Veterans Day is about appreciating the service rendered by our men and women in uniform, both past and present. “Thank you for your Service”, a phrase many of us have heard multiple times, is the essence of this day. It is a most welcome phrase….and genuinely appreciated. However, many veterans believe that we, in turn, also owe thanks to those whose support has reinforced our efforts over the years.
Many of us at MAG served in the military…. across the Services and in the Coast Guard. We engaged in combat in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Haiti. We deployed in support of contingency operations or as part of training exercises in places many never knew existed. We led, supervised, and commanded teams of various sizes and echelons. We flew, sailed, rode….and of course, walked. Most importantly, we worked with and fought alongside some of the best people imaginable – true professionals and even better teammates.
While incredibly rewarding, our service didn’t always feel like a reward. We experienced different, yet similar challenges – especially with the Nation being in a steady state of war. Dealing with these challenges could also (weirdly) be the funniest times ever. Humor, in the face of adversity, has a way of returning a sense of normalcy to bad situations. Luckily, we were never short of jokesters, nor teammates that could inspire us to do our jobs better. We also found inspiration in the support we saw from our fellow citizens back home. In a way, you were the ultimate legitimacy of our actions…. and our service over the years. We should be most thankful that this support continues today.
Most of the veterans I know (and many who you work with) enjoyed their time in service. I trust many will say it was among the most rewarding times in their lives. There are always regrets – memories of tragedies witnessed, accidents, and loss; injured and fallen teammates do not simply fade away. While these hazards were part of the job and tacitly accepted, I don’t believe they would have stopped us from serving anyway. Service was a privilege only matched by the responsibility entrusted in us by our leadership and supported by you back home. This made us better, more resilient, and our time in uniform more gratifying.
Circling back to this Veterans Day, thank you, too. Thanks for your enduring support to our servicemembers past, present, and future. Thank you for allowing us the privilege to serve, to grow, and to have challenging, yet fulfilling, careers. Most importantly, thank you for being the bedrock that underpins everything our military does to protect this great Nation.
– Colonel (Ret.) Robert Connell, U.S Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
