It is no surprise that the American public typically expresses favorable opinions of the Department of Defense. Many recognize the strong leadership skills that are taught very early on in the military, as well as a host of other skills and abilities that are quite beneficial, both personally and professionally. And in the private sector, we see more and more companies each year committing to veteran hiring programs because they value the skill set many of us bring to the marketplace.
At the same time, Congress remains very unpopular with the public. We have seen the deep divisions between Democrats and Republicans grow every year, and many of us wish for a different time when the two parties could compromise better and agree on some basic fundamentals. Perhaps what we need is more veterans running for office at the local, state and federal levels.
There are currently several dozen veterans in Congress, and at least 27 post-9/11 veterans won congressional races on November 8, 2016. Many of the veterans in Congress have deployed to countries such as Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, and have experienced the “business end” of our foreign policy decisions. Others have been part of peace-keeping missions, and some have worked with foreign community leaders to improve their towns and villages. These veterans have seen war zones, squalid poverty, deep fear and death. They have also seen unbridled optimism, collaboration, victories and hope.
I don’t want to paint the military as a kind of nirvana where life is perfect and every member is a perfect citizen. As with other American communities, we have had tragic instances of religion-based discrimination and harassment and a continuing problem with military sexual assault. Yet our veterans have all worked in diverse work environments, completed missions together that most Americans can’t even imagine, and received an incredible amount of training on respecting those around you and taking care of each other.
And perhaps that is where I see the most hope. Politically speaking, I don’t see eye to eye with many of my friends from the military, but we respect each other based on our shared and demonstrated commitment to our country. I often talk with them about serious political issues, and therefore enjoy a better understanding of their positions and what motivates them. And I think they feel the same way about me. While there are a few internet trolls out there who consistently post unenlightened comments to my political blog posts, most of the veterans with an opinion different than mine take the time to respond thoughtfully and respectfully. I try to do the same with my responses to them, and that is because we value each other’s service.
I don’t expect every veteran in Congress to automatically jump across the aisle and drop their own beliefs and convictions, but I do think they will be more inclined to at least meet with each other and discuss relevant issues. While many members of Congress are afraid that their base will hold it against them if they meet with somebody from the opposite party, I think our veterans are in a unique position to reach across the aisle and foster intelligent and productive conversations.
At one point, being a veteran was almost a prerequisite to serving in Congress. In the 1970s, more than three-fourths of Congress had served in the military, and now the number of veterans in Congress has fallen by about 75 percent (although we are now seeing an uptick with the post-9/11 generation.) Collectively, we can support the veterans in our communities who want to continue their service as politicians. Whether they are Republican or Democrats, encouraging more to rise to leadership positions across the country will be good for America.
Justin Constantine is an inspirational speaker, leadership consultant, entrepreneur and veteran advocate. He is the author of the new book “My Battlefield, Your Office: Leadership Lessons from the Front Lines,” now available on Amazon. A Presidential Leadership Scholar, Justin is also a fellow with the Truman National Security Project. Justin received a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps. To learn more, visit www.justinconstantine.com.