I’m standing there in line at Walmart. It’s been a long day at work. I’m still in uniform and haven’t been home yet. As I finish up checking out and start heading toward the door, a man stops me. He’s an older gentleman, maybe 65 or 70. I notice the Vietnam War Veteran hat on his head. He reaches out to shake my hand and as he does, he greets me with a soft deep voice and thanks me for my service. I return the same, because if it wasn’t for people like him, I may not be able to be doing my job today.

It’s been almost a year since I left home for Basic Training for the Air Force. At the time, I had just finished my freshman year of college, still with an undeclared major and no closer to choosing one than when I started. I had a feeling I would always end up in a branch of service, I just never knew when and which one. I then remembered the Air Force recruiter, from my junior year in high school. At, this point in the process it was time to talk the big man–Dad.

Now, my dad has a little experience with the military. In 2012, he retired from the Army after 20 years of service. After talking with him for a little while, we decided to meet with the recruiter and go from there. After the meeting, to my surprise, Dad said it was a great opportunity. He told me I should go for it.

So there I was on a plane headed to Basic Training with so much running through my head. I kept going back as far as I could remember, anything that I could think of do to with the military. That’s when it came to me. I was 4 or 5 years old, and it was some kind of family day at Dad’s work. We were living in Colorado at the time and Dad was in a Bradley unit–that’s like a tank but lighter weight. The wives of the unit were selling hot dogs as a fundraiser and I was with Dad in the motor pool. Towards the end of the day we got to go out and ride in the Bradleys. I got to wear one of the big helmets and I remember thinking this is the coolest thing ever!

Over the years we moved a lot: South and North Carolina, Washington State for a second time and finally Arkansas. We ended up moving every 2 or 3 years. At first it was hard adjusting to the change and having to make new friends, and always being the new kid. But looking back on it, sitting on that plane, all I could think was how grateful I was to have grown up like I had. More importantly, how grateful I am for what my dad has sacrificed while in the Army.

I guess looking back now, I was meant to do this job. I believe God has lead me to this. Through the growing up as a military brat to not having any clue what I wanted to do with my life has all led me to this: a member of the greatest Air Force in the world!

Cody Harris