Today's military is based on a lineage of tradition. The Profession of Arms dates back to midieval times. The salute originated from Knights on horseback; we raise our right hand to expose the face to identify each and every one of us as a friendly force. Most, if not all, of our customs and traditions are based on historical relevance. Our profession is steeped in honor, tradition and codes that we choose to live by. The American public views service members as portrayed by Hollywood movies. We are Forrest Gump; slow, naïve, not very bright, and uneducated. On the other end of the spectrum we are seen as a liability. In the film Jack Reacher the character of James Barr portrays the veteran as a psychopath who enjoys murdering people without any morals. In actuality, the Military Veteran is somewhere in between. I have always appreciated the characters portrayed in "The Last Castle" starring Robert Redford. This is an accurate representation of diversity that is experienced in the today's armed forces. The service men and women in the military come from all walks of life. We are represented by 50 states and 4 territories. I had the honor of serving with a young man who joined the Air Force from Africa. The day he became a naturalized citizen was a cause for celebration. We do not see color; we see comrades. Each of us willingly raised our right hand and swore an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and each other. |