Jamie Allard: For veterans, it was never just about a job

By REP. JAMIE ALLARD

On this eve of Veterans Day, I find myself reflecting not just on those who served, but on what service truly means. It’s not a job, and it’s not a social experiment. It’s a calling that is rooted in the defense of freedom and the willingness to do violence on behalf of peace.

For a while, it felt like that truth was slipping away. Under President Joe Biden, our armed forces were becoming more of a social club than a fighting force. The mission drifted, lethality suffered, and standards eroded under the weight of politics and woke ideology. The warrior ethos was being replaced by HR seminars.

Then came a change. Leaders like Pete Hegseth, a man who’s walked the walk, have worked tirelessly to restore the mission, the standards, and the sense of purpose that once defined our military. His push to bring back a focus on readiness, discipline, and warfighting has resonated deeply with those of us who once wore the uniform. Veterans across this country, including here in Alaska, see it and appreciate it.

And when President Donald Trump brought back the War Department name, that was more than symbolism. It was a declaration: America’s military is not a place for the lily-livered. It’s a lethal, elite institution, and it’s time we remember that.

The world is not getting safer. Drug cartels, narco-terrorists, and hostile powers are watching closely to see whether America has the will to fight. Thanks to leadership that respects the military’s true mission, they’re learning that we do.

To my fellow veterans, especially the many who call Alaska home: Thank you. You’ve borne the burden of defending a free people, and many who may disappoint you with their disregard and callousness toward your service. And to our active-duty brothers and sisters still standing the watch, we salute you.

And this Monday, we raise a special glass to the United States Marine Corps, celebrating its 250th birthday. The only branch of the military born in a bar — yes, really. On Nov. 10, 1775, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and authorized two battalions of Marines to fight in the Revolutionary War. The decision was made at Tun Tavern, a local watering hole owned by Robert Mullan — who went on to become the first Marine recruiter. From that moment of camaraderie and courage was born the fiercest fighting forces the world has ever known.

So on this Veterans Day eve, as we honor 250 years of the United States Marine Corps, we also salute every man and woman who has worn the uniform, past and present.

May America always remember that freedom isn’t free, and may we never again forget that our military’s purpose is not to please, but to prevail.

Rep. Jamie Allard represents the people of Eagle River in the Alaska Legislature.