Those of us who've made it this far do, and I can tell you for sure that there are those of us of this age who look a good bit worse.
No matter. Our time as doorkickers and grunts is long past, though, yeah, there are still a few tasks we can pull off if it comes to that.
But that would be a waste of hard-won experience, talent, and resources. Our job now is to pass on skills and attitudes to those who'll have to take over from us once we're no longer able to keep on keeping on. We need to show some senior NCOs and field grade leaders where their duties and obligations lie, and to the extent our experience is valid for their situations, share that too with them.
And if and when it becomes time to do so, we must set the example: fix bayonets, go down swinging, and die in place.
