Today, in my financial records, is my official 20th year in the Army. Roughly ten years in the Army National Guard and now ten years on active duty adds up to today being the date where I have officially served twenty years for pay. The pay part doesn’t mean much to me, but what really matters is the amount of time I have spent in the Army.
I officially entered the National Guard before Desert Shield and Storm. It was during my break in service that 9-11 occurred, I returned to the Army four years later in time to participate in two deployments to Iraq. I have gone from a Field Artillery officer in the 1990s to becoming an Army Chaplain in the 2000’s. I’ve seen changes from the Army of the 90s—but I am also seeing much of the routines that made the Army great return.
This doesn’t mean I can retire. Ten years of my time was on the Reserve Component side and the other ten on the Active duty side; but that’s ok—I’m not planning on retirement. I still love the Army and I love doing what I do every day. And I looking forward to ten more—at least.
I am truly thankful for the opportunity that I have had to serve. I am also thankful for the growth in me that the Army is always challenging and pushing me to go a little farther. I am most thankful for the opportunity to spend my life serving Soldiers.