Why I Served: It Just Felt Right
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By Aron Walton | Walton All Around
When a person says, “I am joining the military,” what are the first thoughts running through your brain? When my little sister called one day to tell me she was enlisting in the Air Force, I felt pride and excitement. For many with no prior experience with the military, that moment can bring many questions and concerns. After all, the thought of seeing your son or daughter go off to war and volunteer to be in harm's way can be very unnerving for doting parents. After reflecting on my military service, I can say without a doubt that enlisting in the Air Force was the pivotal point in my life.
I was in my early 20s, on track for a mediocre life with no real direction or goal. There was no definitive future ahead of me. If I had not made a life-changing decision, my current outcome would have been remarkably different and boring. Countless statements from influential people can provide uplifting motivation when you need it. Equally powerful statements can be detrimental to your future if you let them.
Counterproductive comments are the ones that last the longest and create the biggest uphill battles. Two of the most detrimental narratives I’ve ever been told are, "Don't dream too big" and "Just be happy with what you have." Of all the un-inspirational quotes I've heard, these two posed the greatest threat to what my life became during and after the military.
Growing up in a small Oregon town, there were only a couple of things I wanted in life: To experience the world beyond the Oregon shores, and to have the stuff I saw on TV the few times we had cable. Figuring out how to make that happen was problematic for an average kid like me. Grades weren’t going to get me anywhere in life—it was pity and a close enough effort that got me through to graduation. I was neither a stellar student nor a problem student, so there was no reason to spend much time on me. If there were a poster child for working hard to be below average, I was a prime candidate.
There is nothing wrong with being average. In fact, there were many times I wished I could have hit that mark every day. I discovered that living an average life was not how I wanted to spend my time on this Earth. So, back to the question. How did an average at best kid with no real, measurable talent find a way to matter in life, experience the world, and provide nice things for others? I listened to the voice in my head, mustered up the courage, and followed in the footsteps of generations of family before me. I always knew the military was where I belonged; it was a higher calling, part of my family history, and, most importantly, it just felt right.
Life is often full of regrets, sometimes more than others. One of my most significant regrets comes from my teenage years. In the ignorance of my youth, I didn't give respect to the stories around the holiday table from relatives I saw only a few times each year. I vaguely remember the conversations shared by those great men who fought in and lived through World War 2. Missing out on hearing more about crazy Uncle Wayne’s experience during the liberation of France is truly sad. Hearing the words come from a person who actually walked the underground tunnels in the days following the fall of the Third Reich is a tale lost to time, and one you can never hear again. Grandma told stories of her Uncle Leo Powers, who, as a young man in World War 2 received the Medal of Honor from President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his heroic actions in Monte Cassino, Italy.
I stand in the shadow of a military history filled with great American patriots who did the job many others could not. I am honored to humbly submit my record to be cast in the same light as those who came before me, and those who will come after me.
When you ask a person why he or she joined the military, the answer is all too familiar, and at the same time it is unique to the person. The reason for joining is often not the same reason for which a person decides to stay in the military. If you’d asked me a week into Basic Training, I probably would have fumbled through some generalized answers for why I joined. It is safe to say the words coming out of my mouth would not have made much sense at the time. Mostly because during the second week of BMT I was tired of doing pushups and just wanted to eat lunch without getting yelled at; those were the times! After years of reflection on that question, my reason has evolved. It wasn't about what I wanted at the time, but what I wanted for my future. The only problem was I had to live the military life to reach that point.
At 23, I wanted my life to have purpose, even though I had no idea what that meant. That point is true for many 23-year-olds looking for purpose in the world today, reliving the same day over and over year after year. Contrary to what people think, very few of us had it all figured out at 23. So at age 23, what was I doing in the military? I tended to answer the question of why I was there in the same general fashion as many other fresh recruits.
· I want the chance to go to school! Keep in mind I wasn’t very good at school.
· I want to travel the world! My first duty station was in Idaho—one state over from where I grew up.
· I want nice things! Let me point out that junior enlisted in the military don’t make crap for pay, and they live in dorms.
I know what you’re thinking: winning all the way around, right!
So, to return fire on the original question that started this journey, why join the military? After all this time, I always come back to the same answer: It just felt right! At 23, I stood before the flag and recited the words below, forever changing the trajectory of my life for the better.
“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
People often ask me questions when they're not familiar with military service: would I go back to war and do it again? Without hesitation, I utter a resounding and boastful YES! There are no words to describe it for me. I loved being in the Air Force; I loved what I did; I loved the people, and I love my country!