Originally posted by riley mcconnell
Those people that Patmack described, the ones that are looking into the military now because there are no civilian jobs opening up - they piss me off.
I'm still in the application stage - waiting to hear back about OCC 185 for the Corps (Jan '04 OCS date). I've been working on this since Feb. of 2001 - 7 mos before 9/11 and 3 mos before I graduated college - a little too late to take advantage of the college programs.
I don't have it in my blood - the only relative I have that flew was an unlce who flew gunships in Vietnam. I'm the only one with good eyesight in my family. I'm the only one that isn't pursuing the practical office life. I'm giving that up, taking a pay cut, so I can serve.
I don't have notions of glory, or dream of blazing dogfights in the sky. I don't want attention, or medals. I just want to serve. I want to fly and do my duty and stand in the gap for those that cannot or are not willing. I want to carry the legacy of generations lost - to preserve freedom and liberty for generations to come.
God has given me a passion for flying - you want to see joy? Look at my face as I climb into a little Cessna to just buzz around for an afternoon - you want to see pure exultation? Wait for me to earn my wings of gold.
I can't do justice in describing the way I feel. Only those that are already there, or those that are in pursuit (like myself) can understand. My family smiles superficially at my headstrong attitude - and laughs it off to childhood dreams around friends and neighbors. I don't care. I know my purpose on this earth is to serve something greater than myself.
Oh, I want to fly - because, from what I've heard and seen - you can kill the most bad guys from the air....