By Josh Church
I served in the United States Marine Corps for nine years. During that time, I served with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion and later Marine Special Operations. I deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, worked alongside partner nation forces on multiple continents, and helped oversee projects ranging from military training facilities to operational logistics in combat environments.
Military service was not unusual in my family, going back to at least the Civil War, and likely much further. Serving was simply something honorable men in the family had done for generations.
I chose the Marine Corps because it had the reputation for being the hardest branch. At twenty, that mattered to me. I wanted to test myself. I wanted to do hard things, big things. The Marines did not promise comfort, status, or an easy life.
Like many young men who join the military, I thought I understood hardship before I enlisted. I did not. The Marines and war have a way of stripping life down to the essentials very quickly. Fatigue, discomfort, fear, responsibility, and teamwork stop being abstract concepts.
I faced challenges and overcame some of them by the skin of my teeth. From days spent in hundred plus degree weather without water while studying the enemy, to miles upon miles of movement with more than a hundred pounds on your back. Nights of sheer exhaustion when bushes and rocks come alive like some bad dream.
The harder challenges came when the stakes were high and the consequences were permanent. Combat forces you to make decisions under stress while exhausted and uncertain. There are moments where hesitation can get people hurt and moments where overconfidence can do the same.
One lesson that stayed with me long after I left the military is that confidence is earned through competence, not talk. In reconnaissance and special operations communities, people generally care very little about titles or appearances. They care whether you can perform when things become difficult. Can you stay calm? Can you solve problems? Can people rely on you? That mindset shaped the rest of my life after the military.
The greatest challenge of my time in the Corps was giving it everything I had and learning to live with the knowledge that sometimes it was not enough. Sometimes, no matter how clear headed you are, how fast, or how strong, you cannot bring them all home.
War is not something to glorify. After nearly a decade in the military, my view is that we need serious leaders with the wisdom, intelligence, and courage to avoid unnecessary wars whenever possible, because the costs are real and they are carried by ordinary people for the rest of their lives.
If I could say one thing to Americans between eighteen and twenty five years old, it would be this: do hard things voluntarily.
Modern society often encourages comfort, convenience, and avoidance of discomfort. But growth rarely happens in comfort. Some of the most meaningful experiences in my life came from situations I initially did not think I could handle.
Service can take many forms. Young people benefit tremendously from experiences that force responsibility, accountability, discipline, and teamwork. Challenge yourself physically. Learn useful skills. Put yourself in environments where performance matters and excuses do not.
You will discover strengths you did not know you had. You will also discover weaknesses, and that is equally important.
Josh Church is a 2026 candidate for Lieutenant Governor running with Dave Bronson.
More in Series
Want to Submit Your Story?
We hope to keep this series going all the way to Veterans Day! If you are a veteran or active duty service member, please consider sharing your military story and/or encourage friends and family to submit their stories! We will be publishing submissions in the order they are received, every Monday at 9am.
A recent op-ed by Army veteran Paul A. Bauer inspired this series. Bauer writes: “The problem is not gratitude itself. The problem is shallow gratitude. Many veterans do not need strangers to perform respect with a slogan. They often prefer real curiosity, human recognition, and informed conversation.”
We invite veterans and active-duty service members to send us articles sharing your story. You can use the questions below as inspiration. You do not have to respond to all the questions, and you are not limited to them. Please include the branch you served in and how many years you served.
Guiding Questions
What did/ do you do in the military?
How long did you serve?
Did anyone else in your family serve?
Why did you choose the service branch that you did?
What was the greatest challenge you faced during your service and how did you overcome it?
What was the most significant lesson you learned during your service?
If you could say one thing to young Americans aged 18-25, what would you say?
Requirements
Please follow these requirements for your submission:
- Word limit: 1,000 words
- Must be written in first person
- Must be published with original author’s legal name (no pennames/ ghostwriting)
- No foul language
- All direct quotes and data points must be cited (a link to source is sufficient)
- Have fun! Be creative!
Submit your story to [email protected].
Must Read Alaska says thank you to all our amazing veterans!
