Just go ahead and skip this, it's nothing. I just needed to voice it and not keep it totally internal.
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Ever since I told people that I wanted to join the military, I got the same question. Every person I told asked this question no matter what. "Why do you want to join the military?" My answer to them is always the same. "I just want to follow in the footsteps of my grandpa, and my uncle, and my great grandpa, and my great great grandpa. That's why." That's always been why. At least to the people that ask me that question… That's not the true reason though…
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About five years ago I stumbled across a video on YouTube of three soldiers literally giving their lives. The body cam footage was recovered off of one of the soldiers, and it was clear that they knew there was no one coming to get them. They were on their own, but they continued to fight until they were all gunned down. Instead of reacting like a "normal" person, being horrified or sad about it, I legit said to myself "I could have done something about that." After that I made it my goal to be save as many people as I could.
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I learned about the Air Force's Pararescue unit, and fell in love. Like the Navy SEALs it's an incredibly hard position to get, and I've made it my goal to get there. It's not gonna be easy, and I know I'm not going to be able to save everyone. That's not the point. Every life that I can save is a life saved. That is one more person that gets to come home and be with their family.
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I genuinely do not care what happens to me. If I die, then I die. I couldn't care less. I literally could not care less about my life. All I care about is helping other people. And if people are going to mock me for the "cheesiness" of my reason. Or they're going to be horrified by the dangerousness of my job, and question why I would "willingly throw my life away for people I don't know." I have one thing to say to that.
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If I don't, who will? If we have that mentality of someone else will do it, then no one will ever do it. So I'll be the one to do it. I'm going to risk my life for complete strangers. I don't care if I'm remembered or not. That's my answer, and we're leaving it at that.