Over the course of the past 20 years or so, anytime I went to teach around the country, I performed an informal experiment. In each big audience, I asked the sworn officers present how many among them were military veterans. In a typical audience the number was usually between 1/3 and 1/2. In one audience the number was almost 2/3 of those present. It would be an understatement to say that military service is common among those of us who also pin on the badge or star and serve our communities as law enforcement professionals. Just yesterday, as I type this, a Marine Corps veteran was asking me about the similarities and differences between military service and being in law enforcement. As I tried to explain to him, the differences are vast… and also not. Uniforms are uniforms. Chain of Command is chain of command. Duty assignments are duty assignments. The community served will inevitably complain about something but also recognize that things would be potentially horrific without the services of those in uniform protecting and serving.
As an Army veteran who followed exactly that path, from the Military Police Corps out to civilian law enforcement, I have an appreciation for all those who have traveled a similar path. In those same informal experiments mentioned above, I also asked about officers who have blood-related family who serve or have served. On average, an amazing 80%+ of those in attendance indicated that they had a brother, sister, mother, father, uncle or cousin who also served in uniform. The way this drive to serve and sacrifice seems to run in blood lines is intriguing, especially since some recent studies have shown genetic markers that may indicate less of a disposition toward stress injuries. We’ve all heard the histories of multi-generational Irish (or Italian or whatever) police families in big cities. Is there more reason why for that beyond “following in dad’s footsteps?”
Whatever the reasons may be, the fact that those of us who put on a uniform are driven to do so, protecting and serving, always sacrificing and potentially sacrificing it all. For those of you who don’t understand “always sacrificing,” let me explain. I’m writing this as a thank you to all military veterans because Veterans Day is coming up. A great many of you who are reading this will have to work that holiday while others enjoy the day off. That’s a sacrifice; not enjoying the same benefits of others or having to work on days most enjoy having off. Unfortunately, those days include holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
I put that out there to help demonstrate this: law enforcement professionals who are also military service veterans should be thanked twice. I’m not sure communities can ever sufficiently thank those who sacrifice, but we all need to try.
We at OFFICER Media Group want to express our appreciation for all military service veterans whether you’ve gone on to serve in a law enforcement uniform or not. We appreciate your service. We appreciate your sacrifices, both great and small. We hope that you do get to enjoy the day of recognition, at least in some minor way.
