Deciding to serve one's country is one of the bravest things a person can do, and it will change their life forever. Such a decision also changes, at least in a small way, the lives of the people around them. Whether you come from a military family, or one day, one of your siblings randomly decided to pursue a career in the armed forces, here are 12 things you've probably done if someone in your family is in the military.
1. You take every opportunity to brag about them obnoxiously.
"Oh, did you just mention the Army? Guess what, my sister goes to West Point and in two years she's going to be a second lieutenant. She's the coolest person ever."
2. You pay closer attention to the news.
You have a more personal interest in where the government is planning on sending troops these days. "There was a bombing where? Do they think they're going to put boots on the ground over there?"
3. You clear your schedule whenever they have time off.
Service men and women rarely get time off. No matter what's going on, you're determined to spend as much time with them as you can when they come to visit. It could be another nine months before you see them again.
4. You consider them your personal hero.
You've seen first hand how hard and scary serving one's country can be, and it's made you realize how truly brave and courageous your loved one is.
5. You notice how the armed forces has changed them.
Sometimes it's something as simple as the way they walk or their posture, but you still notice, with mixed emotions, the subtle changes in the way they think, speak, and act.
6. You work hard to understand military lingo, but you're still lost.
"What's a TAC? An NCO? What does 'oorah' mean? Why do you say it constantly?"
7. You get emotional over those TV ads for the different armed forces branches.
The stirring music, the inspirational voice over, the solemn faces of the soldiers, and knowing that your sibling, parent, or spouse is a part of such a noble endeavor are enough to make you feel a little emotional.
8. You ask them for some cool stories.
You know they have some cool stories, because sometimes they casually let it slip that they jumped out of the back of an airplane like they do in the movies or something similar, and now you have to know all the details immediately.
9. You've gone to more than your fair share of graduation ceremonies.
Whether it's graduating from their service academy, basic training, Airborne School, Ranger School, OCF, Air Assault School, or SEAL training, there are many ceremonies celebrating advances in military training for your loved one, and you wouldn't miss a single one.
10. You ask them a million questions during military movies.
"Are sergeants really that mean to the privates? Do you really march that precisely in real life? Is that really Navy protocol? Would it actually be that hard for them to hit that tank?"
11. You love FaceTime, Skype, and other video chat services.
In the long months between when you see your family member, FaceTime is there to help y'all stay connected, and video chat is almost as good as face to face (though not quite).
12. You'd do anything for them.
You'd do anything for your family member serving in the armed forces because they've put everything on the line to serve you and the millions of other Americans. Whatever it is, it's the least you can do.
