You aren’t Just (Fill in the Blank)

“So, what do you do here?” a big-wig, high ranking Army general officer asked a captain while doing a walk-about down range in Iraq.

“I’m just a PA (physician assistant),” she responded flatly.

My ears piercingly rang at the self-deprecating tone I heard. My heart sank at the thought of the PA not fully understanding her worth or value in the organization, and possibly, in the military as a whole.

Another time, I heard a senior NCO lament that he felt his father in-law didn’t really value him because he was enlisted instead of an officer. And I hear, quite regularly, from support staff personnel that because they don’t do the sexy stuff, they feel less important to the mission that they, themselves, care so much about. 

Whether in the military or not, we must stop this self-loathing and hold up the mirror to our greatness and value. We aren’t just (fill in the blank). We are warriors. We are leaders to our soldiers, sailors, and airmen. We are mentors to our children. We are protectors of freedom. We are the finance personnel who ensure banking information is correct so members’ families have money to pay the rent on time. We are the public health technicians who manage the base camp assessments and test the water before the infantry sets up camp for a month so they don't end up with the shits all week. We are the nurses who sit by the severely injured Marine during their last hours.

When people in the civilian sector, or even among military peers, ask what I do, I say proudly, “I’m an administrator in the military.” It sounds hilarious and unexpected. Yup, an administrator. I don’t turn wrenches and I don’t push vaccines. I don’t fly planes and I don’t command submarines. I really want to say that I’m a leader, but for whatever reason, people just don’t buy that or can’t comprehend what “leader” entails, so I stick with administrator, but I own it. I know I'm part of the mission's success, and so should you. 

Life in the military moves so quickly. The external noise and red tape haze can sometimes cloud the mirror with which we seek to self-reflect. Finding time to acknowledge one’s contributions and impact must become part of our daily battle rhythm. Non-military members try to honor our involvement in different ways.

Ways in which to self-reflect are different for each person and will likely require different types of resources. The public shows appreciation by way of discounts and free meals on Veterans Day. Your family may tie a yellow ribbon around a tree outside their home to honor you during a deployment. A stranger might say, “Thank you for your service,” in the grocery store. These are all appreciated, but you need to recognize and thank yourself just as much.

Honor yourself by whatever means works for you. You aren’t just (fill in the blank). You are who you are. Own it. Say it. Be it. Don’t degrade the value of you. Go for a walk or run and think about all you have accomplished. Go fly-fishing or golfing. Take the time between casts or swings and own the fact that less than one percent of the country does what you have achieved. 

You are more than your occupation. You are an American who has been entrusted by the people of our country to protect our way of life at all costs. How you fit into that matrix of protection does vary, but is nonetheless a position deserving of the utmost of gratitude. You are tenacious. You are selfless. You are part of the solution. You are (fill in the blank).