The value of sacrifice

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Dennis Curran
  • 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Sacrifice is a daily event in every Airman's life. From the moment we enlist in the military or take the oath of commissioning, we all understand that ours is a life of giving. Nowhere is our sacrifice more evident than during a deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Not only are we away from family, friends and familiar surroundings, but we also share a room with strangers, endure unbearably hot weather, work long hours and put ourselves in harm's way.

Let's face it, deploying is no picnic. Yet, thousands of Airmen willingly reenlist every month knowing they're on tap to deploy. Some of us even go so far as to volunteer for six-month and even yearlong deployments. Perhaps we do so for the benefits, or to serve our country, or perhaps it's for the adventure. Regardless of our reasons for service, there is little doubt we'll eventually be called upon to surrender something we cherish. For this very reason, it's important to consider the fruits of our sacrifices and to understand both the personal and societal value we gain when giving up the comforts of everyday life.

The nature of our sacrifice does not diminish the opportunity for growth. The prospect exists whether our sacrifice is voluntary or involuntary, whether it is excruciating or mild. It might be less troublesome when we volunteer to forgo something we cherish, but we can still learn from it. Consider, for example, our deployed sleeping quarters. It makes no difference whether an Airman volunteers to deploy to the AOR. He or she inevitably endures a lower standard of living than that which they are accustomed to back home. In the end, living through that lower standard opens the potential for maturity, regardless of how difficult the sacrifice or our willingness to experience it.

Anytime we delay or forfeit a cherished item or pastime and leave the comfort of our familiar surroundings, we have a prospect for individual growth. In fact, periods of sacrifice have the potential to reap many personal benefits. Airmen may come to appreciate what they have back home, whether it be family, friends, personal effects, free time or living conditions. That 500-square-foot dorm room with a shared bathroom looks pretty good when you're sharing a tent with eight other people and no bathroom. We also learn to empathize with the plight of others when we endure less than ideal situations, which prepare us to help others through their own time of suffering.

Take, for example, the Airman who deploys for a year and experiences 12 months away from family. Despite the pain of separation, he or she inevitably profits from the experience by gaining a better understanding of what is takes to endure a year of separation. That same Airman who completed the 12 month deployment now has the wisdom and patience to assist others in dealing with the emotions they encounter during a similar absence.

Finally, times of sacrifice train us for tougher situations. Successfully encountering and emerging from a difficult situation toughens us up, leaving us better prepared for future hardships.

Individual sacrifice garners many benefits for the society-at-large, as well. For one thing, each Airman's sacrifice, no matter how large or small, guarantees the freedoms Americans hold dear. Without the men and women of wars past and present enduring their hardships, there is no freedom.

Our sacrifice also has the added bonus of inspiring others to fight for our freedom and support what we do. When they connect our sacrifice with their freedom, it becomes a powerful motivator to support the U.S. military.

The opportunity to grow when we forfeit that which we hold dear naturally provides a deeper meaning to our sacrifice. It no longer becomes something that just gets in our way, because we really do benefit from it. We all have a choice during our deployment. Some will choose to ruminate on how tough the deployments is, or how they hate the food and miss their families. Those Airmen who focus on the negative aspects ultimately miss a great opportunity.

We all give up something when we join the military, even more so when we deploy --whether it be time with family or even the taste of a good old American cheeseburger. When the hardship of a deployment starts to bring you down, think about how the adversity improves your personal growth. You might even ponder how your deployment benefits society at large. Hopefully, taking the time to understand the value of sacrifice will make the adversity a little easier to endure!

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