Recently, President Obama granted military forces in Afghanistan more freedom to strike Taliban combatants. Concurrently, NATO signaled that they foresee the Afghan War raging on at least through 2020.
Both developments represent proof of a troubling reality: America’s conflict with our enemies in the Middle-East will not be resolved quickly. Instead, it will remain a significant danger for future generations. Our children and grandchildren will be forced to grapple with the risks and hardships caused by these conflicts and by terrorists who wish to harm America and its allies. Future generations will have to confront terrorist organizations around the globe, while at the same time preventing terrorists from carrying out attacks here at home. They will join our conflicts and enter the battlefield as the current generation exits.
On Father’s Day, I am reminded of my own son who has followed in my footsteps. He is now a young soldier undergoing advanced training before his initial assignment. I am tremendously proud of his commitment to serve and his dedication to ensuring that our values of freedom and liberty live on. I even had the wonderful opportunity to preside over his swearing in ceremony when he enlisted in the Army less than a year ago. As an old soldier, this was a tremendous honor. Watching him graduate from Basic Combat Training was an inspiring reminder of the patriotism and dedication that has allowed America to become the greatest country in the world.
As a father, it was also a stark reminder of the sacrifices Americans must make to protect our country and achieve our national security goals. I have enormous respect for my son’s decision to volunteer for the military. But, at the same time, I pray he never has to endure the same hardships or face the dangers that I have during my military career.
I know many other fathers and mothers who share these same feelings. Military service is often a family tradition—passed down from generation to generation. With less than one percent of current Americans serving in the armed forces, most American families, thankfully, will never know what it’s like to have a loved one in harm’s way. They will also never know the unique hardships of transitioning from military service back into civilian life, a challenge that is difficult for service members and the families who receive them, alike.
Helping with just these types of transitions is one of the primary goals of the Green Beret Foundation (GBF), an organization that provides immediate and long term support to America’s wounded Special Forces members, their families, and to the families of our fallen.
GBF recognizes that family is the strongest component of our society and that we must provide care and assistance to our military families in order to help foster the best society possible. To achieve this, GBF regularly holds “Reconnect Weekends” in which Green Beret families are able to disconnect from work and focus on quality time with their loved ones, re-establishing and enforcing bonds that may have been damaged by years away from home, often on the battlefield.
Additionally, GBF provides medical assistance and psychological healthcare for military members who need it and even cares for the families of Green Berets who lose their lives, often paying for funeral costs, such as travel, not covered by the military. GBF also works with bereaved families to identify gaps in resources, and maintains a close connection with these families in perpetuity.
On this Father’s Day, we should all take a page from GBF’s book and consider the reality of the world we face. This means understanding that our children will inherit a dangerous world and a country that needs defending. Additionally, we must remember the paramount importance of family in American society and the proactive work that must be done for military veterans who need a helping hand when they return from wherever it is they went to defend America.
This is one of the many ways all Americans can show military members that we are thankful for their sacrifice and appreciative for the security they provide us here at home.