VETERAN VOICES
By Josh Porthouse
“It takes a village to raise a child.” Have we really come that far? Sure our villages have changed, and our trust of the villagers has become more cloistered, but aren’t we still relying on society in order to grow?
Looking back, even as adults we still focus on peer-reviewed content to form our worldviews. One thing that the desert taught me is to only trust the routes that are well-worn. I’m a grown-a** man, independent, deploying in the name of support and defense for the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. I’m still relying on other villagers.
Ironically, I didn’t trust any of them…I thought. But that trust wasn’t rooted in one singular factor; it was more complex than that. I had to trust my own intuition, my squad, subtle reactions and looks of the villagers in the bazaar.
They may have changed me in many ways, but despite my own experiences, social anxieties and trust issues, they also helped raise me.
I was an ingrate. I didn’t appreciate it at the time. I’d been to Afghanistan and Fukushima, through Polar Night and monsoon season; I’d become a Shellback, an NCO, an acting CAAT platoon commander, an emotionally and physically long-distanced father, and even a Marine Corps OCS Candidate. Through all of those experiences, and all of those stressors, I had received an all-expenses paid trip to experience the world with societies at their lower points.
I’d had tea with farmers and molesters, mangoes with Muslims, brandy with dignitaries, swam with Australian bushmen, got snowed on in the middle of the ocean watching bioluminescent plankton diverge like lightning underwater. I’d gained memories, camaraderie, and created a family away from home.
I’d also lost sight of myself, my family, my son, consideration for other people, and my budget on more than one occasion.
Toby Keith described some nights best as, “nights I don’t remember with friends I’ll never forget.” Some of those memories can’t be undone; some guilt can be removed. Some sunny days are masks and some are accurate.
We don’t deploy to vacation towns. Not in the Marine Corps.
Other branches have their hardships when they traverse the world too. One thing that we all have in common though, we all get scared. Fearful of missing out on family moments, being able to help loved ones when we wish we could, fearful of success, letting down ourselves and others, or even afraid of what circumstances to which we may be returning home.
Courage on the battlefield is more than house to house and street to street (“Hui City, Aye Sir!” Scream the diddies). It’s interpersonal, entrenched, and private.
Courage when you’re living on the red line of stress management, sleep depravation, and the tobacco resupply from the Gut Slut doesn’t happen for another week, is an entirely different kind of thing to experience. You’ve beaten yourself up so much to the point that all you have left is what is on loan to you from those you’re deployed with.
Sustaining that level of hyper-awareness and duty tends to craft a coping mechanism in an of itself. We use it to run from our problems and as a defense from what we may not be prepared to encounter.
We’ve spent so much time in enlisted ranks acting without thinking, and within commissioned ranks selflessly thinking through action, we inevitably lose sight of ourselves in the process.
Then that email or Skype call in the MWR comes through to tell you that you’re going to be a father?!? An uncle?!? An only child?!? Parentless, homeless, separated, divorced. How do you overcome fear of the unknown?
You don’t. You skull drag in spite of it; sweating and spitting through the shivering and grit with the people next to you; reminiscing about the best moments of the worst times of your life; smiling through cracked, dehydrated lips; shirtless, covered in mud with a 12-pack in the quad, and someone on watch for the OOD. How do you guys see it?
The Question: Why is courage inherent in every success story?
“Audentes fortuna luvat”—“Fortune favors the bold.”
How do we move forward in new directions if we are afraid?
In short, we do not.
Change is the only constant and must be faced with strength and courage. When we refuse to do this, we will stagnate and growth, both personal and professional, is impossible.
We, as military professionals, have had to adapt to this. How many times have we had to face change in the form of change of duty stations, a military school, or a deployment. These changes required us to move forward and find an inner courage each and every time.
— R. Martin, USA
Life is violent. Change is the only constant, and it is generally met with resistance.
Having the courage to accept reality as it is, regardless of if it is a “good” or “bad” thing is a relatively uncommon trait in today’s world. To be successful in life requires the courage to adhere to your personal morals, ethics, and beliefs.
Additionally, we also have to consider societal and professional standards, and hold those to sacrosanct as well. All of that is a breeding ground for conflict and that can be overwhelming and scary.
Having the courage to be able to maintain your personal integrity is a life skill that is required for success.
— R. Lee, USMC
It takes courage to simply be vulnerable and embrace it enough to share the story. The road to success is rather bumpy. There will be setbacks, failures, and moments of discouragement.
It takes courage to pick yourself up after a fall, learn from your mistakes, and keep pushing forward despite the challenges. This resilience and determination are crucial qualities often found in successful individuals.
Every success story, regardless of the field, involves venturing into uncharted territory. This could mean starting a business, pursuing a new creative endeavor, or simply taking on a challenging project at work. Often times, servicemembers face these zones of discomfort each and every day, especially if the servicemember is deployed or deployable.
All of these steps involve confronting fears of failure, confronting self-doubt, and simply confronting the unknown. Overcoming these anxieties and taking the leap of faith takes courage.
— T. Kelly, USN
Courage is inherently intertwined with every success story as it serves as the catalyst for overcoming challenges and venturing into uncharted territories. Without courage, individuals may succumb to the fear of failure, preventing them from taking the necessary risks that lead to progress and achievement.
A person’s ability to confront adversity, whether it be fear of the unknown or the potential for failure, demonstrates their courage. Moreover, the path to success is often fraught with obstacles and setbacks, and it is courage that allows individuals to persevere and continue striving toward their goals.
Whether it’s a business venture, personal endeavor, or artistic pursuit, courage is what propels individuals forward, driving them to take the necessary steps and make the bold decisions that ultimately lead to success.
— D. Rawlins, USAF
Courage is often inherent in every success story because it enables individuals to take risks, overcome fear, and persevere in facing challenges.
Success usually requires venturing into the unknown, where outcomes are uncertain. Courage allows people to face these uncertainties rather than being paralyzed by fear. Success often involves taking calculated risks in business, personal growth, or other areas. Courage gives individuals the confidence to take those risks, knowing that failure is a possibility and a steppingstone to eventual success.
Every success story includes moments of failure, setbacks, or adversity. Courage keeps people going when the path is difficult, helping them persist until they achieve their goals. Staying true to one’s values, even when difficult, requires courage.
Success achieved with integrity is often more meaningful and lasting. Innovating often means going against the grain, challenging the status quo, and being creative. Courage is necessary to push boundaries and create something new and impactful.
Courage can be contagious. When someone demonstrates bravery, it often inspires others to do the same, creating a ripple effect that can lead to collective success. Courage is a foundational quality that drives action, sustains effort, and enables individuals to navigate the challenges and uncertainties inherent in pursuing success.
- Hinst, USN
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Josh Porthouse is currently a Marine Corps Reservist with 14 years on active duty and host of Transacting Value podcast. As a Team FireWatch Veteran Voices Contributor, Josh works alongside other veterans to bring a personal perspective to relevant topics for today’s active-duty and veteran service members.
Contribute your voice! Send your story to us at VetVoices@FireWatchMagazine.com. Submit topic ideas or answers to past questions and join the conversation at #vetvoices.