An Open Letter To Free Republic

Many of you who inhabit this virtual home of ours, know me by reputation, and a few personally. I am so proud to be counted among your ranks, and numbered among your company. We laugh, we cheer, we argue, we fight, we weep, we support, and we live, all in this place we call home. And all who do know me, know that my greatest wish is to serve this nation of ours in uniform.

That opportunity has arisen once again, as I return to Active Duty once more. This time, though, the mission is something unique to my experience, something I have never done in twenty-plus years of Active, Reserve and National Guard service. For as of next month, I shall become… a Recruiter.

Yes, you heard it. I shall shortly become one of those intrepid souls who venture out into the countryside, into the schools, the marketplaces, the state and county fairs, and anywhere else that citizens gather, to bring to them the virtues and distinctiveness of military life.

Now, I am going to confess something, here. I know that I shall be bringing to the job a very unique set of skills and experiences. I know that usually the older recruiters have an advantage over younger troops in the job, because they’ve seen and done so much more. That would be true, if this were a parallel universe.

This is a nation at war. A war that is not only on the battlefields, but also in the minds and hearts of its’ own citizens. Young folks today are technologically savvy, have better access to more data, and their innate distrust of adults has been hardened by focus-group-tested ads. In short, I shall be playing to a very hostile audience, which has been fed the bitter food of a poisoned ideology.

And this is where you, each of you, come in. As I begin this mission, I am recognizing that I must be better informed than anyone else, more than ever before, about more issues than I gave myself time to consider. And there is no better place to find these things, as I tell my soldiers who ask me, than Free Republic.

I need links, Web pages, facts and evidence, for the questions and sound bites that will be cast upon me. Young people have issues that matter to them: jobs, education, the “draft”, to name a few. I don’t doubt there are others; I need those, as well.

So, consider this an open appeal to my Pajama Patriot comrades. Help me to prepare for these upcoming debates. Arm me with fact and truth. Equip me with the data, debunked or confirmed, to do one sincere thing: to help me articulate what I might not otherwise say clearly, that their nation, this mightiest and best of nations, is worth their support and their service, and that there is no more honorable and noble title than United States Service Member.

September 11, 2002
President's Remarks to the Nation
Ellis Island
New York, New York

Spirit of Freedom Tribute

THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. A long year has passed since enemies attacked our country. We've seen the images so many times they are seared on our souls, and remembering the horror, reliving the anguish, re-imagining the terror, is hard -- and painful.

For those who lost loved ones, it's been a year of sorrow, of empty places, of newborn children who will never know their fathers here on earth. For members of our military, it's been a year of sacrifice and service far from home. For all Americans, it has been a year of adjustment, of coming to terms with the difficult knowledge that our nation has determined enemies, and that we are not invulnerable to their attacks.

Yet, in the events that have challenged us, we have also seen the character that will deliver us. We have seen the greatness of America in airline passengers who defied their hijackers and ran a plane into the ground to spare the lives of others. We've seen the greatness of America in rescuers who rushed up flights of stairs toward peril. And we continue to see the greatness of America in the care and compassion our citizens show to each other.

September 11, 2001 will always be a fixed point in the life of America. The loss of so many lives left us to examine our own. Each of us was reminded that we are here only for a time, and these counted days should be filled with things that last and matter: love for our families, love for our neighbors, and for our country; gratitude for life and to the Giver of life.

We resolved a year ago to honor every last person lost. We owe them remembrance and we owe them more. We owe them, and their children, and our own, the most enduring monument we can build: a world of liberty and security made possible by the way America leads, and by the way Americans lead our lives.

The attack on our nation was also attack on the ideals that make us a nation. Our deepest national conviction is that every life is precious, because every life is the gift of a Creator who intended us to live in liberty and equality. More than anything else, this separates us from the enemy we fight. We value every life; our enemies value none -- not even the innocent, not even their own. And we seek the freedom and opportunity that give meaning and value to life.

There is a line in our time, and in every time, between those who believe all men are created equal, and those who believe that some men and women and children are expendable in the pursuit of power. There is a line in our time, and in every time, between the defenders of human liberty and those who seek to master the minds and souls of others. Our generation has now heard history's call, and we will answer it.

America has entered a great struggle that tests our strength, and even more our resolve. Our nation is patient and steadfast. We continue to pursue the terrorists in cities and camps and caves across the earth. We are joined by a great coalition of nations to rid the world of terror. And we will not allow any terrorist or tyrant to threaten civilization with weapons of mass murder. Now and in the future, Americans will live as free people, not in fear, and never at the mercy of any foreign plot or power.

This nation has defeated tyrants and liberated death camps, raised this lamp of liberty to every captive land. We have no intention of ignoring or appeasing history's latest gang of fanatics trying to murder their way to power. They are discovering, as others before them, the resolve of a great country and a great democracy. In the ruins of two towers, under a flag unfurled at the Pentagon, at the funerals of the lost, we have made a sacred promise to ourselves and to the world: we will not relent until justice is done and our nation is secure. What our enemies have begun, we will finish.

I believe there is a reason that history has matched this nation with this time. America strives to be tolerant and just. We respect the faith of Islam, even as we fight those whose actions defile that faith. We fight, not to impose our will, but to defend ourselves and extend the blessings of freedom.

We cannot know all that lies ahead. Yet, we do know that God had placed us together in this moment, to grieve together, to stand together, to serve each other and our country. And the duty we have been given -- defending America and our freedom -- is also a privilege we share.

We're prepared for this journey. And our prayer tonight is that God will see us through, and keep us worthy.

Tomorrow is September the 12th. A milestone is passed, and a mission goes on. Be confident. Our country is strong. And our cause is even larger than our country. Ours is the cause of human dignity; freedom guided by conscience and guarded by peace. This ideal of America is the hope of all mankind. That hope drew millions to this harbor. That hope still lights our way. And the light shines in the darkness. And the darkness will not overcome it.

May God bless America.

Old Sarge, congratulations on your new challenge. Coming from a 24 year Air National Guard member and a shop Superintendent, I can give you some general ideas. Today's young folks, and I have several new recruits working for me, are VERY interested in educational benefits, bonuses, and the less tangible rewards that come with military service.

I would suggest you get as smart as possible on the current education benefits offered by both the Army, the Guard and your State. It can be a complex web of grants, tuition assistance, GI Bill, and "kickers" that go a LONG way to paying for nearly every penny of education towards any degree their interested in.

Learn about each career and the bonuses attached. Some career fields may require interviews with the Supervisor or Officer in Charge to get their approval for the candidate (such as my area does).

Become familiar with the weight requirements, as that can throw a big monkey wrench onto an otherwise great candidate. Make sure he/she meets it BEFORE an enlistment physical.

Brush up on rank progression requirements. Folks will want to know what it will take to succeed and be prepared for it. I always tell my folks that no one is more concerned about their progression than they are. If they aren't making any progress they need to know what is required and if they meet it, speak up to make sure they get what's due them. Supervisors get pretty busy with the day-to-day brushfires and those pesky promotions can slip through the cracks!

As others have said, honesty and sincerity will go a long way. Even though these kids are interested, their also intimidated and scared of the unknown. Mentoring probably comes with the territory.

Good luck to you. I'm sure you will do well.

My husband recruited for four years for the Air Force and is now still working for Recruiting Services at a different level. I'm so grateful the active recruiting days are over. They were difficult then, but I can't imagine trying to recruit today with the world climate the way it is. While the USAF basically stopped recruiting for the past several months, I understand the other services are having difficulty reaching goals. You have my prayers and support, not to mention admiration! Best of luck to you in your efforts!

About the only advice I can offer is to maintain your honesty and not be pressured by the goal into compromising your ethics. I say this not because I doubt you, but because I've seen the pressure applied and I have known many who resorted to means they never assumed they would.

Take care of yourself and be willing to find ways to relax in whatever "down time" you get. If you begin feeling stressed, FIND AN OUTLET! Exercise, talk about it, painting, break dance...whatever! Just do it! Finally,find ways to make it enjoyable during the "pressure periods."

Looking back, my post is really negative sounding. I'm sorry for that! Recruiting has some very wonderful aspects, but it can also take its toll! The "Hero to Zero" factor every month starts getting old, fast! Just keep your chin up and remember to enjoy every day!

I don't know the area you're in, but I hope you are flooded with fresh recruits from the start! Best of luck!

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