MyMilitaryMedals.com Blog
Military Ribbons & Medals are only part of the Story
December 28th 2011 - 2:55 pm
I often wonder how my life would have been if I had remained in the military and retired. I would not change the life that I have lived nor would I give back all the experiences, and joyful times of my life for a different path, but I just wonder what it would have been like. I have many friends and family members that have retired from the service, and sometimes I am a little envious. I spent six great years in the Air Force, and I loved every moment. When I decided to leave the military it was because a business opportunity had presented itself, and I took the bull by the horns and never looked back. Well I guess I’m kind of looking back now aren’t I. It was nice to see my older sister retire, and my cousin that is a couple of years older than me retire as well, but now there are quite a few friends that are younger than me retiring and I have to think, what if. There are quite a few benefits to a military retirement, and one has to really contemplate that time of re-enlistment.
If I had stayed in the Air Force I would have been eligible for retirement about three years ago, and I would still be young enough to start a second career. While I was in the military I really enjoyed the ceremonial part of the military. I appreciated being recognized in front of my peers with military ribbons, and military medals, but it was more the feeling that your unit was thankful for you service. It was always nice to recognize my airman for a job well done when I was a supervisor. The better job that you do and the more commitment that you displayed the quicker you would rise in the ranks as well. In addition to the feeling of pride, and the camaraderie that was such a big part of military life, there were and are many great benefits that aid a person in being successful in life.
Once a person puts there time in, and is eligible for retirement, they will receive retirement pay for the rest of their lives. Sure there are many that debate the percentage of retirement, but from someone that left the military and is still working, forty or fifty percent retirement looks very good. In addition to the retirement pay that you will receive, you also have lifetime medical coverage, and access to discounted shopping on any military installation in the world. In today’s economy a person can use every break the can get, and believe me military retired service members reap the rewards of long and faithful service. In addition to all these rewards, they still get the honor of being awarded many Air Force ribbons, and Air Force medals, and serving their country proudly.
So those of you that are coming up on retirement, think about it long and hard. It is a tough world out there, and sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side, but it usually isn’t.
Gratitude Will Supersede Military Ribbons Every Time
December 26th 2011 - 12:26 pm
The holiday season is just that a season, it is not just one day and then back to work. I know it is the day after Christmas, and most of us are back at work doing what we do, without a second thought. There are those that have vacation built up, and are enjoying a week or two of rest and relaxation. From past experiences with friends and family it is not always feasible to get time off for the holidays, and it usually depends upon your seniority at your place of employment. I am home on winter break from school, and I have had three weeks off, with two more to come so I am fortunate to have some time off. The flip side to my time off is that I am not getting paid to relax as if I had paid time off. The fact is, in today’s economy it is tough for one to take time off and not earn money to stay afloat. There are a lot of folks that get themselves in a tough situation during the holidays, and cause undue stress upon them. It would be so nice if the tradition of Christmas was not to run out and max out your credit cards to get gifts, but if you had to make all gifts that were given during this time. I know that Christmas is not supposed to be about giving and receiving gifts, but you have to admit it has become a big part of this season. So if it is that way, and we probably can’t change it, maybe we can alter how we handle it. If we can just appreciate time spent with each other, and focus on our relationships this time of year would be so much more rewarding, not to mention less stressful. We actually have a perfect opportunity to do this with the kids out of school, and most have a day or two off. What about those that are not afforded this luxury, how can we reach out to them during this holiday season?
My heart always goes out to those that are less fortunate, and may not even have family and friends to be with and love. What about their holidays, shouldn’t they have a joyous season as well? Maybe we could reach out and help those that are less fortunate than we are, and let the true spirit of the holidays shine through. In my estimation the best gift you can give someone is your time, and I am referring to quality time from the heart. Sometimes it is as simple as taking the time say to a few kind words, or even just extending a smile. There are all levels of commitment to helping others, this range from volunteer programs to doing good deeds on the spot when the need arises. There are many citizens that take it upon themselves to help others, and make it a part of their daily walk. I like to think of the golden rule in these times and try to put myself in others shoes. I for one have been down and out, and have had people that I knew, and total strangers reach out a hand to help me back on my feet. Because I am a veteran, my thoughts are on the men and women of the military on a regular basis and what they go through during this time of year.
Our US military members spend more time away from their loved ones than in any other occupation. Think about this statement for a second, and you will be hard pressed to find another group of individuals that volunteer to do whatever is best to defend your freedom. If it requires being away from loved ones for months or years, this is what they do. The fact that they dedicate themselves to a greater cause, does not mean that they do not miss their loved ones and also wish they could be home. What if we dedicate ourselves to thanking these warriors for their commitment? Send a letter or a gift to a random soldier, and you will see how good it feels, and I am sure it will be well received from them as well. If in some way we can share the holiday spirit with these men and woman it will be returned tenfold. These protectors of freedom do not go overseas for the military ribbons and medals that they receive; they do it because they believe in the American dream, and they are protecting it. Don’t get me wrong we should honor these military members with these military awards, but that is not why they do what they do.
