My significant moment in acknowledging the military was when as a child, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated
My significant moment in acknowledging the military was when as a child, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated
"Hurry up! We gotta go. We are to bypass 3rd ID in Baghdad and take the northern part of Iraq."…
rescue mission operation. I even conducted an event training to where I participated in a Blackhawk Operation mission with the Army 12th Aviation Battalion and 55th EOD Team which EOD is a bomb squad, which every SWAT Team have in the civilian world in a police department SWAT. I had the chance to partake in a K-9 unit experience training.…
Somewhere in the Middle East there is a mom fighting in a foreign war. The gunpowder smoke coagulating in her lungs, hearing the cries for help, and not knowing if she’ll ever see her 2 year old son again. Soldiers everywhere do this every day not knowing if they are going home ever to see their loved ones. They do this because they are selfless and are heroes. That’s why an American I believe in is made possible by the sacrifices of our military.…
Despite non-selection, my pursuit of this prestigious and challenging position will not be deterred. My naval career, I have continually sought positions of greater responsibility and produced exceptional results in each of those positions. While I take great pride in being a Chief Petty Officer, I feel the experience I have acquired as a Chief will benefit any wardroom I am a member of. It is important to note that I did not submit an LDO-CWO package for FY-14 due to the time constraints I experienced while standing up Naval Beach Unit SEVEN with an under staffed office and operational commitment.…
It would be an honor and a privilege to continue my service as a Surface Warfare Officer. I had the pleasure of being assigned to the USS Chung-Hoon during my senior Midshipman cruise. While on the Chung-Hoon, I was tasked with assuming the role of conning officer. I was held to the same expectation as my running mate; I was to have in-depth knowledge of the ship’s navigational capabilities, report for duty fully prepared to assume responsibilities, and, at all times, be diligent when working in unison with the different departments of the ship in order to assure safe navigation. Working with the officers and crew on the Chung-Hoon was the greatest lesson in leadership I experienced, and serves as the point in my life where I knew I was destined to be a warfighter. I know that as a Surface Warfare Officer,…
After my graduation, I began my military career. In 1942, I was promoted to chief of staff. In his year, the United States engaged in a war with countries part of Axis Power(shake head disagreeing with the enemy's cause). My knowledge of this war impressed General Marshall which got me a promotion. My new rank was Supreme Allied Commander in London which put me in charge of the the largest military invasion in history. His war is known as D-Day.…
I became a Department of Homeland Security government employee because I believed in the mission and felt compelled to dedicate a portion of my life to see an impact on our society. I am proud to share the mission with my children and displaying patriotism. The most powerful words I heard from my son the day he graduated from high school was “Mom, I am and have been very proud of you because of the work and the dedication you have shown me. I want to enlist and also show my dedication and commitment to our nation.” His words brought tears to my eyes. At that moment I realized that my actions did not only influence me.…
First off, trip to Vietnam was truly a blessing. I did not expect so much of the trip until the first day I arrived Vietnam. On my first day, I got an opportunity to meet many great people who were selfless; those who cared more about others rather than themselves. It took approximately 14hours in total to arrive at hotel. Even though the plane ride was only about 5hours, since it was a group trip, it took extra time to ensure everyone is in right place. Despite the exhaustion and drowsiness, no one complained but encouraged others. I was already touched by grace of God before we even began our mission trip. On the second day, I volunteered for the medical service. There were two activities including the medical service, and house painting…
On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream. For this reason young men and women should want to join the military and protect their nation’s freedom. Even though men and women do not want to go to war especially one that they do not believe in, they should join the military because exceptional benefits, life changing experience, and most of all to protect our nation’s freedom from those that want to harm us.…
When you are someone’s support system you take on multiple roles that indirectly deteriorate your self preservation. Being a listener or a shoulder to cry on, requires sacrifices that, in the moment, you do not even recognize as imposing. Voluntarily and willingly being there for someone begins with the unwavering doubt that you and your own problems cannot and will not prevail over your person’s immediate crisis. Depending on the duration of your duty, a somewhat selfish thought of inconvenience is bound to surface. But, that wave of retraction is almost always combatted by a riptide of dedication and loyalty that brings you back to sea, where all you can do is tread. In turn, the suppression of self regarding issues regularly comes with a layer of obligation and a sting of bitterness.…
“You are order to active duty as a member of your reserve component unit for the period indicated unless sooner released or unless extended. Proceed from your current location in sufficient time to report by the date specified. You enter active duty upon reporting to unit home station”. These were the words telling me that I was going to Iraq, to fight and destroy the enemies of the United States of America and face one of my biggest challenges yet. Soon after I received my orders in the mail I had a dilemma, what’s going to happen when I tell my mother and the rest of my family? Have I been taking my family and friends for granted, now that I have this situation in front of me I realize that maybe I should have tried…
After that day at the police station, he kept tabs on me so I knew his threat to kill me was something that was real. He followed me from a distance ; I had this fear that death was watching me but I knew I had to fight back because I knew justice in the courts won’t bring me peace especially with cops … A peace that I have only felt since the day I killed the man who killed me .…
I was born in Iraq in a domestic violent environment. In my second grade in elementary, I and my sister moved to 7 different foster child housing. I had to move to 7 different elementary schools in one year. I was being sexually molested several times by these foster families and emotionally and physically as well. My parents finally were able to get back together and keep us somehow stable till the middle school. My father was kidnapped after 2003 war in Iraq and we had to sell all we have to pay for his ransom and release him free. We run away to Syria after we got my father back and we lived there as refugees till we came to the U.S. in 2011. Growing up in Syria as a gay man was as hard as growing up in the jungle with predators. I was being beat up and raped several times by Syrian regime militias.…
It was about seven in the evening and I got a call from my friend, letting me know she and her grandmother had made it home. Her grandmother is in her 60’s, so there wasn’t much texting going between us. I’d been trying to catch up with her all day to interview her, but I guess she had a very busy weekend. I finally arrived to the house just ready to get the interview over with.…
These men and women are not just of the past; there are so many eager and willing citizens even today that feel such patriotism they feel inclined to serve. Both my father and my brother were one of those people. After my dad serving in the Navy for 20 years, I’d become used to the military routine; the long expanses of time without him, the struggle for my mom to raise 3 children with her husband overseas and another portion that stuck out like a sore thumb - the music. I’d become so familiar with this music that it seemed void when I attended any event that didn’t begin with some sort of patriotic song. By far, the piece that made the biggest impression on me was “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Sousa. I remember being held by my mother as my dad’s ship came in. On the naval base, there was a marching band playing that piece and it’s one of the most defining pieces in both my life and my view of American…