Military life has never been easy. Military deployment makes military life even harder. Wartime military deployment can be downright heart-wrenching.
Can we create an American assurance program to permanently boost military morale?
Soldiers deployed overseas during military service are trained to successfully complete their larger military missions, but on smaller scale, our military is also fighting the daily battle of morale. Life during military deployment can be trying both for military families left behind and for the soldiers far removed from familiar faces, friendly voices and the comforts most of us take for granted.
There are as many creative ways to bolster our soldiers' morale as there are people who appreciate them. From the Internet to the postal service, through telegrams and care packages, more people are reaching out with tokens and expressions that, soldiers say, truly keep military morale high. Connecting a soldier to life back home, to family, friends and the country they temporarily left behind, reminds soldiers why they chose to serve in the military.
As a result of our soldiers' completing their missions and representing the best of America overseas, there are extraordinary and inspiring stories of soldiers working together to help support each other, as well reach out and make our military presence appreciated by the people of foreign lands.
When Americans at home and deployed soldiers overseas connect, the best of America comes together, day by day, one person at a time.
Many corporations truly appreciate the military, and they're putting their money where their products and service are, with discounts to active military and veterans on a wide array of items.
At universities, high schools and rotary clubs in scores of U.S. cities, "Why We Serve," a Defense Department outreach program, is connecting men and women in uniform to the American public they serve.
The role played by Reservists has changed greatly in recent years, from a force of mostly prior-service Soldiers who rarely deploy to a highly-trained, agile force who now deploy alongside their active duty counterparts.
During his campaign, then-Senator Obama made what sounded like promises to overturn the policy, but as it's been discussed before, these things take time - months, probably even years - to accomplish effectively.