Service to country is more than patriotism - it's helping others Published June 5, 2012 By Maj. James Kodat 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- "Daddy, why did you join the Air Force?" All three of my sons have asked me this simple, yet difficult-to-explain in a short answer, question. My simple responses have always alluded to the fact that I love this nation of free people and how serving in the military is more than just a job, as it requires sacrifice from the whole family to ensure our great land continues to remain free. Every service member has different reasons, such as money and education, but for me those are secondary, and it's really a deeply-instilled love of country and serving an organization that has a higher purpose. The short answers I gave them, such as "I love this country" and "because I wanted a job that makes a difference" really didn't give justice to the deeper meaning about why I joined the Air Force. However, looking back it's easy to see how the seeds of patriotism and service before self were planted, continue to grow today, and are the reasons why I chose to serve my country. A deeper look at where this love of country and patriotism originated from leads back to a strong upbringing by my father. He always taught me to respect others, work hard, and appreciate the freedoms I have. His life lessons included treating people like you would expect to be treated and be happy with what you have, because it could be gone tomorrow. His 30 years of work in an automobile factory in Flint, Mich., taught me valuable work ethics that I carry with me to this day. The foundation my father gave me was further reinforced during four years of Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Flint Central High School. The teachings weren't militant by any means, but rather ensured we all graduated with a higher understanding and respect of what it took to create a free nation and the sacrifices required to ensure it remains that way. These simple-yet-common truths led me to seek a profession that valued hard work, respect for others, and love for country. After graduating as the cadet commander, I knew I wanted more than a mundane nine-to-five job, and the Air Force provided that and much more. After enlisting in the Air Force, I realized that service to my country wasn't just about what I did, but rather about how what I did had a positive effect on others. An example was volunteering to become an instructor at an Air Force technical training school. At first, it was self-serving as I wanted to increase my knowledge base and become more competitive for promotion opportunities. After teaching a few classes, however, the satisfaction of teaching someone a concept and watching them understand and demonstrate comprehension made me realize what service before self really meant. This desire to serve was the catalyst to pursuing a commission. Subsequent opportunities after commissioning allowed me to serve in leadership positions which expanded my desire to help others. The most fulfilling memories I have as an officer are of taking the time to help one of my Airmen. I was taught early on "mission first, people always" and that desire to help others continues to outweigh any desire for self-promotion. The reasons why I serve my country, patriotism and service before self, are simple yet complex. I could easily blurt out a quick response like "because I wanted to" or "it puts a roof over your head" but that would not suffice as an intelligent response to ensure I pass down that same, deep-down feeling of love for your country and service before self. To me, patriotism is more than just waving the flag during a parade, it's the feeling you get when you look at the flag and understand the meaning behind the Stars and Stripes. I've not only taught my boys about putting their hand over their heart during the National Anthem but explained why and what the words meant. Moreover, my experiences have taught me that service before self is more than just helping others. When I have to stay late at work or deploy for months on end, I explain it's not just because I have a job to do but rather how what I've done helped others. I serve because of love for a country that so many others have sacrificed to build and keep free. I serve because I want to believe what I do has purpose and meaning. Patriotism and service before self is why I serve, and hopefully I've fulfilled my duty as a father by instilling in those same values to my children.