Published Thursday, April 23, 2009
“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, our great country was founded on these truths over 200 years ago and we are still fighting to ensure, not only our freedom but others around the world. Life, something most of us tend to take for granted because of our freedom. Liberty, the condition that a person can act according to his or her own will. Pursuing happiness, no matter what that happiness may be as long as it does no harm to others. As Americans, our Declaration of Independence gives us this gift, but as we all know, freedom is not free.
The United States Military has been an all-volunteer service since 1973, so we have the choice to serve the US military or continue our free civilian life. We have over 300 million people with approximately 1.4 million serving active duty and another 1.4 million in the reserves. This mean about 9 % of our citizens have chosen to give up their freedom for ours. My son, and many other sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and brothers and sisters are giving up time with their families, their careers and sometimes their lives, so that we can enjoy all that we have.
We are reminded constantly that we are living through “tough economic times”. Most of us have had to make some hard decisions, and the military is no exception. One of the programs recently cut is the Gold Bar Recruiting Program. This program was giving newly commissioned Lieutenants, recent college grads, the opportunity to support their families while waiting for their Officer Leader Training. This has left several graduates with very little options. They may be waiting for school for 3-4 months, or longer, at which time they will not be getting a paycheck on which they were counting.
“Support our Troops” What does this really mean? Most of us put a sticker on our car or donate some money to a certain fund, or hang our flag with respect, which is all good, but is there something else we can do to support our troops and their families? As a mother of a reservist, who may be called up to active duty after he graduates, I have asked myself many times, “What can I do?”
S.B. Phillips is giving us the opportunity to serve these soldiers by committing to placing them in your businesses at a reduced rate. For over 40 years we have been committed to finding the right people to make a difference in businesses throughout the country. We extend this commitment to our soldiers. Your business can take advantage of skills and a work ethic that the most powerful military in the world has trained, while supporting our troops. I know the economy is not the best it’s been in the past, so maybe your business needs some help, but it’s not feasible to hire a fulltime professional with full benefits right now. Maybe your business has some projects, which need to be completed. We can give you flexibility in your employment needs while helping our soldiers. Support our Troops.
For more information on our Gold Bar Recruiting Alternative Program, contact Laura Moody at 864-298-3490 or lmoody@sbphillips.com