Celebrating 50 years of our all-volunteer Army

On this Veterans Day in 2023 we recognize all who have served our nation with honor and distinction. Veterans have earned our undying gratitude, and the American people must never forget their sacrifices.

Veterans Day is a reminder that the Army’s people are its greatest strength and taking care of them and ensuring they are ready to fight and win our nation’s wars is our top priority. Prospective soldiers observe how we take care of our soldiers and our veterans as they consider serving themselves.

The Army is committed to the success of our soldiers from pre-enlistment to post-separation. In fact, about half of the Department of Army Civilian force is made up of Army veterans. Duty to our country is a prime reason people want to serve in the Army, but the Army is also a good career – you can be all you can be in the Army. Soldiers are a diverse set of professionals who have unique skills and experiences, making them invaluable contributors to their organizations and communities once they are done with their service.

Despite all of this, only one percent of our nation serves in the military, and 61 percent of those who serve are more likely to have been exposed to military life through friends or family. It’s an indicator that veterans have first-hand knowledge of the benefits of a military career and can bridge the gap between those who are familiar with military life and those who have never considered the military as a career.

If you are a veteran, I encourage you to share positive stories about your service this Veterans Day. Veteran stories connect Americans with the value of Army service and inspire the next generation to serve.

History of Veterans Day

For nearly a century, we have observed Veterans Day on the anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting along the Western Front in World War I on November 11, 1918.

In 1938, Congress made Armistice Day an official, annual national holiday. In 1954, its name was changed to Veterans Day.

While Memorial Day is a time to remember those who died in the service of their country, Veterans Day is a time to remember all those who have served – past and present.

All-Volunteer Force

Many of our surviving veterans are members of what we call the all-volunteer force. For those unfamiliar with the military, when we say we are an all-volunteer force, we don’t mean that soldiers are not paid for their work. We mean that soldiers choose to serve. In the Army, you earn a paycheck and countless other valuable financial and educational benefits. More than that, the Army sets the conditions for being part of a close-knit community held together by life-long bonds with fellow soldiers and veterans, and a career path that has no limits.

You can “Be All You Can Be” in the Army, and the strength of our force is reflected in the quality and professionalism of our people.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the all-volunteer force. If you are a veteran who served your country, I want to personally say thank you for your commitment to keeping our country safe and for being part of the best Army in the world.

Soldiers for Life

In the Army, we consider our greatest asset to be our people. Our all-volunteer Army is a credit to Americans of all races, genders and creeds; and our common commitment to defense of, and love for, our country binds us, and unites us, together. That goes to the heart of what it means to be an American.

As a nation, we must ensure that the service and sacrifice of our veterans is never overlooked or forgotten. The Army believes that every soldier is a “Soldier for Life” and is committed to removing barriers to their success both in and out of the Army.

In the United States, we have about 18 million veterans who have served – about 7 percent of the adult population. Their service spans World War II to our latest conflicts in the Middle East. On Veterans Day, we honor the brave men and women from all walks of life who have stepped forward to defend our nation throughout our history.

The U.S. now has the largest population of young veterans since the Vietnam War. We owe it to these men and women to make sure they transition from active-duty careers with the skills and experience to find meaningful employment.

Regardless of the military branch in which our veterans have served – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard or Space Force – this day belongs to them. Generations of patriots have dedicated themselves to the defense of our country to make us stronger and more resilient as a nation.

Soldiers live by the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. They do not leave behind their values and skills when they transition to civilian life, maintaining a life-long identification with the Army. Army Soldiers are not “former” soldiers, they are “Soldiers for Life” and uniquely qualified to advocate for and connect the public with the Army by telling their Army story.

The Army’s Soldier for Life program works in communities across the country to create opportunities for our soldiers, veterans and families, and encourages veterans to remain connected to the Army.

Right now, all around the country, our Soldiers for Life and veterans from other services are teachers, doctors, engineers, social workers, community leaders, first responders and elected officials. They continue to serve our communities by making positive contributions, building stronger futures and inspiring future generations.

I’ll end with this story that continues to inspire me. As Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, I get the privilege to meet a lot of heroes and brave people. I recently had the opportunity to have dinner with Captain Sam Brown.

Captain Sam Brown is the oldest of five children, and he quickly learned the importance of servant leadership, and his parents instilled in him an undying commitment to the service of others.

Sam always had a desire to serve his country but when he witnessed the 9/11 terrorist attacks, that desire became an ironclad resolve.

One year later, Sam was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

After graduating from West Point, he was commissioned as an infantry officer and was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Hood. In 2008, Sam was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Only four months into his deployment, Sam was on a mission when he received word that another nearby platoon had been ambushed.

So, he led his team into battle to provide support for his fellow soldiers.

Upon entering the engagement area, a roadside bomb detonated under the fuel tank of his vehicle, leaving him drenched in diesel and covered in flames.

He told me that as he laid there screaming in pain and calling for God and his mother, he finally gave up. He said he thought to himself, how long it would take to burn to death?

By the grace of God, Sam’s gunner was able to extinguish the flames before they took his life. He said all he remembered hearing was the gunner saying to him, “Sir, I’ve got you now.”

He woke up months later at Fort Sam Houston in one of the best Army burn hospitals in the world. His road to recovery was painful, both physically and mentally.

Following the injuries he sustained, Sam was medically retired from the US Army as a captain.

In the three years following the explosion in Afghanistan, Sam underwent intense physical rehabilitation and over a hundred surgeries to give him a new face. During this process of recovery, Sam recognized that God had given him a new life. A life that was intended to be dedicated to the service of God and country.

During the three years he spent in recovery, he wondered who would want him in this condition. He was a young, single man with a lot of disfigurement over most of his body.

But as he told me, God had other plans. Since he couldn’t feed himself for six months, an Army dietitian in the burn unit, 1st Lieutenant Amy Larsen, fed him almost daily. And she could see further than his skin.

Sam fell in love, but just as importantly, she did too. They ended up getting married and today have been married 14 years and have three beautiful kids. He went back to school and got a Masters from SMU and today is running his own successful company providing medicines for veterans in hard to reach areas of our country.

I smile every time I think of him and his family. I give thanks for his passion and love for our country. I am inspired by veterans like him and so many others.

Our nation’s veterans throughout our history have kept us free, returned home and continued to serve our nation in a multitude of ways. Today, we say thank you to them all.

Dn. Mario A. Guerra is the former mayor of Downey and currently serves as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. He may be reached at www.marioaguerra.com