Cover Story by Carolyn Stent "I believe that we have a peaceful, safe place because of our show of force."

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous Cover Stories | Send mail to The Voice U.S. military defends citizens' freedoms Lt. Col. Jeff Foster has served in the military for 36 years. -Jeff Foster, photo Americans in every state have stepped forward to protest the war in Afghanistan. Others have spoken out against any infringement of citizens' civil rights. Still others have joined military units and prepared for combat. The military exists to defend the freedoms that American citizens have taken advantage of since the Sept. 11 attacks. Lt. Col. Jeff Foster, 54, of the Army reserves described the military as a show of force designed to protect the freedoms American citizens enjoy. He said that the military's presence, personnel, equipment, strategies, and techniques send a strong message to other nations that citizens of the United States value their freedoms and are willing to fight for them. "I believe we have a peaceful, safe place to live because of our show of force," he said. Furthermore, Foster said, the military's presence has prevented conflict. "Other countries know we have a strong military, and history has demonstrated we are willing to fight for [our freedoms]," Foster said. "I think that show of force has prevented us from being in a war situation." Foster joined the National Guard in 1966 because he did not want to be drafted to fight in Vietnam, a war he disagreed with. Four years ago he joined the Army Reserves. Foster believes that the Lord has given him positive roles throughout the 36 years he has served in the military. These include law enforcement, leadership training at the Oregon Military Academy, and marksmanship inspection. He believes his military career does not contradict his Christian beliefs and values. "I have been a productive soldier without a situation where I had to go against my personal values," Foster said. Foster is now a public education officer in a civil affairs brigade. The brigade is designed to restore a country after a conflict. Its members have specific civilian skills such as linguistics and economics expertise. In 2000, Foster volunteered to join a U.N. peacekeeping force in Bosnia. For eight months he acted as a liaison, carrying information between the military task force and the Organization Securing Cooperation in Europe, an organization that worked to ensure successful elections. "We go to other countries to work with the hearts and minds of the people," Foster said, "and to restore justice, freedom and independence." Sgt. Mike Robb, 29, of the Reserve Officer Training Corps is a senior speech communications major at Multnomah Bible College. Each summer, his unit trains soldiers for combat by instructing them in skills such as basic marksmanship and weapon use. Robb said the military trains individuals to kill so they can survive in a war environment and so they can protect each other and the innocent. "Any military trains to do two things: kill enemy people and break enemy things," Robb said. "But our prime directive is to defend what is right and what is ours: our freedoms." Sometimes that necessitates war, Foster said. He said war is justified when another country or force tries to take away the freedoms and principles established and enjoyed in the United States. Robb and Foster both support the war in Afghanistan. "The military has the capabilities to go into Afghanistan, find the terrorists and inactivate them," Foster said. Although Robb chose a non-deployable unit, he said he would willingly fight in Afghanistan. He said that Americans need to be serious about their freedoms and respond to threats against citizens and the nation. Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous Cover Stories | Top Of Page Send mail to The Voice| Journalism department website © 2001 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. All rights reserved.