Right from childhood I have always loved to become a soldier. I was a child that was so addicted to American movies right from the onset, I was so in love in seeing people carrying guns and going to rescue others that are in danger. All my life I have always desired to be a sacrifice for humanity. I want to give my life so that others can be liberated. Growing up I had it in mind that if it is not the army then forget about work. I was so overwhelmed with it that I and my friends use to act movies at home, I always assume the office of the commandant or captain I got all those names from movies, the popular one we use then is actor. I will be like, I am the actor with gun made with paw-paw branches and my boys would be following me🤣🤣 how sweet it was.
When I grew up, many things changed but that ambition did not, I was quietly working towards it. But growing up at some point annulled that dream. I had one major issue which was height and as Nigerians we know about Godfathers of which I have none but my God🙃. Even though i was still not discouraged with my disqualifications I believed that somehow I was going to make it through. My parents didn't know about my plans but the moment I opened it to them my dad rejected that idea and my mom kicked against it vehemently because as at that time, the issue of Boko Haram was high. They have heard of how many soldiers were slaughtered, in fact some of which were our acquaintances. My mother hated the army since then and told me she doesn't want any of her children to join the army. I felt bad over their conclusion, I was seeing the army as my calling and the place where I can fulfil destiny by saving and protecting lives but they were seeing it as a road that cuts of young men at their prime.
Today if I am to join any force at all it would still be the Nigerian Army. The Nigerian Army is an armed force that is saddled with the responsibility of fighting and defending lives and properties in Nigeria. It was founded in the year 1956, the highest rank is the chief of army staff. Their head quarter is at Abuja. Their motto is: Victory is from the God alone! They are responsible for ensuring that the country is safe and in peace , therefore they give their lives to fight wars to defend their motherland.
Why the Army?
Many are scared of being a soldier but I still see it as a place of opportunity where I can defend the lives of others. He that saves life is regarded as a saviour and seriously I desire to be the reason why someone would continue existing. Forget about the prestige, I don't see the army as an opportunity to show off. I know soldiers are being respected highly in Nigeria but that is not my aim. That is why regardless of rank I want to join it. The first time I almost applied for the job was with a secondary school result that means If I had gotten the job I was going to start from the scratch to show you that I was not interested in the big name. I just want to do something big to humanity, I know that, there is no wealth that can compare to life.The greatest gift one can ever offer to man is life. life is one of the things money can not afford, it is totally irreplaceable. Death the most feared thing among men can be bought but life can not, to show you how valuable it is. once taken it is gone forever.
I want to defend the lives and properties of others I want people to glorify God because he gave them a soldier. Today some northern part of Nigeria are suffering immensely in the hands of bandits and others. Many have lost their lives, many potential Young men and women were cut short without fulfiling destiny. Don't get me wrong it is only God that can save and give ultimate protection. I am just expressing the burdens and desires of my heart. I wish I could save them or do something. I see the army as God's calling too and a way of serving both God and humanity. If they places where God's people are to worship are being destroyed where would they worship? Won't that disrupt the purposes of God? And if there is no peace at all in the world, humanity will suffer stagnation. I love peace and I won't mind to sacrifice mine if possible so that others can get theirs. Joining the army is really a dangerous thing, for ones life is going to be put at stake. It is an act of sacrifice, you give yourself and expect anything, any time. Yet that is what I want and where I feel I can make exploit most.
My contribution
The first contribution I would love to make is to establish love among my colleagues. Making love a practical thing, if we learn how to love ourselves we will know how to love others there. I would make it a practical thing that has to do with sharing what I have with others and ensuring the safety of my fellow colleagues, ensuring my colleagus are in good health and giving them unsual care. It might look small but someone would really appreciate it .
I hate it when I see innocent people being molested and trampled on the ground because they have no power. We all are supposed to have equal justice. I know that for one to help, he must be influential and occupy a very big position. you can object it but that is the fact. But I want to change that mentality, even though it would cost me a lot, I want to eliminate that idea of officers using their offices to oppress and molest fellow officers and civilians. It has been a thing of concern to me, how that people who we look up to for protection are thesame people treating us like animals. I would make sure I fight it to the core. The uniforms are to be respected yes, but that doesn't make you a god and even if you are a god why not be a good one? Why must you oppress your subjects simply because they don't have anyone to stand for them? I want to protect the cause of the innocent and change many rubbish we see the army doing to people in the society. If you are a Nigerian you would know what I am talking about except if you were brought up in the parlor😁.
If by rank I can not achieve it, I would use my office as a teacher to create awareness both to my fellow officers and to the civilians on rights so that no one would have his or her right tempered with and go unjustified, atleast if one way won't work the other way would definitely do, I will publish it on any platform I can lay my hands on.
Secondly I would take the issue of education very seriously, if rank permits me fine , it would be much easier for me as I would just need to declare and it will be done but If by rank I couldn't I would use little medium to make sure my colleagues are learned. Most of our soldiers are not educated and that is why we suffer, they only know military stuffs which they learnt by practice. Some don't even know how to read. I will take that as an opportunity to train them. Illiteracy is a disease, ignorance can cut short a life that is supposed to live on for long.
I would also use that medium to ensure that this religious difference is eradicated from the army, we are one so long as we are humans. Let us unite and love ourselves. If we hate our fellow humans because of religion is it animals that we are going to live with? Through education I can manage to see if I would achieve that.
This is my response to week29 Edition 02 contest on Hive Learner's community
You can check it out.
Thank you so much for reading through, it is my pleasure having you here. Don't forget to drop a comment before you leave.