The Bond Beyond the Uniform, Volume 3

by Joshua R. Sosa, US Army Combat Veteran

As time passes on, and people move from unit to unit, you begin to realize how much each experience is different and also precious in its own way. I've shared with many people that the military is what you make of it. You can be in the worst location in the world, and have the best experience of your life, or you can be in the best place in the world and have the worst experience. At the end of the day, it totally it's up to you on how you look at things. It's funny to see that once you are no longer in the uniform, what seems like eternity no matter if you were in the field, running patrols during deployments, or conducting regular operations in garrison, it all seems like a whole lifetime ago once you take off the uniform. The one thing that remains the same and in fact carries on even stronger are the relationships that are built between the brothers and sisters who wore the uniform with you.

It is amazing to see how close the bond between battle buddies really is in times that are hard for people. This marks my 14th year out of the military, and I have seen people who I served with go on and do great things while in the military and also individuals who were my soldiers and subordinates go on and excel past my break and continuing on as successful and great leaders. People have asked me are you upset that they have surpassed you in your career? The answer always ends with a smile and chuckle as I say that if my soldiers ever asked me and took my job, it means I did my job! As a Non Commissioned Officer in the United States Army, the very first words of the creed I swore to you was, “No one is more professional than I, I am a Non Commissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers.” By ensuring that my soldiers were the best and everything that they did both in and out of uniform assured me that as a leader I was setting them up for success even after my time was done. I will tell you to this day, those former subordinates wherever they are in their lives, still have the respect to call me Sergeant Sosa regardless of if they are still in the military or even outrank me. I have given them the opportunity to call me by my first name but due to the respect that they have for me they continue that respect for me. This speaks volumes at so many levels. But as stated before, this is a creed when I raised my right hand and took, it was with the expectation of no expiration date.

What does this look like now after the uniform? Well, there have been several times where the phone will ring in the late hours of the night, and it is someone who needs to talk. It is those phone calls from the hospital with someone who needs prayer. It is those letters or emails from the families of your battle buddies who are no longer with you here on earth people will live forever in your heart and in spirit. It is the ones that you will spend hours with day in and day out hearing someone threw a divorce and then wondering where they messed up, and what they could have done better, and how they could have been better. As well as being there for that individual who you are talking through a difficult moment in a matter of seconds could be the difference between life and death. This is the realness of our brotherhood. This is we go through that are the scars that no one sees. The doctors and other professionals are there to help and we are grateful for that, however sometimes it's the familiar voice of the one who was with you when you didn't know if you were coming home that could get you through the toughest times of your life. Just a few months ago I had the privilege and honor to attend my father's Vietnam reunion. I had the opportunity to write about this amazing group of men, and the camaraderie that they had amongst each other back then, and even now. To see them smiling, embracing each other, and laughing amongst each other while also shedding tears of joy and also sadness, the pictures of the men that were on the table along with the other artifacts that were with them during that combat era, we're the same men that were in Washington DC together for the reunion however life in many different ways had hit them. Sadly, since then another marine has fallen, and been added to the list of those who will not return to the next reunion. One thing is for sure, the bond has grown stronger amongst those that continue to carry the guidon to the next one.

Why am I mentioning this? Because so many men and women who are leaving the military whether through retirement, or finishing up their contract agreement, need to understand that they are not alone. There are so many resources that are available to not only active duty but also veterans and families of veterans. The struggle is real, and hard for people who have never laced up a pair of boots or donned the uniform to truly understand what it feels like inside. Some days we are good, and some days are harder than others, but the reality is, that we are not alone and just as the warrior ethos state, “I will never leave a fallen comrade."  If you are reading this today, and you feel alone, or been through hell and back, first of all let me tell you thank you for all you have done and been through. Secondly, let me tell you that there is always someone praying for you! Who's praying for me you might ask? I am. Why would I pray for a complete stranger? Because I have been the guy that went through the divorce. I was the guy that was completely alone. I was a guy that didn't know how I was going to raise my kids by myself. I was the guy that didn't know how I was going to pay my bills after the military. I was a guy who talked myself several times into thinking that this world would be better without me in it. And I'm here to tell you, that I'm also the guy that found restoration through my faith in God, the love of my children, and the support ohh my battle buddies who may be all over the world what encouraged me to continue to fight.

So today my encouragement to you is to continue to fight! You are not alone. You have somebody who cares for you, who is grateful for you, and prays for you daily. Although we might be strangers by name, I am your brother for life because of the oath I took. I will never see any other color then green because that's the color of the uniform we wore. Thank you for what you have done and your sacrificed for this country. May God bless you, and may you continue the fight. My ask is that you leave a comment in the below area and let me know how I can pray for you, and also how I can celebrate with you. We are in this TOGETHER!

Lucky 7 standing by.

Mission First, PEOPLE ALWAYS!

One Team, One FIGHT, ONE FAMILY!

Very Respectfully,

Joshua R. Sosa

US Army Combat Veteran