Family members serve alongside military

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Rodney Nichols
  • 56th Force Support Squadron commander
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  "Thank you for your service."

A phrase I'm sure many of you have heard, especially over the past few years. From the lady standing behind you in the checkout lane at the grocery store when you stopped by to pick up a gallon of milk after work; the elderly gentlemen wearing a 2nd Infantry Division hat sitting next to you in the food court during lunch, or the cashier at a local home improvement store upon seeing the identification card you showed to get your military discount.

"Thank you for your service." For 21 years, I've served this country and I'm still humbled whenever someone utters those five simple words to me, shyly responding back, "Thank you," or, "It's my pleasure." If it's a veteran I'll spend a few minutes talking to him or her and always end the conversation by saying thank you because I know they sacrificed as much if not more than me without the public recognition we receive today. My two children, ages 8 and 11, even get in the act, proudly telling this individual, "My Daddy's in the Air Force!" "He's a Colonel!" and "I'm going to join the Air Force when I grow up too!"

For me, I've never been a fan of drawing notice to myself so I always feel just a little uncomfortable with this extra "attention" because quite frankly I've become accustomed to the "sacrifices" we make being in the Air Force: the TDYs and deployments (and missing your kids' first words or steps as a result), the long nights and weekends studying for a promotion test or getting ready for an inspection, the oath you took when you joined promising to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, just to name a few. I knew all of that going in and still do today. "It comes with the job," is a phrase I like to say to someone who's never served that asks me why I "put up with it." To me it's no big deal.

"Thank you for your service." I'm humbled by those words because there are three people in my life who've sacrificed just as much and didn't sign up for it -- my family. Ten moves, new schools (and friends) every two to three years, missed birthdays and anniversaries, only getting to see grandma and grandpa and Uncle Eric once a year (if they're lucky) when all their friends have family in the local area are tough things to go through. Staying up all night waiting on a phone call because they saw your location shelled on TV, the car breaking down and not knowing how to repair all the time knowing you could fix it in no time are some of their sacrifices. The list goes on and on. Our families don't get enough recognition for the challenges they face daily being a military family.

So, if you are a family member reading this article today, thank you for your service. Thank you for sharing your husband, wife, father, mother, son or daughter with us. Thank you for putting up with missed holidays, the stress of being a "single" parent and having to deal with the multitude of behavioral issues TDYs and deployments cause -- doing so without complaint so your loved one can concentrate on the mission at hand. Thank you for not making us feel bad because we missed Susie's play or Johnny's ballgame because our 179-day deployment was extended by a month. Thank you for understanding the birthday card is a couple of weeks late because it takes longer for the mail to be delivered from the Middle East.

We may have some of the smartest Airmen ever to wear the uniform and the world's most advanced weapon systems at our disposal, but we would never be the world's greatest Air Force without you. Your love and support and selfless devotion to our mission is a vital part to our success. Thank you for your service. I'm honored and humbled to have you on our team.