President John F. Kennedy once said, “A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living.” LSU has a rich history of men and women who have answered our nation’s call to arms from General William Tecumseh Sherman, LSU’s first chancellor, to General Charles Campbell, current four star commander of the Army’s Forces Command. At the time of this writing, I sit preparing for another training mission in the back of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle at a training camp in Kuwait, waiting to cross the perilous border into Iraq. I have the honor and privilege of leading 40 of America’s finest young men into combat as an infantry rifle platoon leader.Two years ago in May 2006 I graduated from LSU with a triple major in international studies, political science, and history, and a minor in sociology. I also graduated with Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude honors. I was incredibly active during my four years with numerous clubs and activities on campus. During this time the path ahead had always been unswervingly clear: law school and then the career path. Midway through my senior year I faced the same existential crisis that accompanies senioritis: the desire to serve a calling greater than myself. Some will answer the nation’s calling by serving their community through proactive agents of change such as Teach for America or Americorps. I conducted a cost-benefit analysis and decided to join the military.Ultimately, I decided to join the Army during a time of war. This was undoubtedly the toughest decision I have ever made in my lifetime. The subsequent challenges resulting from this decision were enormous. The physical and emotional strains of boot camp, paratrooper school, infantry school, and other specialty Army schools were simply unbearable at times. One day I would be enrolled in a nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare defense course and the next I would be jumping out of a plane conducting raids and ambushes in the Mojave Desert as part of pre-deployment training exercises. From basic training to my current infantry platoon, I have developed more meaningful friendships than I ever imagined possible. In the military you truly form an unbreakable band of brothers that will last a lifetime.History has acutely demonstrated that each generation squarely faces a transcendent challenge requiring young men and women to step forward and answer Lady Liberty’s call for the preservation of freedom. For many of our fathers it was Vietnam; World War II for our grandfathers. For our generation the challenge is the global war on terrorism fought on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. This challenge crystallizes the fine line in the sand between the lions and the lambs. It is too easy to woefully ignore the call to fill the military’s need in order for the self-interest driven pursuits of graduate school, travel, and the career path during these uncertain times. There is certainly no better time to serve in our nation’s armed forces. I would just like to take a moment to implore more young men and women to consider joining the military. For me, it has been the greatest decision I have ever made.Bradford J. Kelley—-Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at [email protected]