There are some reason why we Filipino's need to support our troops whether if they serve in the Army, Air Force, Navy or the Marines. The whole idea is the same with paying it forward as families, friends, and even the whole Filipino community need to acknowledge their hard work.
They are brave men and women who serve in a true form of sacrifice to promote peace and community development. However, our troops are not immune as to being human. They feel lonely, homesick, even sad. In the light of our comfort, we can only give our support to boost their morale by simple means of showing how grateful we are.
It is with us, Filipino stakeholders to take back and show that they are our nations' pride.
If you had thought about doing this in the past but still freezing on with the idea because you lack the means to do it, have some time to read a few suggestions made by military families around the globe.
1) Simple Courtesy. Meeting defense force personnel from other Southeast Asian countries and even in Australia seem like they are bad to the bones. Similarly, Filipino soldiers may seem to look tact, alert, strict, yet handsome (or snappy for that matter). They appreciate a simple courtesy of a greeting. "Good Morning Sir", "Nice weather Sir", "Thanks for serving us Sir". These words are simple but priceless.
2) Print, Share, or Tag Photos or Videos. In our digital age, sharing seems to be as simple as clicking and hovering a computer's mouse over the screen where a lot of our troops now have social media accounts, it is simply better for them to receive hard copy of photos of family and friends especially to our troops designated in far-flung areas even in the disputed islands. Taking a video of their family at a school ceremonies, picnic or sports event seems like a chore but truth is, the hardest thing for our military is being separated from those they love. And with the snippets from home, they will love being able to see their family over and over.
3) Capture and Compile Memories. Capturing and compiling memories means staying our troops updated of what's going on with our lives. One good example is a soldier having been deployed after his wife delivered a baby, it will be a boost of morale when the soldier sees his child taking the first breastfeeding, first bathe, even if seeing the baby in the crib for the first time.
4) Send Messages. As simple as sending in quotes, funny messages (which can make the days go faster), and greetings from the internet and compile them on a booklet or send them via SMS.
5) Send in News Clippings, Pictures, etc. Sending them news clippings about the good things helps them know that their work is being noticed by the community.
6) Radio Dedication, etc. If there's a detachment or a battalion in your local area, chances are that soldiers are tuned in. If you are a big fan of the military, why not try and dedicate some good songs to lift their spirits up.
7) Buy them a Frisbee. One addictive game common to most defense personnel in the world is a game of Frisbee. They can have this game to play with their buddies and the kids in their local community.
8) Connect With Them. Showing interest with our troops and knowing how they live and what they do means that you are interested in knowing the importance of their job. Inviting them through speaking engagements at school for career orientation or leadership summits also helps them connect to the youth who have no idea what the military is all about. They are mostly ready to talk it out with students because the military helps in shaping a better youth that would become future leaders of the community.
If you are a member of an organization which helps promote community missions, soldiers are also interested in taking part of assisting you through these avenues.
9) Join Social Clubs. Joining social clubs like "Proud to Be With Soldiers" or "Protectors of Philippine Sovereignty" can enlighten you with snippets and updates about our soldiers deployed in areas all over the country. There are also events such as donation drives for calamity stricken areas by which you could participate with.
10) Send the Books. Surprisingly, a population of our troops are bookworms. A fun and witty book available at the local bookshop with cliche titles such as "Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?", "The Best of Chico De Lama's Morning Rush Series", "Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin by Bob Ong" or "It Only Hurts When I Pee by RJ Ledesma". There are also seriously great and self-help books that are highly appreciated by our troops such as "Pera Na Hindi Bitin" or "Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren" etc.
or Send in Old Magazines. These reading materials are highly valued during deployment or in an assigned area, it can also be shared along with their buddies.
11) Church-Participation. If you are a member of church organizations such as Youth for Christ, or Every Nations Youth Ministry then be open on sharing the idea of praying for our people in the Armed Forces.
12) Spend Time with the Family. If you have a family member or friend who is married to a soldier, a simple gesture of taking them out for a cup of coffee or sharing them a slice of cake can make a difference to their lives. A soldier will always have his peace of mind given that his family is coping well back home.
Be a role model to the children who's father are dispatched away from home. Tell them tales of why they became soldiers and show them how noble their job is.
13) Volunteering. If you are a nurse, try sharing your expertise about living healthy and basic medical care. If your a history geek, why not tap into the people inside the Philippine museums and seek if you can do the walk tours for visitors. You can also spend time packing relief aid in some relief centers.
14) Organize Support Drive. Soldiers deployed in far-flung areas such as the disputed islands have no means of entertainment other than gardening and fishing. The places they stay are way beyond full access of all sorts of media. Why not tap into some people and try if you can send in stuff like books, magazines, old cassette tapes and cassette players, medical gear, old computer gear, etc.
15) Create a Military Appreciation Day (or Soldier's Appreciation Day). Similar with Father's Day, Mother's Day, and Teacher's Day. Our troops deserve recognition of their sacrifice in serving peace around the Philippines whether they are on regular or reserve duty. Normally, Filipino Veteran's along with U.S. Veterans celebrate November 11 as their recognition day.
Lastly, Pay Your Taxes Well. The taxes being collected by the government are there for a reason. It pays the job served by our troops and improves their survivability by improving their skills and machines. The taxes we pay grants them further studies, fuels the trucks to go far-flung areas, and respond to rescue operations. More so, our taxes are being used well because they are paying their life service in return.
These are just a few examples of how we can help support our troops. Post below if you have any further ideas to share.
© iamreservist
