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A little background information on me first... I am a NCO in the USAF. I have proudly served for 11 yrs now. I have been in some pretty strange places, and I have launched fully loaded Bombers out against "targets". A week after 9-11 I finished mobilizing my unit and sent them off to a overseas location. I had to stay back (not by choice). I have been actively involved with the war effort ever since. I can't imagine what my counterparts go through in the Army or the Marines, but sometimes I get to wondering. I know I have helped kill men. I put that Bomber combat ready. I filled the fuel tanks so it could make it. I fixed the gizmo that would keep it from flying. I've packed up the gear to prepare my buddies for war. I've worked long hours so that those 4 men in the crew station could carry that bird to hell and back. It bothers me sometimes. I've never seen combat, nor do I desire to see it. If called to do it I would, but I don't want to. I see my children playing and laughing, I sit on this computer talking to y'all, I drive my big old 78 Lincoln, I play my Xbox with my kids, I like cheesburgers and milkshakes, and I spend hours out in the shop or my yard on the weekends. I am a normal guy, until I put on my Camo uniform. I then transition to being a NCO, it is starting to bother me. I love my country, I proudly serve her. I am living my dream since I was a kid. I feel I have earned the right to be an American. I just wonder if I have done right.

To those who have served before me and with me, I give to you my deepest thanks.

I am doing some good soul searching that I know is being directed from up above. So I ask of you to give me your thoughts, help me with some scripture.

Jim

Coyote,
Good to hear from you – I haven’t seen you around the forum for a while and have been wondering what you may be up to.  
If it wasn’t for you and folks like you, no one in this country would be freely worshipping Jesus and speaking out for His ways.  That alone should be reason enough for you to be proud about what you are doing.  The only job in the USAF that I believe is more important is Chaplain – now there’s a guy (in my opinion) who earns his stripes!  Have you spoken with your unit's Chaplain about your concerns?  I can think of no one more qualified to address them.  
Sometimes war is necessary and justified, but it is always emotionally difficult, and a matter to put before God:
Judges 20:23
The Israelites went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and they inquired of the LORD. They said, "Shall we go up again to battle against the Benjamites, our brothers?"
The LORD answered, "Go up against them."
Let the Lord lead you, brother.
Jim

PS:  How’s your Dad doing???

Coyote,
I have launched fully loaded Bombers out against "targets".

I know I have helped kill men.

I put that Bomber combat ready. I filled the fuel tanks so it could make it. I fixed the gizmo that would keep it from flying. I've packed up the gear to prepare my buddies for war. I've worked long hours so that those 4 men in the crew station could carry that bird to hell and back.  

It bothers me sometimes. I've never seen combat, nor do I desire to see it.

Most folks do not desire to see it.  

A couple of sayings:
"The only thing worse than a battle won is a battle lost". unknown to me who wrote it.

"I am tired and sick of war.  Its glory is all moonshine.  It is only those who neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengence, more desolation.
War is Hell."  William Tecumseh Sherman.  

Both sayings demonstrate how terrible war is.

Having said that, Brother take heart.  At this point in time, you are doing what you should do help defend our nation against evil being done in the name of religion.  In several ways, you ARE being a defender of the faith.

Pray, go talk with the Chaplain.  As JudgeNot put it:
Sometimes war is necessary and justified, but it is always emotionally difficult, and a matter to put before God

Post more if you need to.
PM me if you want a Veterans opinion (I was a medic and have my own perspective.).

Bless you for your current service to help protect me and mine.

Matthew 24:6 - And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mark 13:7 - And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

A war of defense and protection. A war that removes some kind of malignancy from human culture that threatens its very existence. But beyond that, beyond reason, let's go to Revelation. I want to pick up that second point for a moment, this morning, and say, from the standpoint of the Scripture, "Does God in the Bible give governments the right to make war? Or, is the use of military force, in restraining, resisting, and even punishing violence entrusted to human government? Does government have the right to move in and restrain and resist and punish violence?" And the answer to that leads us to a very simple, direct, Biblical theology of war.

The Lord forbids murder; the Lord allows war. That's true in Scripture. All throughout Scripture, from that old Hebrew command, "You shall not kill," God forbids murder; the Hebrew word "Rascot" [spelling?], God forbids that. But the Lord does allow war. "Milcomah" [spelling?] is the Hebrew word. God does not forbid war. God even said, Proverbs 20:18, "Prepare plans by consultation, and make war by wise guidance." God never says that about murder. He never says, "Plan your murders well." But He does say, "Plan your wars well." In Proverbs 24:6 He says, "For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory." Again God says, "If you are going to go to war, make sure that you carefully assess it."

In the New Testament, Jesus followed up by saying, "A man doesn't go to war unless he counts the cost." The assumption being there that there are times and seasons when war is a fitting thing. As Ecclesiastes 3:8 says, "There is a time for war, and a time for peace."

Hebrews 11:32, here we have the Heroes of Faith; here we have the Hall of Fame of the Old Testament. The people who were the most decorated; the most spiritually heroic, are given us in Hebrews 11. And I want you to notice verse 32. As the writer of Hebrews exalts the Heroes of the Faith, he says, "Time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David." And you will note that those individuals were engaged in wars and battles. And also of Samuel and the prophets. And then he says this about them, "Who by faith conquered kingdoms." That indicates war. "Performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shuts the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." Here you have a list of warriors, a list of soldiers, who are the great Heroes of the Faith. God identified those who fought in wars as heroes. So, God while forbidding murder and forbidding personal vengeance does not forbid war.

I can go on and on, but I hope you understand my point, Coyote.

Go in peace with God
DW

Praying for you, brother. Sometimes the "right" things can feel so wrong. Thanks for your commitment.

God bless you and thank you butch

Thanks for keeping me safe.  :)

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have no need for a military or police force?  :-\

Romans 13:4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,  quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.


Do not seek to punish others for personal wrongs done to you. Instead, obey human rulers who are fulfilling the God-given obligation of suppressing evil deeds and punishing those who commit them. ~by COL Don Martin AUS (Ret.)
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

JudgeNot,

My Dad is still struggling with his commitment.... Still praying for him. It means alot that you remembered :)

I have been reading the scriptures provided from everyone about my plight. I feel like I am being called to something else, but I don't know what. My perspective has changed about what I do for a living.

Apparently there are a few people out there who don't know about my journey in Christ ( they sent me private messages). I have been saved for a year now, and I will never turn back. If you want the sorrid details look at my previous posts... I don't want to bore those who know already.

I talked to an old Marine who served during Korea (bless him and his kind). He understood what I was going through, and we prayed together. I still worry about if I am doing right. It is scary... If you've served I'm sure you'll understand.

I thank you all.

Love,

Jim