Shift in service

Young adults throughout generations have turned to the military for guidance, discipline and the governmental benefits.

Veteran and student ideas concerning the military differ on some issues, but remain constant on others. Over time, reasons for joining the military have changed.

Dale Beaupre, a 60-year-old United States Marine Corps veteran, joined the service after his friend died in Vietnam.

“My best friend in high school was killed in Vietnam,” Beaupre said. “I joined to avenge his death and feel that I did so.”

Today, students like Amber Luke, freshman engineering physics major, said they still join the military through a personal influence.

Luke said she became interested in joining the Navy after hearing stories from her grandfather and participating in the junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps  (ROTC) program at her high school.

“My grandpa was in the Navy and he always told me stories about it,” Luke said. “I was in JROTC in high school, but I knew more about the Navy than any other branch.”

James Fehrenbacher, a 19-year-old sophomore mechanical engineering major, said he joined the ROTC program to serve America and learn to fly.

“First off, it was the fact that I wanted to serve the country,” Fehrenbacher said. “I also wanted to be able to fly something. I chose the Navy because it gave me more of a chance to fly than the Air Force.”

Political leaders, technological advancements and the state of peace worldwide affect the position of the military at home and overseas. As political situations and military leaders change, the military changes as well.

Kevin Myhre, an 18-year-old freshman civil engineering major and ROTC member, said he thinks the military today differs from the military of the past.

“They care more about soldiers’ mental health,” Myhre said.

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Defense, $500 million in 2007 helped with funding for 25 new mental health programs for soldiers. However, the release said 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans reported mental health difficulties after returning to the United States.

Beaupre said he does not think the Marine Corps changed much since he left the service in 1972.

“It hasn’t changed much,” Beaupre said. “The Marine Corps has traditions.”

The Marines take pride in their traditions. According to the Marine Corps Web site, the soldiers are known as the “first to fight,” or the first force on the scene. The Marines also respect their core values of honor, courage and commitment. Their motto is “Semper Fidelis,” Latin for “always faithful.”

Stereotypically, supporters of force tend to be more conservative. Republicans supporting George W. Bush generally supported intervention in Iraq, while Democrats opposed the war.

Fehrenbacher said the stereotype holds true in ROTC, but it does not affect his political views.

“I’m a Democrat, but everyone else in ROTC is a Republican,” Fehrenbacher said. “It doesn’t affect me, though.”

Beaupre said military service did not impact his political views.

“I don’t [associate with any political party],” Beaupre said. “They’re all crooks.”

For current students thinking of becoming Marine Corps soldiers, Beaupre offers advice. He said potential new members should consider their reasons for joining before doing so.

“Don’t join if you’re just trying to get an education,” Beaupre said. “Granted, the American Legion has pushed for a good education in the service. The [United States Department of Veteran Affairs] pays them to go to school. But they have to have it in their heart for God and country.”

Luke said part of the reason she joined ROTC to receive an out-of-state education.

“I found out about the scholarships for the ROTC program,” Luke said. “It was the only way to get out–of-state.”

Fehrenbacher said he also considered scholarship opportunities when choosing ROTC.

“I’m out-of-state, so in order to be here, I needed the scholarship,” Fehrenbacher said. “The Navy offered that, so they help pay for me to go here. It helps with my grades, too. If I get below a 2.5, I get yelled at.”

Different branches of the military have different entry-level requirements. Beaupre said students should not expect a high-ranking position when joining the Marines.

When Beaupre joined the Marines in 1968, new members were required to be riflemen.

“First off, remember you’re going to be a rifleman,” Beaupre said. “Everybody in the Marines is a rifleman before anything else.”

Fehrenbacher said the Navy would choose his position upon joining.

“I put in a bid for surface warfare, but the Navy picks the job I actually get,” Fehrenbacher said. “You can put in whatever you want to do, but it’s ultimately up to the needs of the Navy.”

During his time in the service, Beaupre served with women. He said he believes women should be allowed to serve as men do.

“They have the right to defend their country as much as men,” Beaupre said. “We fought for those equal rights.”

Luke also said she equal rights should play a part in the military.

“We have the same right to fight for our country, if we care about it,” Luke said. “We give birth to the new members of this nation, so we should get to fight for the nation.”

Myhre said he thought that future soldiers could learn from war veterans.

“We can learn valuable lessons about how to be a better leader, how to be a better solider ourselves and how to deal with experiences and handle certain situations,” Myhre said.

When asked if any particular memory from his service in the Marine Corps stood out to Beaupre, he said his dedication still stands today.

“I’ll put it this way,” Beaupre said. “Every day when I get up and go to work, I put my Marine Corps hat on. My ring tone on my phone is the Marines’ hymn. I’m a dedicated marine. Once a marine, always a marine.”

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jennifer Retter at [email protected].