Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Proud

I was "dating" (skype dates, texts at all hours) an enlisted Marine while he was on the other side of the world. Honestly, I thought the military thing was sexy but very overrated.  I didn't know that "going to war" was called a deployment.  I didn't know that most of our enlisted troops in their 4 year contract gets deployed once if not twice or thrice.  I didn't know that the military wouldn't want to hear about my schedule conflicts with his duties.  Or the fact that I would have to be so far away from my love for a long time. I didn't know that I could be so in love with somebody that I would look past all the "military hurdles" to be with him.  I didn't know that in the process of being in love with this man, I would also fall in love with the Marine Corps and the military community.  I didn't know that I would get choked up every time I hear a news segment on TV about our troops going their job or when I think about the war memorials in DC. I didn't know I would be so proud.

I knew that Dave wanted to go farther and become an officer.  I knew that he wanted to go back to school.  I knew that he is brilliant and insanely knowledgeable and well read about so many topics.  So it made sense that he would want to go this route.  I knew he has a burning passion for leadership and achieving excellence.  I knew he'd want to make sacrifices to get there.  I knew he'd work hard to achieve the things he needed to be in excellent standing.

As he finishes the final touches of the insanely long process of applying to become a "candidate" in Officer Candidate School, I am again struck by the same sense of pride.  Pride that is only described by a physical reaction in my body.  It triggers tears but not because I'm thinking of deployments.  I'm proud that he wants to sign up for this again...that he wants to join the ranks of the best leaders and fighters in the world. And this time around, I get to be standing, right next to him as he embarks on this journey.

3 comments:

  1. It is a great feeling to see your loved one go from an enlisted fellow to an officer! My husband just graduated from OCS in October and it was one of the proudest moments of both of our lives! Good luck!

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  2. You are such a strong woman Reina!!! Good luck to Dave!

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  3. Good luck to hunky marine! You both will do incredible things.

    xoxo

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