Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Serve.

Pain Is Weakness
Pain is weakness leaving the body. I’ll never forget when I was first introduced to the words, “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” I was seventeen years old, not even out of my little high school in my little one-four stop town. I was a scrawny kid back then, six feet two inches and one hundred and sixty-five pounds or so. To say that I was small would be an understatement. In high school we had to take physical education, and while I was a great runner for both sprints and long distance, I couldn’t get a bar up or a dumbbell curled to save my life. I was determined though, and it was when I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps out of Casper, Wyoming that I knew things were going to change. My recruiter told me that I was what they termed a double rat, or double rations. Basically, when they were going to send me to boot camp, I would be eating double the amount of food that other recruits would be. This was to help my body pack on the muscle that I would need while providing me with enough energy to make that transition from civilian to basically trained Marine. And that is exactly what they did.
By Joshua Stath8 years ago in Serve
How To Join the Military Police in the Marine Corps. Top Story - March 2018.
Joining any branch in the military is an extensive process, from requirements, to training, responsibilities, and more. Do you fit the ideal identity of a military police officer in the Marine Corps? Is this the correct path for you?
By Adrian Scott8 years ago in Serve
Ten Failed Revolts Throughout History
At a time of political disturbance, it can be hard to guarantee the stability of our world’s future. Looking back into the past, we observe revolution upon revolution. Those that succeeded are remembered and celebrated, but those that fail are often pushed aside.
By Charlotte Williams8 years ago in Serve
This Army Life Is Crazy Part 1
September 12th was the day my life changed forever. I got on a plane to St. Louis, Missouri to start my army career...and let me tell you it was interesting. As soon as I boarded my flight I was nervous but a good kind of nervous because this was something I had been looking forward to for the past few months. When I got off my plane in Missouri, I met a couple people that were on their way to Fort Leonard Wood as well, we became instant friends. We had a couple minutes to grab something to eat and get our bags outside to load the bus to go to reception. Reception. It was a two hour bus ride from St. Louis to Fort Leonard Wood so we all got advised to sleep because we definitely needed it for what we were about to go through. When we pulled up to reception we immediately saw a drill sergeant and thought what the heck, we’re not even at basic yet and there’s already drill sergeants swarming us. They yelled at us to get inside and dump our bags to get whatever contraband out that we had. That was the longest night of my life we didn’t go to bed until two and wake up was at 3:30. Reception was the worst, all we did was stand around and we couldn’t talk at all to anyone but the day we got fitted for our uniforms was the best day ever. Let me tell you when you first put on that uniform it’s the best feeling in the world and you feel so motivated and that you can take on whatever is going to happen. Everyone in that room had the biggest grin ever. We were in reception for about six days then shipping day came along. The most nerve-wracking day of my life. We woke up, ate breakfast, and around noon we got in formation with all our bags lined up. I don’t think there was a single person in that formation that wasn't sweating like crazy from being so nervous. Then from the corner of my eye I saw the drill sergeants that we were going to be spending the next ten weeks with. They came up to us not saying a single word, just looking at all of us, then all of a sudden they said load the bus. Then our journey began. We were on the bus for a good five minutes, I was sitting next to the girl I was bunkmates with in reception, when the bus stopped we just looked at each other because we knew this was the worst part of basic training. Shark Attack day zero. The door busted open and you hear, “Get the f*ck off the bus!” Everyone, I mean everyone, took off, we looked like a bunch of chickens running around with our heads cut off. There were people falling, crying, and screaming, it was a mess. We got inside and they made us line up our bags...again and said, “Lift your bags above your head” so we did and that was so hard. We had to squat with our bags too and run just about every exercise you can think of. I've never sweated so much in my life. After all that we finally got to go to our company and then we all thought to ourselves, man what have we gotten into. Day zero out of 70 complete. Here’s to new adventures.
By Katie8 years ago in Serve
One Video, One Life Forever Changed
Music has been a part of my life since I was little. However, I did not realize that music really was my life until I was headed in a direction I never thought I would be. As a musician, I am often asked what my favorite song is or what has been my greatest inspiration. Any true music lover will tell you that it is impossible to choose just one song. My greatest inspiration came from a place many would not expect and led me to a path no one could predict...
By Lorraine Woiak8 years ago in Serve
Benefits of Being a Military Officer
Most people are very well-aware of the fact that Navy SEALs get paid well, and that military members all get great health benefits. The military is very good to its members and is pretty notorious for acting like a brotherhood.
By Rowan Marley8 years ago in Serve
I Wait
The day that my now Fiancè left for Basic Military Training, the waiting began. I waited for his bus to leave before I allowed myself to break down in tears in the front seat of my car. I waited half an hour to start the long drive home just so I could stop crying (I never did, though).
By Annie Coleman8 years ago in Serve
Life After Death
My life was always pretty average. I grew up in a small town in NJ where my father was a police officer and my mother a stay at home mom. I basically was a tomboy for a majority of my younger years; opting to hang out with my brother and play hockey instead of going to the mall and having girl time with my friends. My brother Timothy was my Irish twin; his birthday almost exactly 12 months to the day before mine. Growing up, he got bullied a lot and I vividly remember always trying to protect him despite being a girl and also being younger than him. When Tim entered high school, he experienced a rapid growth spurt, reaching the height of 6’7” by the time he graduated, but hadn’t grown horizontally which led him to still occasionally get picked on for being so skinny.
By Megan McGill-West8 years ago in Serve
Why We Need to Invade France
My proud countrymen, I come before you to first to draw your attention to the great feats of our nation. Our NHS is the envy of the civilised world, We have an established and efficient democracy, using the welfare system we look after our less fortunate citizens and we have built up an economy which provides a stability for our lives and our families. We are the heirs to an empire which was larger than any others in all of history. Our nation is the greatest kingdom in the whole world. We are a safe and stable state where we and our kin can exist for the rest of time if we look after it. But there is still one entity to which our mighty country is still threatened by. France.
By Lese Brookes8 years ago in Serve
'First They Killed My Father'
The young clueless child thought Phnom Penh was like the heart of her life, she lived with her lovely family in a large house on the upper floors of their home with a housekeeper. Back then, Loung’s life was peaceful and filled with love and support. She had the chance to learn and go to school with her siblings. But the silence had been disrupted with soldiers marching into their town. After knowing it wasn’t a celebration, Pa determines the soldier’s stories are lies. Loung’s life was about to be changed forever. Loung had to learn how to fit in not living in luxury life she used to live in, the challenge was big and difficult. She had to sleep on the ground, use bathrooms outdoors, live in a room filled with many other people, and get used to the changes in attitude her siblings and her parents suddenly have. Food was scarce although the family worked as hard as the could in the field as starvation grew. The difficulty stood out stronger day by day when Keav became ill and died. Loung was left with sadness as her thoughts raced the next several days hoping Keav would be in a safe place in the afterlife. Loung became stronger by understanding the sudden turning points in her life. She grew stronger every day facing reality.
By angela lu8 years ago in Serve
How To Get into West Point
If your aspiration is to lead US soldiers, perhaps even into combat, then going to West Point is a great choice for you. You’ll have your tuition, room, and board, and health insurance covered. You’ll also earn roughly $7,200 per year. All that plus the United States Military Academy’s (USMA) stellar reputation make it a highly sought after institution. Here's how to get into West Point.
By Lauren Skopkowski8 years ago in Serve
Ways to Get an Early Discharge from the Military. Top Story - March 2018.
There are plenty of ways to earn an early discharge from the military, however, many of these methods are not common, or will earn you a discharge that will remove your good standing with the branch and your service.
By Stephen Cleary8 years ago in Serve