Today, 07-Mar-2021 marks my 15th year as an Active Duty Soldier in The United States Army. It’s crazy to think it’s been 15 years. There are times it seems like it’s only been a few weeks. There are also times when it feels like it’s been 40 years!!!
I’m different in so many ways from the idiot kid I was when I joined at 19 years old with no real world or life experience. Now, 15 years later I am a husband, a father, a leader, a veteran, a survivor. I’m abrasive, arrogant, short tempered and hardened by pain, loss, and regrets.
I carry my Fallen Brothers with me everywhere I go, and will gladly tell anyone who cares to listen everything I can about all 10 of them. I love and miss them all, but know I will see the again and hope they will put in a good word for me when I arrive. UNTIL VALHALLA BROTHERS!!!!
I have a dark sense of humor that in a lot of ways is used as a coping mechanism for the twisted and horrid shit I’ve seen, done, and experienced.
I’m not the same man you knew if you happened to know me prior to me joining, and yet I’m the exact same man... I love my family more than anything, and would do absolutely anything for them. I’m still goofy, nerdy, random, and lighthearted.
I love to listen to music that fits my mood, I love the nostalgia of the simple things, especially those that remind me of my home town. Give me a plate of Chicken Alfredo from Pompilios, or a bowl of chili from Skyline and an Ale8; and I’m the happiest of campers.
I’ll take a relaxing vacation back home visiting and hanging out with family and friends of some lavish stay at some far off resort any day. Given the choice between going to a fancy dinner or going fishing to catch then grill my dinner and I’ll take fishing every damn time!!!
I’ve been all over the country and the world, but there is no place I’d rather be than on the couch watching a movie with my wife or beating my kids at Mario Kart on the switch race, after race, after race... they legit can’t beat me!!!!
I’m beyond proud of my time in service, I’m blessed beyond measure for all who have helped and supported me, and I’m honored to have known the best men and women from all walks of life that I now and forever more get to call my brothers and sisters.
I don’t know how much longer I have left in this aspect of my life. For all I know this could be my last year in the Army as the potential for medical retirement is a real possibility due to all the years of injury as well as wear and tear. But no matter if I have 1, 2, 3, 5 or more years left in I will make the most of my time, and I wouldn’t go back and do a thing differently.
To my beautiful wife, my 3 amazing children, my mother, my siblings, close family, friends, and my brothers/sisters in arms... I hope I have made you all proud, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the love, support, and occasional necessary kicks in the ass when I deserved/needed them. I know for a fact I would have not gotten this far without you all. Here’s to 15 crazy ass years.... and who knows how ever many more I am privileged enough to serve.
-SSG Brandon James Edward Alborg
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!!!
AIR ASSAULT!!!
KING OF BATTLE!!!
