This I Believe—Stories from the Military Family

For many people in the military community, there is perhaps no time that belief is more emphatically tested and acted upon than in war. There is tremendous pride that comes with serving our country or having a family member serve in the military. At the same time, there can be heartache, loneliness, and a constant fear for the safety of that son or daughter, sister or brother, father or mother who is stationed far from home.

To bring attention to the unique strength and convictions of America’s military community, This I Believe is honoring our nation’s servicemen and women, veterans, and military families by sharing the stories of their core values and deepest beliefs. If you are a service member, veteran, or a military family member, we want to hear from you. Please submit your essay here.

Click the links below to explore the beliefs of our country’s military community.

May 11, 2013

Military Personnel A Breed Apart

I believe that you can achieve anything as long as you set your mind and soul to it. Being in the Military showed me to be strong willed and competitive and that’s what sets me apart. I joined the military...
December 5, 2012

The Price of Freedom

I watched a 6th grade student while doing my observation teaching in Anchorage Alaska, the student noticed me watching him and came over to talk to me. The young man asked me if I had been in the army like...
November 30, 2012

The Courage and the Strength

As both Second Lady and a military mom, Dr. Jill Biden shares her belief on the importance of supporting the whole military family when a loved one has been deployed.
November 24, 2012

Friends for Life

I believe that friends make the difference in life. They enhance good times and help us through tough times. They make us laugh, encourage us and are there when we need them. Deploying to Iraq can be a daunting ordeal...
November 16, 2012

Growing Up in a Military Family

Karen Sheehan grew up in a military family that traveled constantly throughout her childhood. But no matter where in the world they lived, her mother always made it home.
November 9, 2012

The Strength of the Military Family

Kenric Smith is a major in the United States Army who believes that the strength of our military stands directly on the back of our military families.
April 9, 2012

Learning to Drive

I believe most people like to think that success is all about what someone knows. While I agree that is most certainly an important factor, especially in a particular field or skill set, I would not say that it is...
March 7, 2012

Never Fully Home from War

Humans naturally learn through experience, develop beliefs based on those experiences, and live their lives according to their beliefs. Beliefs can change under different circumstances; what someone once believed could be manipulated just as the mind can be manipulated under...
December 21, 2011

This I Believe

I believe that sometimes one must take a life in order to save others. In every great religion “thou shall not kill” or some estranged variation is found. What does that mean for me? I am a former corporal in...