When looking for a good topic to cover for this first article I came across the definition of a soldier on an online dictionary. The word “Soldier” had ten different sub-definitions; the first three and the last two sub-definitions talk about military personnel. The middle five definitions deal with ants, termites, and a cuckoo.
Disregarding the talk of ants, termites, and cuckoos, the main definition of a soldier in any dictionary is “One who is engaged in military service as an officer or a private; one who serves in an army; one of an organized body of combatants.” (http://ardictionary.com/Soldier).
While true, this definition does nothing to show the true merit and character of those persons in the military. Regardless of branch, the military breeds people who are true to themselves, their families, and their country. These sailors, airmen, marines, and soldiers deserve more than a simple one-sentence blurb in a dictionary to define who they are as individuals as well as a social group. (For the ease of the writer, the remainder of this article will use the term “Soldier” to define all members of the Military regardless of branch. Apologies to those of other military branches.)
To take the time to sit and debate the meaning of the word “Soldier” one needs to have had little else to do that day. First, a soldier is not voted into office nor forced into the occupation. In fact the positions filled by the military today are filled entirely by volunteers. No one forces those in the US military to take the oath required of all military personnel. In the Army there are seven qualities that are taught from the first day of basic training, enforced throughout the soldier’s career, and embedded into the soul of that individual for life. The Army Values are Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.
There is loyalty to the U.S. Constitution, the unit, and your peers. There is the duty to fill your obligations and obey orders. Respect all people by treating them as they should be treated. Selfless-Service is more difficult to explain. Basically it means that the “Soldier” is to put the welfare of the nation and your subordinates before your own. Medals of Valor and such are given to those who have died protecting their peers in battle. Integrity is to do what is right, both legally and morally. Sometimes this means that “Soldiers” must make very hard decisions in difficult situations, but they make them nonetheless. Personal Courage is a hard hitter on the list of values. One must have the courage to volunteer to begin with, and then continue to face the fears, dangers, and adversities as they come. These seven values are the epitome of an American Soldier. They form the foundation of the soldier’s ethics and are used in each and every decision made by the individual and the unit in the military.
A “Soldier” is not meant to be a political thing. While politicians talk of all things military and the funding for the military is debated by elected officials, the “Soldier” has no say in where his or her orders take them. Only that they do the job that they volunteered for, questioning the orders only in cases where harm to themselves, their subordinates, or innocent bystanders could occur. While “Soldiers” may have political views, they tend to keep them under lock and key.
The “Soldier” is a human being just like you. They apply for a job, they receive the job, they wake up and go to work, and then they go home. The process repeats daily. Like a traveling sales representative, their location in the world changes constantly. Like Fire Fighters and Police Officers, their lives are put on the line everywhere they go. Many times, because of the political climate around the world, the “Soldier” cannot travel in his or her uniform. But the “Soldier” remains proud of who they are and what they stand for. A “Soldier” may not be meant as a political thing, but they are seen as such in many cases. It is inner strength that most “Soldiers” harbor that enables them to deal with the barrage of questioning and the extreme differences in social behavior that they are exposed to on a daily basis.
Granted, there is much, much more to what makes a “Soldier” a Soldier. That will be covered over the next several issues. The hopes, fears, and lives of some military personnel will be disclosed by the Independent by one who is there to see and feel the trials and tribulations that a mere fraction of American forces whom are currently in theatre.
My name is Felicia Maxa and I am a member of the Illinois Army National Guard currently in theatre.
I am an American Soldier.