...And I agree, if you're not in the 'culture', so to speak, it is a rather different and kind of difficult perspective to grasp. Which is also why military members, family and close friends tend to be a bit of a closed community. It's not done on purpose. You see the same thing within a lot of the law enforcement community. It's just a world which is difficult to relate to if you're not 'in' it, or "entrenched" like you said. But the thing is, Gary is, which is why I don't think what he does is odd at all. It's also what makes him pretty much the most respected civilian amongst all military members. I truly haven't seen anything like it.
That is the main thing I guess. It take a more courageous person to be a military, cop, etc. The threat of death is enough to make me squeamish. Though they tell me chance are they won't be deployed but the constant moving and other issues is just too scary. I worry a lot about military families losing relatives. I tend to feel more for the home front people because they had to say goodbye to their person. But that is just me.
Good point about Gary. I think guys would've been kissing the ground to avoid serving, but that's just me.
Yeah, I guess those professions do require/attract a certain type of personality/perspective. I know for me, I've wanted to be a paramedic/cop/military since I was like five. I don't know, I guess one does have to be at least somewhat comfortable with the threat of death and the risks involved, but it's also not something any of us dwell on. The job is what it is, every facet of it. Oh, and anyone who tries to tell someone wanting to sign up that the chances of deploying are low, are lying. It still is not
if you'll deploy, but
when. And it is very difficult for military families - the moving, the separation, and the worst of course if the parent/spouse ever gets killed.
Have you watched 'Lt. Dan Band: For the Common Good'? If not, I would highly recommend doing so. It tells everything - why Gary does what he does, his background, career, it's amazing.
As for avoiding serving, I think the Vietnam war has been about the only conflict which was actively avoided by some. But was a certain sense back then that even though one didn't
want to go to war, you just kind of accepted it as your fate as everyone else in your age and generation were being sent (this is from my dad who signed up since he was going to be drafted anyway, and at least then he could choose his MOS). And I
know most everybody who has signed up from 9/11 onwards has known full well what they were getting into, and
wanted to do it. I think if there had been any actual conflict from the time Gary finished high school through when he could have signed up, he would have. But like I said, it was a peace-time military, and it sounds horrible, but what's the point of putting up with all the bs and the moving and everything if you don't get to be a
soldier...? Especially considering that it wasn't as if he didn't have a career
