The past year has not been kind to manufacturing in the United States. Visit bit.ly/MfgEmp to see a government graph depicting the loss of manufacturing in the US since the 1990s.
As a result, we are doing many things better, leaner, and yes, even meaner.
I'm not going to bother you with the details here - you can read more about them on our corporate site at Zebra-US.com.
Instead I'd rather post something far more meaningful. My cousin is serving a tour in Afghanistan at the moment. Now other relatives (two in the marines and one in the state department) have also done their tours, and I'm equally proud of them. But Jay has suddenly become inspired to put some of his feelings, our feelings, into print. So, without being too gushy or wordy, here's what he has to say.
From: Jay K CW2 NG NG FORSCOM
It was encouraged of me to write regular updates about my time spent here in Afghanistan during this deployment. I find it a challenge because throughout my life it has been expressed to me that my words have been considered moving and passionate; I am daunted for I do not believe that I am worthy. Feeling small in such a big world, a world that has become even more pronounced and profound since my deployment here to Afghanistan as a Pilot, with the responsibility of having the lives of others in my hands. I ask myself how one begins to describe their time as a soldier in a different land without making it a story of war, about war. It cannot be, as well, a story of travel and adventure when movement and experiences throughout the country are under duress. So as I write these words I search within myself for a different approach, an approach that will allow for the sharing of my experiences with others without making it a dialog of my day to day.
I have found that what has become most moving to me so far is not the missions performed, the nights flying in adverse conditions, or the men running off my airplane to do battle with our enemies…Though these things are extremely moving to say the least, I have found that the words and thoughts of which I have either heard, felt, or seen since the beginning of this deployment have come to affect me the most. Because of this I have made it a point to record those sayings or thoughts as they were presented to me, written by my hand to be read by my heart. These words shall be the basis of that which I will write and share with you. These words that I have found to be moving will then be the foundation or moral of my stories, the bricks and mortar of my telling.
Emotion is the age’s old muse for the written word as it drives us to think beyond the normal, to create and invigorate the soul, to put thoughts to words and attempt to give expressions meaning.
“A Soldiers inner strength to face fear and adversity during combat, with Courage is the will to persevere and win, it is resilience. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the controlling of that fear”
These words were spoken by a Chaplain at Ft. Sill when we were receiving our Afghanistan briefing in preparation to deploy. As I looked around the room at my fellow soldiers, many of them already anointed in the right of passage of what we were about to face, and many others to include myself, who have the need to yet prove them worthy of the challenge. In those of us untried our faces expressed the question in our hearts, who are we really in the face of fear, who will we be when that time comes?
Being here now and finding myself faced with these questions I have come to find that we are unable to change that which happens around us, we can only change ourselves. I don’t mean “to change ones personality” though it does seem to happen to a few, but to change how you react in situations in which you have little control. Our greatest strength in being a part of the greatest military force in the world is our level of training and expectation of excellence. No matter what situation we find ourselves in our actions are dictated by our experiences and habits pounded into us with the monotonous practice mandated by our leaders. With this level of training and the knowledge that you are an integral part of the bigger picture no matter the job, allows us to see that fear in a different manner. Fear becomes the catalyst to performing your job better than you ever have before, the drive to ensure you are doing your part to the best of your abilities.
But…this doesn't touch the fear our loved ones have for us. How do you train someone to not worry or fret about the soldier in their life that is taking part in a war? I cannot begin to understand how you, my friends and family, feel while I am deployed. To have that unknown so prevalent in your life, the day to day wondering if I am safe? I will not negate nor contradict anyone’s feelings on this subject and I will do my best to understand the emotions you all feel. Just know that I am doing that which I love and though I may be away from all, my heart is with you. I have no flowery phrases or quotes to encompass the feelings that are felt by our loved ones. I have no sayings to make anyone feel more secure and consoled. What I do have is the hope that with the words that I write, we can look into our hearts and know we all have fears of one kind or another and with that knowledge understand and grow as individuals, as friends becoming closer, as families becoming one.
This “first Words” from me to you are my first thoughts written into my notebook which I carry upon my person at all times now. I promise that as I progress in my writings the ideas will become lighter…LOL.
I love you all.
jAy
