Supporting Soldiers

Posted on: July 04, 2009 at 02:23 PM

A little over a year and a half ago my best friend joined the national guard. He was so beyond excited that I couldn't help but feel happy for him. At the last minute something happened and he wasn't allowed to go to basic training in Ft. Jackson. The guy that had enlisted with him did go, though, leaving him alone for an entire summer. When our senior year started he was in a frenzy. He had to go, had to, so he gave it another try. On May 17th, the day after our high school graduation, he was shipped to Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri to start his training. In October he'll come back a fully trained military policeman.

Why did he do this? Why did he sign the next four years of his life away to the government? There were a few reasons ranging from the money to college help, but the primary one was his dad First Class Sergeant Brian Pohlen, who has spent the better part of his life in the national guard as an engineer. He's watched his dad go away for multiple tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. He's picked up the phone only to find the governor on the line asking for his dad to come to dinner (that's pretty cool and a funny story, by the way). Anyway, Jake joined the military to placate his father, but he'll be making a lot more money than his dad and he could rise through the ranks faster.

This other guy that he enlisted with went off to Ft. Jackson to train to be an engineer this summer and he'll be back in August for a couple of ways before getting shipped off again. The likelihood of him making it to Iraq or Afghanistan is slim, which puts my mind at rest.

While I'm 100% supportive of my two friends and the rest of the United States military, I do get scared. I'm a born worrier so I'm always thinking that something bad could happen to those two crazy kids and then I'm left with the biggest worries: What about their families and what happens to them if they come back injured?

Well, through my research I have found a way to assuage my fears.

The National Military Family Association, Operation Mom, and Military Families United are dedicated to making sure that military families and their soldiers are not forgotten and are supported.

And Soldiers' Angels, which works with the VA,, makes sure that veteran hospitals are kept clean and the soldiers never feel alone or are mistreated.

Check out their sites for more information:

National Military Family Association

Operation Mom

Military Families United

Soldiers' Angels

P.S.

Conversation between the governor of SD and my friend Jake

Jake: Hello

Governor: Hello, this is Governor Mike Rounds. Is Sergeant Pohlen home?

Jake: You aren't the governor

Governor: Um... yes I am.