Being in the military gives me an opportunity like no other to speak to individuals from all walks of life. In a field where death is often contemplated, life is rarely taken for granted. Those who serve have a unique and sometimes cynical view of it, but because of our brotherhood we are able to look past our differences and discuss them. I spoke with a sister-in-arms about her view on abortion, and what she said surprised me. She said that, given how much she had seen and how terrible the lives were of many throughout the world, it would be better to never be born than to have to live a life of suffering and hardship. But where she had seen sorrow and pain, I saw hope. In the most poverty-stricken of places, I still saw children laughing and enjoying their lives to the fullest, regardless of their circumstances. For me, those moments of joy were more than enough to display the value of those lives. Further, this view created a problem. Where would the line be drawn on quality of life? What if a child was to be born disabled or without a safe home life? Not only is this a slippery slope to walk, it is also not why most have abortions. In a 2005 study by the Guttmacher Institute, it was found that only three out of one hundred women said that they got an abortion due to the health of the infant. Meanwhile, over half selected that financial reasons or timing were why they chose to end the life of their child. In fact, more people said that merely interfering with their career or education goals was a sufficient enough reason for an abortion. When that is put into the context of ending a human life, it is truly frightening. As soldiers, we are trained to end lives, and yet the vast majority of us would only pull the trigger if our own lives were at risk. In contrast, many Americans would take a life due to mere inconvenience. Perhaps being trained to take lives gives one a greater appreciation of them. But we are also trained to protect lives. And for me, that means all life, even that which is unborn. According to the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, 7,057 Americans have died in post 9/11 military operations. Meanwhile, there were approximately 630,000 abortions in the United States in 2019 alone. If I’m analyzing which is a greater threat to the American people, abortion is by magnitudes. So while I cannot actively participate in pro-life rallies due to my active military status, I will continue to speak to people on my team and in my squads, hoping that my words will make a difference on the individual level. Like the book of Psalms says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” and such a beautiful thing as that should be cherished and protected with every ounce of our beings.