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Meanwhile, our young men and women whose economic circumstances make military service a viable career choice are dying bravely in a war with no end in sight.

In our post-9/11 world, our Nation's military deserves, at least the same access to institutions of higher education that any other major employer might enjoy.

There is no room for military people, including our veterans, to see themselves as victims, even if so many of our countrymen are prone to relish that role.

This is still a man's profession, with a lot of men who intellectually and emotionally have not accepted that the military could be women's work.

I would not encourage everyone to take up this profession. Not everyone is suited for any particular field.

In my 39 years in the military, I have learned that you are not a profession just because you say you are. You have to earn it and re-earn it and re-evaluate it from time to time.

Our servicemen and women are highly trained, highly skilled, and the most professional fighting force in the world.

The Navy credits me with more kills as a sniper than any other American service member, past or present.

It's a professional military. You sign up and agree to allow your countrymen to use your life as they see fit for the next four years. And I think we all should have a greater role in ensuring that we use those lives wisely.

This always confuses liberals, that conservatives like the military and don't like the bureaucracy. That's because the military has their guns pointed out and the bureaucracy has them pointed in.