One of the best decisions I've ever made is joining the United States Air Force on January 12, 1999. I served as a Public Affairs Journeyman from Jan. 12., 1999 to Jan. 12, 2003 on active duty, and for exactly four years following that on inactive status.

Joining the military was a scary decision for me, even in 1999, when we had yet to enter the Age of Terrorism. I was only 21-year's-old and was not quite sure of what to expect. I was signing away four years of my life to the military. I didn't know where I'd be living, what job I'd be doing, when I'd get to see my family again, etc. All these questions ran through my head.

Basic training was a culture shock. I felt as if some of my individuality was being stripped away, but while it was tough, I made some of the best friends of my life there. Just think, everybody is going through the same thing. It's like the term "war buddies." When you serve with somebody, the dynamics of the friendship between you and that person is different than with your other friends. You have a closer tie to that person, a depper sense of community with him or her than you possibly can with other people. I noticed that during basic training, and with the friends I served with and made during my four years of active duty as well. The friends I made while serving are the best I've ever had. With those whom I've talked who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, the same is true for the friends they have made in the war. Once they've shared a foxhole with a person, you become extremely close to that person. And while war is hell, the friends and relationships you make while serving are going to be the best you've ever had. For example, while you have to ask your regular friends if they have your back, you know that your military buddies do. In fact, many of them will even die for you, and after you've gone through the character-enhancement that the military can provide, you are willing to take a bullet for your friend as well. In short, while there are some horrible side-effects from war, the military is a place where you can make some of the best friends of your life!

And what of the travel? Many people I went to basic with were subsequently sent to places like Hawaii, Germany, France, England, Italy, etc. Even those that went to Iraq are getting to see the "Cradle of Civilization." While they may hate what they see, travel is about new experiences, and Iraq and Afghanistan are interesting and culturaly rich places to see. One day, perhaps in the near future, these places may even be hubs of tourism, and if you served over there, you can tell your grandchildren that you were there, that you've seen that place, that you helped to liberate it!

And what of the military benefits? Well, while you're in, they benefits are perfect in every sense of the word. Not only do you get a regular, reasonable paycheck, but the military also pays for you and your family's health insurance, your home, utilities and food. When you get out, they'll still cover your medical when you are unemployed, and the military helped me get a home loan so that I could get a house when no other government program would even touch me!

And what's more, they helped me in the hospital to get clean and straighten up when I got physically addicted to the painkillers prescribed to me after surgery. I couldn't get off of the pills without becoming violently ill, but a Veterans Affairs Center here in Texas helped me at a cost of nothing. They helped improve my health, the helped me find a job, they helped me find a home.

In short, if you're thinking about joining the military, think not only of what you'll risk, but what you'll gain and what changes you'll go through as a person in the way of character, discipline and personal health.

I want to warn everybody to not make this decision lightly, it can be a dangerous one with which you could quite possible lose your life. However, the chance of that happening is remote. However, the odds of you having a good experience in the military, and afterward, are actually quite high. And right now, while you could make a choice to work at a fast-food restaurant where there will be absolutely no character building going on, you could go to the military and get a cool job, learn valuable skills, and earn the respect you deserve as a person!

God Bless,

A Fellow Veteran (If you Join)