Reservists Roger Up
July 7, 2004

Since the events of 9-11, it has been my distinct privilege to meet some very interesting people who are serving in our military reserve.

I read recently that about forty percent of the folks currently serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, along with lesser-known places, are reservists. Put simply, reservists are men and women who have been trained in the military, after which they return to civilian life in pursuit of education or job opportunities. They remain connected with the military in a reserve status. That is to say, they belong to a reserve military unit, which meets once a month usually over a weekend (often from Friday night through Sunday noon). That's why they are labeled "Weekend Warriors." Add to the one weekend a month, two weeks every summer (normally) and you get the idea of a reservist's military experience.

The whole concept of the reservists goes back to colonial days when the United States was fighting for independence. The vast majority of colonists then were farmers. As they became increasingly disgruntled with the harsh taxes levied on them by the British Crown, a growing call for action took root until the colonists had had enough and were prepared to rebel. The British sensed the increasing unrest in the colonies, calling for more soldiers from England to squash this insurgency. The rebel colonists were told to be prepared for the British to invade New England and have their weapons near at hand. They needed to be ready in short notice once the British landed. Thus, these rebels were called "Minute Men." They were the first reservists.

It was this ragtag group of civilian soldiers, under the leadership of General George Washington, that eventually defeated the mighty British Army. Once the war for independence was won, these Minute Men went back to their farms and picked up where they left off. One thing our fledgling nation learned from this: Always be ready to fight for freedom.

Operation Enduring Freedom, with its focus on the war on terrorism, has required an aggressive use of reserve forces. They come from all over our country, serving in all branches of the service, including the National Guard and the Air National Guard.

Last year when I was in Kuwait, I was walking around the living area (tents) of one of our units. I got to chatting with one young enlisted Marine who is a corporal. I'd guess he was in his mid twenties. I asked him where he was from. He said he was from New York. I asked if he was a reservist. He replied that he was. I then asked him what he did in his civilian occupation. He said, "I'm an accountant."

"You mean like a Certified Public Accountant?" I asked.

"That's right," he said.

"Well, whom do you work for? I asked.

"Standard and Poor's," was his answer.

I said, "Wow! You must have taken a huge pay cut coming on active duty like this." He chuckled and assured me he wasn't making near the money as a corporal as he did as an accountant for such a prestigious firm. He told me the arrangement with S&P was that they would make up the difference between his civilian pay and his military pay for six months. It was gratifying to hear that his employer was taking care of him while he's fighting to protect our country.

There's a Navy first class petty officer I work closely with who has been to Iraq twice — once last year and again this year. He earned the Bronze Star with the Combat V (for valor) protecting the life of a chaplain when the Marines they were with got into a real shoot out with the bad guys. He has a college degree in Radio and Television Broadcasting. He has worked as a cameraman for several large television stations and networks. He has earned seven Emmys for his work. If you knew the list of celebrities he knows, or has met over the years, you would be stunned. Yet, here he is serving his country as a reservist.

There's a Marine colonel I play racquetball with who is a lawyer in the civilian world and serves as our Staff Judge Advocate (euphemistically referred to in the Marines as our "Legal Beagle"). He's been on active duty now for nearly two years.

Then there's an Army general I served with overseas who is a Circuit Court judge back east, and yet he's been on active duty for the past couple of years.

I could go on with those I know who are retired from the military, yet have been called back into service. One friend, a Master Gunnery Sergeant in the Marines, was activated out of retirement last year for a year and served most of that time overseas. He notified me here in the last couple of weeks that they've called him again for another year. Is he going? You bet! Same place, too.

Another friend, a Marine gunnery sergeant, is a Highway Patrolman in a nearby state. He's been activated twice in the last two years.

Think this doesn't wreck havoc on your civilian endeavors? You bet it does! Not to mention the stress this places on your family!

However, every last one of these folks is willing to step up and be counted because they really do love the United States of America. Some call this corny. I call it patriotism. And I thank God for them. So should you.