Support Our Troops

Everybody's doing it! Support our troops! I hear it all the time. No matter what your politics are, you have to support our troops.

I read a thought provoking column from the LA Times by Rosa Brooks. She equates politicians supporting our troops with politicians kissing babies. She asks that we not allow our troops to become pawns in the political game.

So what does it mean to support our troops?

Some people seem to think that we need to support our troops by keeping them out of harm's way. That's their job people! We have an all volunteer military. They knew it could be dangerous when they signed up. They may not like it, but after weighing the pros and cons, they joined.

Others seem to think that supporting our troops means not questioning this war or the decisions of the administration. I have always believed that an unexamined belief is not worth having. If it's the right decision, it should stand up to the questions.

I'm not going to slip into a political discussion. Not gonna do it! I just want to explore what I think it means to support our troops. Most of them are doing their duty, seeking to defend against the enemies of the United States. They don't want to die in this, or any conflict. But they do their job, fighting a war whether or not it is popular. Try to understand who they are and why they do what they do.

Every day I see the Soldier's Creed. It sums up what it means to be a Soldier. Remember that this is who you support when you support our troops.

The Soldier's Creed
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.