RE:
http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,163958,00.htmlThe “Why We Serve” panel is such an awesome opportunity not only for the Soldier, Sailor, Airmen or Marine who gets to speak, but for those personnel in the audience who have never had an opportunity to hear what it is we really do and why we wear the uniform and serve our country.
Like the speakers on this panel I to was an ROTC cadet and like many others I enjoyed the financial benefits. When I joined the ROTC program at UTSA I only intended to stay on active duty for a few years to continue building my leadership skills and travel as much as possible, but as was mentioned in the article it was a sort of metamorphosis for me as well. As the values I was raised with merged with the Army values, my sense of duty to country grew stronger and here I am 13 years later.
It has been an excellent opportunity to serve my country, lead others, learn lifelong skills, and travel all over the world. The many skills I learned will stay with me forever and can be transferred to any situation or challenge I face in the future. Of all the skills I have learned leadership is the one I use the most. It is a continuous part of our training and for me the best part of being a Soldier. It is the most challenging and enjoyable, it enabled me to learn more about my strengths and weaknesses, it has improved my interpersonal skills and communication skills, and most importantly it has given me many opportunities to develop, coach and mentor others to be the best they can be.
The experiences of this “Why We Serve” panel is just a small representation of why people serve in the armed forces and why others join ROTC programs across the country. Whether you stay for a few years or make a career of it, ROTC and being part of any one of the services is an opportunity everyone should be a part of.
