.’ They were practically begging me to enlist, but I always knew I was meant for something more meaningful.”
Bower, a 31-year old assistant manager at a successful pizza delivery franchise, started the Bros Before Joes campaign in his spare time, seeking to bring recognition to others who share his story. For Siever, and thousands of almost-soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines like him, the organization is a long-overdue ray of hope.
Says Siever, “It’s great, you know, to finally be able to reach out and connect with others who share your non-experiences. After giving so much, dedicating so much time and energy to thinking about enlisting, it just feels like we’re finally getting the thanks we deserve.” And recognition has been swift in coming.
Thanks to a successful joint-lobbying campaign with the Almost Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a bill is now before the Senate to approve Veteran’s Affairs benefits for BBJ and AIAVA members. The resolution received overwhelming bipartisan support in a House vote earlier this year from a majority of US Representatives who are themselves non-veterans.
Regarding the passage in the House, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) released this statement:
“This isn’t a Red-or-Blue, liberal-versus-conservative issue. It’s about giving near-veterans like me and many of my constituents the recognition we’ve been denied for far too long.” Currently, 345 out of 435, or roughly 80% of members of the U.S. House of Representatives, have no recorded military service.
As the bill nears the Senate floor, however, some opponents are voicing concerns. Senator and Navy veteran John McCain (R-AZ) held a press conference outside his home in Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday, calling the bill “a mockery… of all that I hold dear.” He also stated that he would “rather tongue-kiss Jane Fonda” than vote to approve the measure. Before he could take questions, he had to be ushered away for medical treatment when blood began seeping from his clenched fist—reportedly from clutching his Silver Star too tightly.
And he’s not alone. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) is an Army veteran of World War II and presently the only serving member of Congress to have earned a Congressional Medal of Honor. When presented with the bill’s full text, Sen. Inouye declared it “a perversion of our American values,” and refused to touch it, even with his prosthetic arm. Said Inouye, “I don’t want to live on this planet anymore.”
Despite these protests, the bill has mass appeal with civilians and near-veterans on both sides of the aisle. Arguments will begin in earnest when the Senate reconvenes next January. Until then, it’s a long wait for near-heroes like Siever and Bower.
Asked if he would do anything different given the opportunity, Bower harkens back to his non-Marine days:
“I just couldn’t leave all of this behind. I miss those pool functions, though. They were good times; some of the best times of my life. You just… you go through something like that, almost sacrificing so much, with such a close group of guys, and it really makes you brothers, you know? I even think I still have some recruitment brochures around here, somewhere.”

Read more: http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/10/halfway-heroes-near-veterans-seek-recognition-for-almost-serving-in-military/#ixzz3rOXmXhVz

Halfway Heroes, 'Near Veterans' Seek Recognition For Almost Serving In Military

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2015 12:52 PM

2015-11-13T12:52:59-05:00

WOULDA, SHOULDA, COULDA... if my aunt had balls she woulda been my uncle. You didn't join the team!

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Nov 13 at 2015 12:53 PM

2015-11-13T12:53:54-05:00

Can always count on the Duffelblog for a good one. I was actually thinking this was real till I got to the end.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Nov 13 at 2015 1:05 PM

2015-11-13T13:05:13-05:00

DuffelBlog - Always a good read on a Friday. Thanks for posting, SPC Michelyn Vien!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 13 at 2015 1:35 PM

2015-11-13T13:35:51-05:00

I almost started an international conglomerate bigger than Trump and Ted Turner combined.
The only thing that held me back was that money-making bit.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 13 at 2015 1:36 PM

2015-11-13T13:36:26-05:00

4 words... Give me a break. Using their logic I almost became an astronaut!

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Nov 13 at 2015 1:50 PM

2015-11-13T13:50:40-05:00

Duffelblog cracks me up, lol

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Nov 13 at 2015 2:10 PM

2015-11-13T14:10:48-05:00

Hahaha, I got all kinds of worked up before I noticed it was an article from duffleblog...LOL! Congrats SPC Michelyn Vien, you got me!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2015 2:29 PM

2015-11-13T14:29:06-05:00

I literally LOL'd at - "Thanks to a successful joint-lobbying campaign with the Almost Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a bill is now before the Senate to approve Veteran’s Affairs benefits for BBJ and AIAVA members. The resolution received overwhelming bipartisan support in a House vote earlier this year from a majority of US Representatives who are themselves non-veterans."

To the "Almost Veteran" - I salute you.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 13 at 2015 3:09 PM

2015-11-13T15:09:12-05:00

Good one. I wonder how many people will think this is a real story and STILL haven't heard of Duffel Blog. At least one I assume, as you've gotten a down vote (probably a person who doesn't know the basic concept of "attention to detail").

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2015 3:42 PM

2015-11-13T15:42:35-05:00

of course they should be recognized for almost having the strength to walk into a recruiter office. the struggle is real when deciding to turn and walk away.

Response by SFC Kevin Bazurto made Nov 13 at 2015 4:51 PM

2015-11-13T16:51:35-05:00

I'm so sick of people like this. Stolen Valor as well. If they want the benefits, go serve and earn them. What a punch pf pansies...

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Nov 13 at 2015 5:27 PM

2015-11-13T17:27:29-05:00

Jody spends his Friday nights like so many American's mingling while kicking back drinks at a local bar. "Ain't no use in looking back, Jody's got your Cadillac"

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Nov 13 at 2015 6:35 PM

2015-11-13T18:35:43-05:00

SPC Michelyn Vien , I gave you a thumbs up for your participation in RP, I found this story interesting, entertaining even though I know many men and women whom had wanted to join the Armed Forces but weren't able.
I actually felt my brain move, I never knew it had feelings nor that it could do that.
This happened when I saw this : Halfway heroes, ‘near veterans’ seek recognition for almost serving in military.
I think my brain must of found that very alien like. I heard of terror incognita, I just didn't know it existed until I read this story. :)

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Nov 13 at 2015 6:36 PM

2015-11-13T18:36:11-05:00

Almost serving in the military, in my mind, summons up the example of medals that one hasn't earned. What are these guys TALKING ABOUT?!?

Response by SGT Mark Sullivan made Nov 15 at 2015 4:44 PM

2015-11-15T16:44:40-05:00

Oh, Dear God, ya'll had me unto the end where I saw the link for DuffleBlog....LOL

Response by Tamara Kinsey made Nov 15 at 2015 5:47 PM

2015-11-15T17:47:53-05:00

Im not military,but from Family of vets and active duty.I did try to join the marines.They wouldnt sign my waiver so i made other plans with my life.couple days later recruiter comes knocking saying he got the waiver to go through unbeknownst to me that he was going to try again.i declined saying i had different plans.I am fully against this bill.i did not sign,nor make a pledge like so many people who have served and lost lives,limbs,or mind.this bill needs to be stopped.i dont go to businesses and tell them i Was almost a vet soi deserve benifits,neither should these people!

Response by PVT Andrew Burd made Nov 15 at 2015 8:41 PM

2015-11-15T20:41:03-05:00

Response by PO3 Robbie Jenkins made Nov 16 at 2015 9:27 AM

2015-11-16T09:27:07-05:00

Don't serve don't get benefits. This is ludacrist

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jan 25 at 2018 7:11 PM

2018-01-25T19:11:03-05:00

I would have been a Navy Seal but I had Bone Spurs

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jan 25 at 2018 7:49 PM

2018-01-25T19:49:15-05:00

Hopefully this is satire! , But I'm not laughing

Response by SSgt Tom Fitzpatrick made Sep 29 at 2018 11:47 AM

2018-09-29T11:47:32-04:00

What is the original question?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 6 at 2019 7:54 PM

2019-08-06T19:54:19-04:00

I'd really love to know who dreamed that one up....

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Aug 6 at 2019 11:16 PM

2019-08-06T23:16:04-04:00

I thought I felt a slight tug on leg.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Aug 7 at 2019 2:22 PM

2019-08-07T14:22:10-04:00

Almost only counts in horseshoes and high explosives. LOL