Christian Veterans

[DVZ]

Wondering if there are any military members here on CF? Serving or retired.

I'm ex-army. Served in Iraq during the opening stages of the 2003 war. Ended up getting WIA and being medically discharged. Still feeling the effects of my injuries 10 years later but still able to lead a full and active life. It's my faith that gets me through the harder days.

Which brings me to my point. How do/did those of you in uniform resolve your duties with your faith?

 

[BlueLioness]

My dad is a retired Veteran but he is not a registered member on CF. He tells me he never goes to message boards.

 

[RDKirk]

I didn't serve in direct combat (Air Force intel, 26 years) but all the other male members of my family have, father and uncles, all the way back to the Spanish-American war.

I have found that the military as an organization has informed my Christian outlook, particularly in the opertion of the Church. I read scripture and see so much that makes immediate sense to me when seen from a military viewpoint--which doesn't seem to make easy sense to civilians.

 

[mark kennedy]

I served 6 years in the Indiana National Guards, responded with my unit to Katrina. We did a year in Charleston SC working the ports in 2004. In 2006 went on active duty for 12 months, boots on ground in Iraq with a Movement Control Team. With an election year coming up I decided to go regular Army, I served as a 92F NCO until 2012 including a year in southern Afghanistan. Built a fuel point for them at FOB Wilson in cooperation with the Canadian Army.

I find military service puts a terrible strain on family, that's my biggest problem with it as a Christian. It's a life of enduring misery and contributing to the war machine is not without it's qualms. Mechanized violence is a bad thing, I don't think anyone would argue otherwise. Still, as a Christian I believe serving honorably glorifies God and the sacrifices the military have to make can temper the spirit in ways many vocations simply can't. Are plumbers every required to put their life on the line for their buddies?

Soldier pay a price for their service, I've seen excellent soldiers jacked up state side because their fearless and aggressive character some times isn't compatible with civilian life.

As far as faith and military service, the most devout disciple I knew in Afghanistan is soon to graduate from West Point. He was very close to the Navigators who disciple and minister to Christians in uniform. I have seen no direct conflict between military service and a life of faith.

Grace and peace,
Mark

 

[Knee V]

I did ten years in the Navy. I joined in July of 2001. I did about 2 years of training. After finishing the nuclear power training course I did 5 years (8 strategic deterrent patrols) on the USS Rhode Island (Gold Crew) out of Kings Bay. After that I did three years as a recruiter in a suburb of Dallas, TX. I got out 2 years ago as an EM1(SS).

 

[Nickybobby]

I served 99-03. I found military life very interesting when comparing it to what I expect a good Christian life to be. The military certainly allows and sometimes even promotes some very ungodly activities (mostly revolving around sexual immorality and drunkenness). But these things are superficial. I also found a number of extremely devout Christian brothers who were able to stand against the immorality and be pillars of strength for the younger ones of us who needed more wholesome role-models. (although they certainly did receive an undue amount of grief for not succumbing to the ways of the world.)

On the topic of violence, etc. I don't personally have a struggle here so I probably shouldn't comment too much. I'll simply say that I find that we are called by God to be obedient to our earthly leaders. Sometimes this does indeed include combatant actions, of which there are myriad example in scripture.

 

[wondrousgnat]

I am a vet of Vietnam. There I worked in an air conditioned office with pretty secretaries. Was very close to making the army a career.
Wife is an army brat.