Thank a soldier.
 

That's it really. This is not a political statement or a plea to your conscience. Monday is the 4th of July, so if you could, if you would, thank a soldier. My father has been over in the middle east for two years now and I will be talking to him specifically, but any soldier I find, I'm going to thank. It means alot to them for you to take the 20 seconds out of your day to make a point to thank them, even if you don't support the war, support the soldiers for doing their job.

Thanks much and be safe with your fireworks!

Thank you, zxello.

Don't forget about the Marines, Seamen, and Airmen too.

Don't forget the often forgotten ones in this formula... the families of the soldiers who are there giving support.

You said a mouthful there. Those of us the joined chose this life. They got sucked into it. Nothing is harder then being married to a military man or woman.

I thank myself every day! ;-)

But seriously, it's nice to see a thread like this now and again. Even as National Guard soldiers and having NOT been deployed yet, my wife (Combatmedicjen) and I both feel the pressures of the military now and again. We both have friends overseas and more are going every week. Many people think less of the National Guard and Reserve forces, but to set some things straight:

* Deployment for a guardsman/reservist is often more difficult than it is for a regular soldier/marine/et al. The military doesn't pay very much (unless you are a senior NCO or officer), and therefore most guardsmen take pay cuts to leave their families behind with less money while they are gone fighting.

* The Army National Guard makes up roughly 50% of the US Army fighting forces. Nearly all NG units are combat-ready, and not only have to leave their families to fight overseas, but also get called up for homeland emergencies such as flood, fire and disaster relief as well as guard duty at airports and such during times of national crisis.

* While we only train one weekend a month and two weeks each summer, we are just as dedicated, just as willing and just as proud as any full-time member of our proud military forces.

Now that I have that out of the way, thanks again for starting this thread. For all my brothers and sisters fighting the good fight, my love and thoughts go out to you, not just on the fourth day of July, but every day of the year. Hooah!

Being Active Duty Air Force myself, I can say I haven't met anyone who looks down on the guard or reserve. It seems you guys do a lot of the heavy lifting and your transition is more difficult.

Hell, we live military everyday. I can't imagine working a job most of the time as a civilian and then picking up and going to war.

I'm heading to the Middle East in Aug/Sep timeframe and am sure I'll work closely with many guardsmen while I am there.

We don't think less of you at all. Well, I'm an intell weenie, so I say to much anyway. But we do love giving you shit though, just like us squids like giveing greif to the jarheads and vise versa. Course, you want to see a marine and a sailor join up forces in record time, let some civi that don't know shit about shit try starting something. Or someone in the Air Force :D

Hey man....there are many a tough bastard in the AF.

OK....so there are a lot of geeks too....but you will find percentage that are as tough as any marine.

Don't be jealous just because we have air conditioned hotels in many places where the others are living tents. Don't hate just because your beds are never cold, and we get a room to ourselves with a TV. :D :thumbsup:

Heavy... you must be in the chairforce yourself. Good to know. ;-)

Yes indeed, Chairborne Ranger.

For the record....my upcoming deployment is to a tent city with no hard buildings or facilities in a very forward location. We don't all get hotels.

Sorry, I just won't be able to veiw the air force as a real branch of the military until they have been around long enough to have traditions instead of habits. :D

Ha ha....well if we go by enemy KIA's and property destroyed in the last several conflicts....I'd say we are the only real branch.

No need for tradition when you can launch a global attack from central USA and hit anywhere in the world.

Ah yes, all hail the mighty push button. You fire them missles from your exersize bike?? hehehe

BSing aside, I give props to all that serve.

Actually we have a little keychain, like for your car but it controls the missiles. :hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

Being a deployed guard soldier myself, it sucks. Ive postponed college, twice. Once for training, once for deployment. I am still a freshman, grr. Its not all fun and games in the guard.

Not to mention we had 6 months of "training" again before they even let us out of the country. So instead of being gone a year. We'll be gone a year and a half when they finally let us home.

Assuming they dont extend us..

Not in the military here, but see my avatar :D

*sighs happily*

I thanked him, his dad, my gpa (WWII vet), and anyone else I came in contact with (I work at the local box office movie theater and saw a lot of military ID's).

Semper Fi and thank you to everyone here on TFP in the military.

I can't believe I missed this thread. I've thanked many soldiers in my life....my hubby was an active duty Marine for 4 1/2 years and was among the first troops in Iraq. I have a friend in the Army and a brother in law in the Air Force that are both over there right now. It's nice to know that others appreciate the troops hard work and dedication. Thanks for the thread, zxello!