So I was in the mall this week, trying to keep the newborn happy and getting some out of the house time. Working at home for 10 years can really make you dig deep for any excuse to run and errand. I stopped by a few stores and was heading to the food court when I saw two soldiers coming from the other direction. They smiled at me with the “hello nod” that most people on this planet do. I did my typical “Thank you” to them, as I do with all military men and women. It put a smile on their faces and they thanked me for my support and continued on their way.

A little bit later I passed them again as they finished talking to some younger people, handing out business cards etc. I smiled at them as we were drew nearer and said “Ahhh, get any recruits yet?” and one of them replied with “How about you?”. I laughed and told them “I don’t have the balls to do what you guys do. I have no shame in admitting that.”. But being recruiters they pushed the topic on a bit further. I was impressed though, as they were not pushy. They said what they had to say, and unlike most recruiters they listened to my responses without trying to counter everything……

I talked with them again later, and took their card. I didn’t tell them this, but I had no intentions on calling. I am 30 years old, married, with two kids. I don’t have time for the Army. I’ve been accepted into the police academy here, my lifelong dream, and despite the year long queue, I am quite content being there.

On the drive home though I started thinking. The thoughts kept coming back into my mind. I couldn’t get their ideas out of my head. Later on that evening I called my mother, to get her input on this idea before my wife got home, and I discussed it with her. I wanted to see if I was just being a complete idiot for even considering this, before I even bothered bugging my wife with more stress than she really needs.

To my astonishment my mother was floored with the idea, in a good way. She completely supported it and thought it would be a great move on my part.

My wife got home and I pitched the idea to her, and she was almost in tears she was so happy. I couldn’t believe it, they both thought it was a great idea. And for the same reasons I did:

I’ve been working from home for a decade now. Sitting behind a computer. I hate life. I am bored, and boredom to me is worse than being tortured. I used to say back in the day, that if anyone ever really wanted to kill me, just lock me up with nothing exciting to do. I can’t stand knowing what will happen tomorrow. I don’t want to never taste adrenalin. I don’t want to know what tomorrow will bring. And most of all, I want to have a purpose. I want to feel like I have accomplished something. I want to feel needed. I want to have interesting stories to tell my kids and grandkids. I want them to ask me to tell them my tales. And last but not least, I want to help people. I want to be a part of something.

Those are all the reasons I want to be a police officer so badly. But I just at that moment realized, they are also good reasons to become a soldier. I’m already patriotic enough. I get tears in my eyes every time I hear “Proud to be an American”. I love this country, and we all know I kiss the ground that our military men and women walk on.

I think these recruiters just found the right old man. I called Sgt Laser back and told him I think I might do this. He handed me over to one of the nicest and most sincere guys I’ve met in a long time, SFC Dullaghan.