Courage is an essential trait in many people’s lives, and those who have a direct connection with the military exhibit it with abundance. Although individuals may differ, active-duty servicemembers, military spouses, and even military children demonstrate remarkable courage in their daily lives.

As an active duty Marine, my father serves as a prime example of someone who consistently displays courage. He demonstrates it when he encounters stressful situations, continuing to persevere until the situation changes. My father has suffered several injuries during deployments and had to undergo surgeries to continue serving in the military. Despite these setbacks, he always gets back on his feet and continues moving forward.  He says being in the military is not a job, it is a calling.  Being a warrior and deploying to defend our country takes courage.  To keep doing it after being injured and losing friends takes even more courage.

Military spouses display even greater courage than one may think. My mother has gone through many deployments. She had to take care of my brothers and I during these times while she worked full-time to try to help support our family and have a career of her own. I know that my dad loves us, but my mom has basically been on her own with us for more than half of my life.  She gets us to scout meetings and sports practices, helps with homework, makes holidays special, helps us to keep in touch with my dad, and makes any place that we are sent become our home. Moving from one house to another, and meeting new people each time we relocate, is a challenging part of our lifestyle.  Military spouses do this over and over while trying to maintain their own career and keep their families together. The experiences that my mom and other military spouses endure demand an immense amount of courage.

Finally, military children are born into this life. It was not a choice.  We have to make new friends with each move.  We must also navigate a new schools and communities. I’m in the 8^th grade and I’ve been in six different schools since kindergarten.  There are many benefits to being a military kid.  I have gotten to travel to a lot of amazing places and meet some incredible people.  I am so proud of my dad, but it takes a lot of courage to keep embracing the changes of a military life and its moves.  I think that it takes even more courage to do this knowing in advance that you’ll have to walk away from everything again in another year or two.  Military kids are very courageous because we don’t give up.

I think that loving my mom, my brothers and I make my dad a better Marine.  We love him, support him and are proud of him.  He goes wherever the Marine Corps sends him knowing that we will be okay and will be here waiting for him when he comes home.  It takes courage to defend our country as a warrior, but it also takes courage to be the people that are in the background supporting and loving him so that he can serve our country.