Why I decided to serve, why I continue to serve, and how it fits into the greater purpose of my life, all differ. Military service was not a given path when I was growing up. There is minimal history of military service in my family. Nonetheless, my father raised my brothers and me to have a deep reverence of the ideals that create the American identity. With that came an appreciation of those who served. While this belief in America, appreciation for the Armed Forces, and – by nature of my age when it happened – the effects of 9/11, played a large role in my deciding to serve, they are not why I stay. The reasons for my continued service are deeper, perhaps more complex, and more matured from time and experience.

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I joined the Army National Guard in 2002. My recruiter met me in the student union of my college, and by the end of spring break I had enlisted as a supply clerk with a ship date that winter. The long wait time to get into basic training aside, the decision to serve came quickly and the decision was all mine. Now, mostly through my work as a historian, I understand that the decision to join was mine, but the pathway to that decision was very far outside of my creation. My ability to walk into recruiting station and join any branch of service I liked was an effect, not a cause. I saw the top layer of sediment on a riverbed that had been meandering since 1636.

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As a child, I loved the back corner of the library where the World War II books were kept. I have long forgotten the exact Dewey decimal for that area, but I devoured every book there. In fourth grade, I was able to put my knowledge to use, giving a report on Admiral Chester A. Nimitz. My interest waned in high school, and like most of my close friends, I chose to go to college at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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The memory is clear in comparison to others that have faded over the years. The early morning Ohio air seemed crisp even though it was the middle of summer, somewhere around the end of July I suppose. I stood by, waiting for Grandpa as I did every morning and evening, during every visit to Ohio throughout my childhood. Grandpa emerged from the garage with his American flag, rolled neatly from the previous evening. The flag was slightly weathered from daily use, but still in good condition. Every so often, during road trips, Grandpa would stop and complain to a business owner who flew a tattered flag. Each morning he carried the colors at a modified port arms, calling me to attention and then present arms, singing a fine rendition of To The Colors while unrolling his flag. I’d watch the flag sway in the breeze, maintaining the best salute a seven year old could render until Grandpa completed the tune and slid the staff into the bracket on the garage. My Grandpa taught me what it means to be an American. He taught me about ideals and traits that I now observe in our Army’s Soldiers, and that I hope I embodythrough service to our Nation and these Soldiers.

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I cannot quantify how challenging it has been for me to write this post. It’s a topic I am passionate about, but I’ve greatly struggled in articulating my deep emotions over what keeps me committed to my Army service day-in and day-out. I want to offer some grand, moving story that pulls at the heart strings, but that’s just not me, unfortunately. What I have to share regarding “why I serve” all comes after I joined the service and the incredible experiences I’ve had thus far in my career. Further, my passion for service and why I do what I do all centers around one thing: leadership.

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A brief review of the Merriam-Webster definition(s) for “serve” provides the many uses, tenses, and applications of the word. The word – as a verb, to serve – is packed with so much more than a simple definition could provide. Sometimes we see the word “selfless” or “selflessly” thrown in front of it. There is also a theory of leadership called “servant leadership”. In terms of our community, we are familiar with the term “the service” to describe the profession of arms. The historical origins of the phrase are deep and even routed in conscription. But, in a post-Vietnam U.S. Military, we are an all volunteer force. So, if not required, why do we serve?

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