All I Needed to Know To Be a Solid Citizen I Learned in Boot Camp

As we took time to reflect on the sacrifices that the American soldiers, sailors, and airmen made for us over the Memorial Day weekend, it dawned on me that if more of us lived our lives by the values they showed in their military careers, this world would be a better place. I was blessed with good parents, a stable home, a good support system, and family that kept me in line and showed me how to be a man. But I was also able to go and serve my country for 9 years, which meant I had to go to boot camp.
Most all of us have heard Robert Fulgham’s speech, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. However, I learned more about being a man and a citizen in boot camp then anywhere else outside of home growing up. From Day 1 in the Air Force, they hit you with core values. Words like honor, service, and integrity. They expect you to be on time for your appointments, to keep yourself and your surroundings looking sharp at all times and to take pride in them. They teach you that you are part of a greater whole. You are not only responsible for your own well-being, but the mans beside you. They demand that you hold yourself to a higher standard of conduct than the outside world. You do not just represent yourself anymore, but in fact represent all soldiers everywhere as well as those that came before you. And most of all, they make sure that you know that there are consequences for your actions and that failure is not an option.
What if we were to put these lessons into effect for an entire nation? Every day in the political arena we see corruption. We walk out our door and hear and see things we should never be exposed too. I ask you, where is the honor and integrity in this country? When we have elected officials lying to us daily. Our President tried to wiggle out of trouble by saying it depends on what the definition of “is” is. There is cause for concern that the honor we were founded on is gone.
We were also taught that service above self was a core value. Instead we see our elected officials act as if we are here to serve them and to keep them in office. We put them in office to be our public servants, not to get rich from special interest groups or to fly around on our dime. When we ask them to consider term limits they refuse. Does that sound like service to you?
We need to get back to basics! To take responsibility for our own lives and start holding each other and our public servants to a higher standard. Do what you say and say what you do. Do not accept failure, or even mediocrity for that matter. Always reach for the stars. Accept the fact that we have consequences for our own behavior and show some self-discipline in our daily life. America is not lost, our values are not gone, but they have been tarnished over the years. As a republican, I feel it is up to us to lead the way, to shine the light for others to follow. Not all of us have gone to boot camp or ever will for that matter. Deep down, we all know some basic truths. The words: Honor, Integrity, and Service. You can understand them even if you never put on a uniform. You feel them inside you every day when you see something that violates these values. The soldiers we celebrated over Memorial Day gave their lives for these values; can you allow their sacrifice to go unappreciated any longer? I know I can’t.