Need help in writing an essay: "Why I Want to Stay in the Military".

[elocs]

My godson is 21 and is stationed in the Army in Germany. He joined when he was 17 and did a tour in Afghanistan and then reenlisted for another 6 years. He has had a hard time in Germany and has evidently slammed heads with his sergeant to the point where something has happened and he is being threatened with being kicked out if he does not come up with this essay by morning (right now at 4:30 p.m. CDT it is 11:30 p.m. in Germany.

He is beside himself and is depressed and already has an appointment to see a counselor. He may well get out of the military, but this shouldn't be the way. After working all day and being so upset he cannot get his mind around this. The trouble is that I have no experience in the military in order to help him write something that would come across as sincere.

So any ideas would be appreciated.

TIA

[kentuck]

1. Why I have changed my mind about staying in the military...

...and give that to his sergeant.

[elocs]

12. He may well change his mind, but not like this and not this way.

He has already put in more than 4 years and does love the military way of life that has become a home to him. This may be just a speed bump in the road. I told him all about the military before he joined so his decision to do so was an informed decision.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. As much as I wish I could help him OUT of the military, here are some suggestions:

1. Duty to country
2. Desire to serve
3. Dedication to comrades in military
4. Works best in a structured environment, takes orders well
5. Military is the only way he knows at this time where he can develop into a better person

[elocs]

9. Those are good, thank you. n/t

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. If he doesn't know, he ought to reconsider his involvement

:P

[elocs]

8. I sure he does know and given the time he could probably do well in writing one,

but it is after midnight in Germany now and he only got off from work a few hours ago and is very upset and depressed at the moment. He is expected to have this done in the morning. He just needs some ideas to get him rolling and I don't really have the military take to give him maybe all that he needs.

He may well reconsider his military career, but this is not the way he wants it to end. Like any of us he would like to end his career on his own terms rather than getting sacked.

[county worker]

4. The people who stayed in the military when I was in the Army liked what they were doing

and felt they were making a real positive change in the world for a lot of people. My brother was a green beret captain. He was involved in community rebuilding in Vietnam. It gave him some positive feelings. (But he never wants to talk about why the villages needed rebuilding in the first place.)

[SargeUNN]

5. I am a disabled Veteran that served in both Air Force and Navy

but I can't help. I tell young people who ask me about joining to look at how the veterans are treated and give them my history, then quote George Washington in that veterans are the best recruiting tool for a military and if you take care of veterans you will have an easier time getting young people to serve (not the actual quote but the idea of it). Well, I am not the only veteran who feels this way and so I can't help because I would tell him, get out before something like an injury that will limit your earning potential happens like did in my case.

[Touchdown]

6. He needs to be telling them what they want to hear.

Duty, Honor, Country, family... that kind of plastic shit that means nothing, and officers gush over that. His closest friends, especially if he saw battle with them, in the Army are truly why he wants to stay, and that loyalty is okay too. Most soldiers, especially ones that were in combat are intensely loyal to their comrades, and that is real. He wants his re up cash and his college money are not advisable.

It's been years for me, but I think those are good places to start.

[elocs]

11. Good ideas. He just needs to get the writing pump primed, but he's not a writer.

He did see combat in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan (Restrepo country) so the words may start to come in regards to that aspect of service.

[pinboy3niner]

13. I had a similar essay assignment in the Army once

At Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, after serving a week's rotation as student commander of my OCS company, I turned in the last of my performance evaluations of subordinate student officers and NCO's one minute late on a Friday. For my tardiness, I was assigned to write a 10,000-word essay on 'Leadership' to be turned in at 6:00 Monday morning.

While everyone else went on pass for the weekend, I was stuck in my room, struggling to write that essay (and my roommate even stayed to help me). It was down to the final few hours, still far short of my 10,000 words, when I found this statement in an official Army manual: "A picture is worth 10,000 words." So I cited that official statement and attached the Infantry School's iconic "Follow Me" photo of an Infantry oficer leading troops in combat. That's what I turned in as my Leadership "essay," and I never heard another word about it.

In your godson's case, his sergeant's order is total BS, but sarge43 is right. He should write something (with no sarcasm or anything negative that could be used against him). It doesn't have to be sincere, just something to get the jerk off his back.

As for what to write: He can cite as his reasons for serving the same ones given in the recruiting and re-up brochures.

Getting counseling is important--especially if he's depressed. The mental health clinic may even be able to intervene with command if the sergeant's behavior causes further problems.

[MedicalAdmin]

16. Will this help? - It's MacArthur's Duty, Honor, Country speach.

He could quote some sections or just use it to get some ideas. Like him or hate him, it was a hell of a speach.



http://www.keytlaw.com/Greatwords/macarthur.htm

[sarge43]

7. He can't be kicked out because he didn't write some stupid essay

Formal charges have to be initiated for starters.

OK, his sergeant sounds like a shit head, so bull shit him. Tell godson to "I wanted all my life to serve our nation. As it says in the fourth stanza of the National Anthem I wish to stand between war's devastation and our beloved home. I hope to become a worthy non commissioned officer and an admirable example for those serving under me. I realize I have not entirely lived up to those goals and I ask to be given a second chance."

Yeah, it's groveling, but anything to get shit head out of his face.

FWIW

[elocs]

10. Yeah, I know that is true, but it is also true that this guy can make his life miserable for him.

I've never served in the military but I understand how it works. As bad as civilian life can be only more so.

[sarge43]

14. Certainly can.

Sometimes the only thing to hold on to is either your godson or shit head will be getting out of Dodge in the not too distance future. This too shall pass. Even better his unit may get a new commander who isn't tolerant such nonsense.

[lumberjack_jeff]

15. If he can't compose one himself, he *should* come home.

Seriously.

I'm at a complete loss as to how to write "please extend my involuntary servitude, sir. I really need that $100/week" and sound sincere about it.

[elocs]

17. He likely can write it with some help but it is also expected tomorrow morning.

If he is to leave the service he will not do it casually and will do it on his own terms. He volunteered for military duty and knew full well what it involved and no matter what others or I think about it,the Army has given him a future and opportunity he would not have had otherwise.

So nothing about his service has been involuntary.

[inzone1]

18. My son - He has gained a lot of inspiration from everyone here

Thank you elocs for posting this for my son, your Godson. I shared this forum page and the responses with him. He finished the essay and said the ideas people on the forum gave him really helped a lot. Here is what he e-mailed to me:
"Thank you, this is really good. I have added more stuff and will end up with about a full page by the time I am done. There is some good stuff on there. But it does seem to be that mostly everyone there agrees that I should not continue in the military."

I did have to straighten him out on the "I should not continue in the military" part. I believe there were only a couple of people that expressed that. It would absolutely not be in his best interest to get a dishonerable discharge at this point. Especially since he has done very well in the military and has really thrived in his career choice.

One thing that I pointed out was that he should notice the posts that show it is common to have a problem with a SGT or NCO. I know I did once when I was in, and I know his grandpa and father did during their military career. So maybe he will realize he can push through this time.

Thanks everyone! I am really proud of my son and his service. I am very sentimental about recognizing our military and veterans. Thank you to all of you that have served.

DJ