Seven Things U.S. Veterans Have Taught Me
MY “BESTIE” BRITNEY (POSTED WITH PERMISSION)
Today is Veterans Day, and I figured it would be a great time to acknowledge a few U.S. veterans who have had an impact on my life in their own, sometimes subtle, ways.
Here goes…
1. My grandpa, Frank (U.S. Army), knows how to work. It’s a well-known fact in my family that grandpa could probably outwork most people. He’s in his eighties now and doesn’t seem to have slowed down much. My grandpa is an example of the polar opposite of laziness, and I respect his work ethic.
2. One of my best friends and former coworkers, Britney (U.S. Air Force Reserves), has shown me what a real friend looks like. She’s the woman who doesn’t just preach “women should empower women,” she acts it out. There have been countless times over the years where she’s been a real friend when others have not. She hasn’t always had answers, but she’s always listened and made time even though she balances motherhood, work, etc. in any given day. She lives her life with an authenticity and sincerity I admire. Strong women can work side by side and propel each other forward. She never made me feel like we were in some sort of competition like many women do.
3. My friend Josh (U.S. Marine Corp) showed me that one can be both tough and vulnerable at the same time. He reinforced my efforts to be vulnerable about my struggles with depression and dealing with other things I experienced in the workplace. He talked about his own struggles after serving in the military. Asking for help was not a weakness but a sign of strength, and I was reminded of this after my book came out. I was wondering if I should have put myself out there so much, and he was one of the first to assure me that being vulnerable and real was impactful.
4. A long-time family friend, Vic (U.S. Army), showed me that tough jobs don’t have to make you a negative person. Vic’s sense of humor and realness about life has earned my lifelong respect. He served in the military and then spent a career in law enforcement after that. He’s seen some of the worst humanity has to offer and yet he has refused to become a worse version of himself because of that exposure. Maybe there was a time in his life where he learned some lessons the hard way, but the version of him I met as a kid into adulthood set an example I appreciate more than ever now that I’ve been in federal law enforcement.
5. My friend, former coworker, and rescue swimmer training buddy, Vince (U.S. Navy), showed me that it’s not crazy to push myself just a little bit harder. I surprised myself many days as I trained in the water with Vince. He showed me that little extra I had in me, and I’m better for it. When I didn’t think I could keep swimming through another underwater drill, he’d be the one calling out, “One more, Lentz.” And somehow, I’d manage to get through one more. That mentality translated well into my personal life as well.
6. The Coast Guard Master Chief (I’ve blanked on his name because he was “Master Chief” or “sir” to me.) who worked with my Secret Service Rescue Swimmer class showed me how freaking cool it is to jump out of a helicopter. Not only that, but he showed me how to do it. From the very beginning of my career in the Secret Service, I wanted to be given a chance at the Rescue Swimmer course. I tried out for years, and it took a long time for me to be selected. Maybe it was office politics I didn’t partake in. Maybe it was because I was a woman and women really didn’t pass courses like that. Whatever the reason, I met Master Chief on my first day of the course, and even though he was tough on us, he reinforced my love for swimming and my resolve to pass. I remember practicing our jumps from a platform in the pool as he observed. I couldn’t help but smile through my snorkel every time I hit the water. He spotted it once, and smirked, saying something like, “You’ve got it.” Sometimes the toughest physical challenges wind up being some of the most fun experiences of my life… with the right attitude.
7. An old supervisor (not my favorite, mind you), Paul (U.S. Marine Corp), taught me a lot despite his unapproachable nature. His no-nonsense approach to Secret Service protection made me better because he wasn’t the supervisor to tried to trip me up. And even though I didn’t like him personally at all, he never once asked me to do something that didn’t make sense. Furthermore, he was great at spotting potential security concerns that might have been overlooked during initial briefings. He made me come up with solutions for them rather than just give me the answer. I appreciate that now. Sometimes my solution wasn’t the most ideal one, in which case, he had no problem pointing it out in his less-than-tactful ways sometimes. But I learned, and I got better at working out my own security problems in the future.
This list is not all-inclusive. I’ve been blessed to know many veterans in my life, and the lessons they’ve taught me wouldn’t fit into just one Bad Blog Monday.
Veterans, thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Sincerely,
Mel