The military serves as a vast majority of things, to a vast majority of people. People who respect and look up to the men and women that protect our country don't worship war, like some might think, but they worship standing up for what you believe in, and for them, that's our country. Right now with the presidential debates, I know of many people that say they won't hesitate to move if the candidate they hate is elected. Which I don't blame them, but you see to me I feel obligated to stay. Being a military brat is all I've ever known, I feel obligated to repay it somehow.

Without the military, my mother and father wouldn't have met. I wouldn't have met my best friend. Or experienced all the wonderful opportunities our country and other countries have offered us. The military has given us all the chance to live the way we want to. Now, I know I preach often about inequality in the United States, but without the military and what they've accomplished, the inequality would be much much higher.

I believe the military shapes a person to who they are meant to be in life in one of two ways. Either enlisting or being a dependent of someone who is enlisted. We few have gone through things that no one should really through. For example, veterans that lose their limbs in wars so we civilians can easily use ours. Or counting down the days of being reunited with your loved one because of a deployment, as well as not knowing for sure if they are coming home or not. That's one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

Luckily for me, my father is retired from the military but his service still has an impact on my day to day life. The military has taught me nothing is guaranteed. The military has taught me to treasure the moments I get with my family. The military has taught me that no new base is a bad base. You have the power to make the best of what happens to you. The military taught me that you can never be too prepared. The military has taught me that the majority of us all have one common interest. Freedom. But most importantly the military teaches you to stay true to yourself and stand up for beliefs no matter how small they might be.

Even though the military is considered to have problems. The enlisted men and women, do so much for all of us. The least we can do is acknowledge the benefits we receive because of them and give our thanks. So thank you. I wouldn't be the person I am today without the military. In fact, I wouldn't even be here.