Fellow Kossacks, I have enjoyed being a member of this community since I made my account a couple weeks ago. I've started learning not to type many expletives into my posts, and how to properly express my opinions without sounding like an arrogant prick(both are sort of works in progress, I'm afraid.) This website is full of many wonderful people from all over. Unfortunately, I will be gone for the summer.
You see, back in February (Valentines day to be exact), I swore an oath to protect this land and it's people from threats both foreign and domestic. On June 9th, I will start committing to it. I am a private in the US Army Reserves, and will be traveling to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri for my basic combat training. Do not worry, I will be back by September, and I'll be sure to write about it. My Dad's proud of me, my Mom's going to cry the moment I leave, and my siblings will probably be bored without me. I originally joined for the benefits, an attend college for free card. Upon taking an after processing survey at MEPS, I read a question that said:
"Why did you sign up for the United States Army? Number in order of importance."
I had the weirdest feeling in my gut just then, and then I realized: "I always wanted to do this, not for prestige or honor, but out of duty for my country."
Honestly, I hate a lot of things about my homeland:
-Distribution of the wealth
-Our Nation's Security tactics (Surveillance, Wiki Leaks, Guantanamo, etc)
-Assholes (Limbaugh, Racists, Hate Groups, Corrupt Politicians, Justin Bieber, etc)
-Aspects of Entertainment and Pop Culture (Reality Shows, Sweet 16, ANY Pop Music from Disney Kids)
But there's also things I love about my homeland:
-A stable life with livable conditions (water, food, shelter, internet, etc)
-Coke Cola
-Dogs (Labs specifically)
-Equal and (usually) guaranteed rights.
-An education.
-Kind strangers and strangers who I help for no profit at all.
-Cheese, I like cheese, a lot, no really it's ridiculous.
-This girl I kinda like.
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Back to the chase, I've joined the armed forces not to be cool, or to get the GI Bill, but because I've had a blessed life in the US of A, and I intend to follow through with my promise to it.
Some say patriotism is dead, I say "Never."
Fri Jun 07, 2013 at 8:15 AM PT: UPDATE, My Multimedia class did a Harlem Shake for the last day I was in class.