This is a hard one so please bear with me:

Many of you know I’m a veteran and former military officer.

You may also know that I served in a ready division

And lived with a TA-50 in the trunk of my car for nearly 4 years.

I never deployed but we trained constantly for deployment.

Constantly,

It was hard.

It was monotonous.

It was necessary.

For me, I was able to do it because I firmly believed the following:

1. That my fellow soldiers were family; our commitment to each other was sacrosanct.

2. We were well-trained, well-supported and the best of the best.

3. That we had the full support of the entire military chain-of-command up to and including the Commander-in-Chief.

Finally, and this is the most important part:

If I was injured that my fellow soldiers and my country would care for me and help me heal.

Or, if I was captured, that my fellow soldiers and my country would never stop looking for me and that they were coming to bring me home.

And, if the worst happened and I didn’t survive, that my country would honor my sacrifice and care for my family.

The Atlantic article shook me to my core.

Shook me.

To those serving now, I want you to know your country has not abandoned you and we stand firmly with you.

That the values of country, service and sacrifice are embraced by most of us.

And that we will forever value what you do and cherish you and your families.