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In August of this year, I will have served in the Army for almost 30 years. I’ve deployed several times, commanded a battalion in combat, and traveled from Haiti to Iraq and everywhere in between.
This was not my plan.
As a young Specialist in the Old Guard, I wanted to serve my country. I wanted to learn a lot. I wanted adventure. As we worked together to shed light on the Army, giving the public a sense of what soldiering looks like and means, my plan began to change.
A few years later, the Army called me to Korea. As a platoon leader, I worked closely with my noncommissioned officers to make sure my 42 Soldiers were taken care of. There, I learned that it’s not about me. It’s about the team. It’s about the Army. And my plan changed again.
For me, the Army became a career. Almost 30 years have gone by and I am still a Soldier. But length of time served doesn’t really matter. What’s important is what we take away from our time in the Army. Whether you are in for two years or 20, you learn everything - from the importance of timeliness to what true adversity looks and feels like. You learn how to never give up, no matter what comes your way. You learn to look out for each other, to trust and to be trusted. These are the values, qualities and characteristics that make you a Soldier.
They will serve you while you are in the Army, helping you to be the best Soldier you can be and making our Army the world’s premier force. They will remain with you when you transition, too. They are what helps you prioritize and lead, what allows you to continue to serve even after you’ve taken off your uniform. They are your enduring connection to the Army. These are the values, qualities and characteristics that make you a Soldier for Life.
One day I will transition out of the Army. I will take off my uniform for the last time. But I am a Soldier for Life. I understand the value and the power of service. I will take all of the intangible skills the Army has taught me and I will apply them as a civilian. I will never quit. Will you?
Author Col. Adam Rocke: Director, U.S. Army Soldier for Life, Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army
This was not my plan.
As a young Specialist in the Old Guard, I wanted to serve my country. I wanted to learn a lot. I wanted adventure. As we worked together to shed light on the Army, giving the public a sense of what soldiering looks like and means, my plan began to change.
A few years later, the Army called me to Korea. As a platoon leader, I worked closely with my noncommissioned officers to make sure my 42 Soldiers were taken care of. There, I learned that it’s not about me. It’s about the team. It’s about the Army. And my plan changed again.
For me, the Army became a career. Almost 30 years have gone by and I am still a Soldier. But length of time served doesn’t really matter. What’s important is what we take away from our time in the Army. Whether you are in for two years or 20, you learn everything - from the importance of timeliness to what true adversity looks and feels like. You learn how to never give up, no matter what comes your way. You learn to look out for each other, to trust and to be trusted. These are the values, qualities and characteristics that make you a Soldier.
They will serve you while you are in the Army, helping you to be the best Soldier you can be and making our Army the world’s premier force. They will remain with you when you transition, too. They are what helps you prioritize and lead, what allows you to continue to serve even after you’ve taken off your uniform. They are your enduring connection to the Army. These are the values, qualities and characteristics that make you a Soldier for Life.
One day I will transition out of the Army. I will take off my uniform for the last time. But I am a Soldier for Life. I understand the value and the power of service. I will take all of the intangible skills the Army has taught me and I will apply them as a civilian. I will never quit. Will you?
Author Col. Adam Rocke: Director, U.S. Army Soldier for Life, Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army
Soldier
Army
Command Post
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 24
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COL (Join to see) Outstanding career and I can definitely relate to what you have described so eloquently in your topic above here on RP. This is a great message for all lifetime members of the service to read and remember. Thank you for your service, thank you for sharing your insight, and I will always be a soldier for life
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Debbie Gray
Forever a Soldiers Spouse...even though he is deceased...only 42 yrs old! Shouldn’t have happened! I will forever love
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COL (Join to see)
First, thank you for your service. I joined because I needed the money for college...because I knew I was supposed to go to college because...well because everyone told you, "Go to college." No one asked, "Why?" Joined the USAR and KNEW, as only a 17 year old kid can KNOW, that I would only do one tour, just one! Enlisted as an 11H, not realizing that this was the last Infantry Brigade in the Army Reserve, but often it is better to be lucky. Went to college, completed my degree and then found out that college was not an ends but a means? WTF? When I started looking at 'real' jobs, there was nothing as good as serving (yes, I had matured during my time in USAR and college). Once again I was blessed to have an opportunity to go AD present itself to me and the next 22 years were history...well more stories but one gets the picture.
On the other hand, as far back as I can remember, I was running around the backyards, stick for a rifle, playing Army...so maybe it was more in my blood than even I really realize?
First, thank you for your service. I joined because I needed the money for college...because I knew I was supposed to go to college because...well because everyone told you, "Go to college." No one asked, "Why?" Joined the USAR and KNEW, as only a 17 year old kid can KNOW, that I would only do one tour, just one! Enlisted as an 11H, not realizing that this was the last Infantry Brigade in the Army Reserve, but often it is better to be lucky. Went to college, completed my degree and then found out that college was not an ends but a means? WTF? When I started looking at 'real' jobs, there was nothing as good as serving (yes, I had matured during my time in USAR and college). Once again I was blessed to have an opportunity to go AD present itself to me and the next 22 years were history...well more stories but one gets the picture.
On the other hand, as far back as I can remember, I was running around the backyards, stick for a rifle, playing Army...so maybe it was more in my blood than even I really realize?
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