I’m going to spare you the crescendo and hit my punchline first.
 

I’m better off because of my service.
 

Shocking to hear in this era, I know. For the mass media would have you think otherwise.  In fact, if you came here from a foreign country, and your impression of veterans was drawn purely from national and local television, radio and newspapers, you’d think veterans were great people who did heroic things but were all now homeless, crazy, crippled, unemployed, unemployable or just generally in need of help and pity. As NaVOBA’s Director of Communications Matt Pavelek likes to say, “They don’t report on the buildings that aren’t on fire.”

I simply refuse to buy into that false notion that veterans are all in need of charity. I know what the Navy did for me. It challenged this 17-year-old boy to push himself to his limits and beyond; to places I never thought I could get. It taught me self-confidence. It made me realize that my potential is only constrained by my dreams. It taught me to prioritize.  It taught me diversity and perspective. It forced me into situations I would have NEVER voluntarily pushed myself into. It taught me how to lead people, how to assess problems and find solutions, how to remain focused in times of chaos and stress, and the will to persevere over adversity. 

The military taught me these life lessons in real life and in real time; not from a textbook.  It taught me lessons that I unquestionably wouldn’t have learned without serving.  And I’m a much better businessman and person now because of it. Sure I have a few knicks, scrapes and scars. But those built character I wouldn’t have otherwise had.

Sure, there are those who are clearly NOT better off because of service. Some paid the ultimate sacrifice. Some are severely disabled. Some will never recover from combat-induced mental trauma. Without question, among 23 million veterans, those are the tiny, tiny minority who deserve our open hearts and our utmost help.

But for the rest of us, I urge you to let your service empower your future like it has empowered mine. 
 

Thanks for serving.

Chris Hale

U.S. Navy, 9 years

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