Military Recruiters don’t spend much time around military bases and posts. They spend most of their time in the “civilian” world.

Station Commando (a US Army Recruiting Station Commander) has some thoughts on what he misses most about being on post:

With all the things about being on post that I don’t miss there is one thing I do. Every soldier on a military instillation does something twice a day regardless of their other duties. Regardless of what they are doing at the time they stop everything and come to the position of attention at that sound that you will only hear on a military instillation… BOOM!!! The cannon goes off.

Soldiers stop their conversation about their adventures the night prior, leaders stop counseling a soldier or chatting with their peers, the Division Commander gets up from behind his desk and they all pay homage to that which we all serve. Reveille plays.

For that short amount of time we are all reminded that everyone, from the youngest private to the oldest general, serves a common cause. One that each and every one of us has pledged our lives to, whether it be for two years or 30. Every soldier on that installation has voluntarily given up a significant portion of their freedoms and for that couple of minutes each day we remind ourselves and our peers why.

At the end of the day we repeat the process… BOOM!!! The cannon goes off. We all stop and remember, once again, what we were working for that day. After the last note plays the conversation that was started earlier picks up right where it left off. The private talks to his buddy about the plans for that evening, the leader discussed the next days plans, the general finishes his staff meeting.

Then in the evening before we go to bed taps is played. That is always very moving for me. Once again, it doesn’t matter who you are you stop and remember, only this time we are remembering our fallen brothers and sisters who gave every single thing they had for this nation. Stop and think about that for just a minute.

For those of you not in the military, or who are not familiar with military customs (here’s the US Military’s Flag Procedures) — when the base Flag is raised and lowered each day, Reveille is played. On most post, the playing of Reveille is immediately preceded by the firing of a cannon.

This cannon fire is every Soldier’s notice to cease whatever they are doing and come to the position of attention. If you are driving on post, you stop your car and get out. If you are walking across the parking lot, you stop where you are. If you are doing a little PT, you stop jogging and come to attention. At that moment all activity on a base comes to a simultaneous halt.

When the first note of Reveille sounds, you present arms (salute) until the final note has sounded.

I still remember vividly the first time in basic training that I was wearing our country’s uniform and heard the cannon. Our Drill Sergeant called us to attention and gave us the order to present arms. It was the first moment that I truly felt that I had become a part of something bigger and more important than myself.That feeling has never waned.