I joined the Army in July of 2014. I currently serve in the 188th Army Band as a musician, yes, the Army has that as a job. I would be happy to share my experiences with you. I currently attend ROTC at UND and I hope to eventually become an officer and serve in an aviation branch.

That's a little bit of background on me, but what I wanted to focus on in this article was the real purpose of why I decided to join. The military has some great benefits. If you've never really looked into it or were never interested, you really should. Free college tuition, a GI Bill which pays for books, and a healthcare plan are all some of the benefits that come with serving, but that's not why I joined. Although free education does sound good.

I joined because I wanted to serve my country. That sounds so cliche to some people, but to me it means so much. I am a huge history buff. I love studying the history of the American nation in particular, and of course part of that history is warfare. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, an approximately 40,000,000 Americans have served in some form of war since the American Revolution.

American lives have sacrificed their time away from their homes and families and often without appreciation. Today that is unheard of, but what about the soldiers of the past? If the American Revolution had failed, that sacrifice would have simply been a group of colonists rebelling against the crown, a lost cause. During the Vietnam War, there were no parades welcoming home our soldiers. I don't say this for myself, but for the thousands of others who gave their lives so I could be free.

I don't just stand for freedom, but for the defense of my home, my family, and the values I hold most dear. Abortion, because I consider the life of the unborn American who has not yet had the opportunity to taste the joy of living in a free land. There are those who would say "My body, my choice!" but I say in return, "Make your choice before conception, not after."

I am against gun control because it is my God given, constitutional, second amendment right to bear arms and not be infringed for doing so. There are those within the political spectrum that would take that right away from me:

I cannot describe with mere words how much it means to me to be able to serve. The millennial generation has 75.4 million people. Less than 0.5 percent of today's total US population serves in the military. That covers all the branches. 0.2 percent of young people today are under qualified to even serve whether that be physically or academically.

The Army has taught be so much in just these past two years. It has strengthened my mind and changed me for the better in all aspects of life. We truly need a generation of Americans that is willing to stand up and defend. Not everyone is willing.

Every morning throughout my training I recited a special creed. I didn't always enjoy it, because it took so long to recite in the prone, crawling and push-up position. I came to appreciate the true meaning behind it as I accepted my black beret and became a soldier.

The Soldier's Creed:

I am an American Soldier.

I am a warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

And that is why I serve.