Each Veterans Day, we pause to recognize the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces and reflect on the commitment, sacrifice and sense of duty their service represents.At Motley Rice, we are especially proud to recognize the veterans among our own team. Their military service is an important part of their individual stories, but the lessons they carried forward from that experience can continue to influence how they approach their work, support their colleagues and serve others.This Veterans Day, we asked our veterans to reflect on one question: “Is there a value or principle you learned through military service that continues to guide you today?”Their responses offer a personal perspective on the lasting impact of military service and the values that remain with veterans long after their time in uniform. Carlos Bonilla (Senior Systems Engineer, IT Services) – U.S. Army“I think something that is engraved to my core from my brief time in the armed forces is that every challenge in life is just another mission – for some we are fully trained, for others we have to adapt and keep the fight going until the mission is complete. My time in the Army also instilled in me to respect my CO and see co-workers as brothers and sisters in arms, we don’t leave them behind.” Dominique Brown (Paralegal, Securities-Consumer Fraud) – SC Army National Guard“The most meaningful quality I developed through military service was resilience, which strengthened my belief in myself and my abilities. My experience taught me that I can do hard things, overcome challenges, and see it through even when circumstances are difficult. It helped me recognize that I possess perseverance, fortitude, and courage to do what needs to be done. Those qualities continue to guide me today and remind me not to underestimate myself or the strength I have within me.” Lisa Hack (Senior Paralegal, Occupational Disease) – U.S. Army“My active-duty service in the U.S. Army instilled many values that continue to guide me today, but loyalty, integrity, and duty stand out the most. Those principles influence how I approach my work and the responsibility I feel to the people who depend on me. I am fortunate to work closely with James Ledlie, who is a fellow veteran. That shared background has created a strong sense of trust and commitment in the way we work together. It also gives us a common understanding of service, accountability, and teamwork, and I believe those values are reflected in the way we work together and serve our clients.” Matt Hampton (Content Writer, Marketing & Communications) – U.S. Air Force“For 13 years I had a job that would have wowed me when I was five—I made airplanes fly. In all that time working in aircraft maintenance I worked shoulder to shoulder with folks from all over. Some of us didn’t like each other. Some of us downright hated each other. But we worked together. Egos, issues, and baggage set aside, we worked together every time. We grew into a family. Some of the guys I would have said I hated when I first met were the same guys around me and holding me up when I lost my best friend or when another of life’s tragedies came around the corner. The most amazing things are always accomplished with help.” John Herrick (Member Attorney, Occupational Disease) – SC Army National Guard“I joined the SC Army National Guard in no small part because they had a program to assist enlisted members in paying off student loans and I had been accepted at what is now the Joseph F. Rice School of Law at the University of South Carolina. Upon arrival at Fort Dix in New Jersey, I was billeted with a diverse group of young men from around the country that all had their own reasons for being there. We were systematically stripped of our individuality and molded into soldiers. As time went by I developed that military bearing that comes from wearing the uniform and dedication to a cause greater than oneself. I also learned that hard work, i.e. latrine duty, came with the territory and a good handwashing afterward put everything right.” James Ledlie (Member Attorney, Occupational Disease) – U.S. Army“Put the team and mission first. You will face obstacles and unexpected challenges on a daily basis. Never quit and never forget that you must lead a team by your example and be guided by doing what is best for the team even if it requires personal sacrifice. Praise publicly, criticize privately.” Dana Lowe (Paralegal, Catastrophic Injury) – U.S. Navy“I was part of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. I monitored and operated machinery in a nuclear-powered engine room. We had a set of ‘Watchstanding Principles’: Integrity, Ownership, Procedural Compliance, Questioning Attitude, Attention to Detail and Level of Knowledge. These have been applicable everywhere, but one that has stood out to me is Questioning Attitude. In the Nuclear Navy, we are taught from day one to question things that don’t look right, including (respectfully) questioning those in authority, particularly in matters of safety or procedure. Bottom line: If something seems wrong or out of the ordinary, say something! Don’t ‘accept’ deficiencies.” Bob McCulloch (Project Attorney, Public Client) – U.S. Navy“There were many positive aspects of my service in the Navy that translated into civilian life, but I believe Douglas MacArther said it best: Duty. Honor. Country.” Leroy Stokes Jr. (Security Analyst, IT Services) – U.S. Navy“As a U.S. Navy veteran, I think what stuck with me was the Navy Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment: Honor: Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching and treating people right, just as I would want them to treat me. Courage: Standing up and speaking up for what is right, and doing what is right, even as others may be against it for their own personal agenda. Commitment: Unwavering in loyalty to my own values, even if that means speaking against a personal or professional relationship to keep in line with what is right; also, seeing a task or duty through to its end and beyond. When I was in the Navy, I learned that all I had was the man or woman beside me. With that in mind, none of the societal divisions or boundaries mattered to me. A gay, Black man saved my life onboard the ship once. I had instructors from all walks of life: men, women; Black, White, Asian, Latino. Supervisors were the same. Peers were the same. What mattered was that we treated each other right and stood up for what was right for each other when the time came. We respected the chain of command, but the chain of command understood that every single one of us in that chain of command were all humans. I’ve carried that with me since then. Race, religion, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, political alignment/affiliation are all things to distract us from the fact that, foundationally, we are all humans and we all should have the same rights, and we should all have the honor, courage, and commitment for standing up for our fellow humans.” Fred Thompson (Member Attorney, Medical Drugs & Devices) – U.S. Navy“I have always used the example of a U.S. Navy ship's crew going down the brow on liberty in a country like Bahrain to talk about how what our country is: men, women, Hispanics; African-American; Vietnamese; Italian; Scandinavian; all races and ethnic groups, all sailors and all identifying themselves as American without qualification. In my youth, I used to wonder why I would see Brezhnev in his bear skin hat looking out over the grand square of the Kremlin at the assembled tanks and missiles and marching men, but never see our military so assembled to inspire awe in any spectators. It was only later that I grew my own story of American military might, and its rightful place as the guardians of democracy: On August 9th,1974, the USS Vesole, DD878, the ship where I was stationed as gunnery assistant, pulled out from Charleston harbor on a dependents cruise. For the entire beautiful blue skied day, we steamed around the Gulf Stream with the ship's families aboard; cooked burgers on the fantail; made high speed runs; sharp turns; let children steer the ship. We returned to our berth in time to see the evening news and we all watched Nixon resign and leave the White House. We were not on high alert; we did not mobilize to defend the state from coup attempts; we did not seek to impose a general or an admiral into leadership. We all had such utter belief in the legitimacy and strength of our institutions, our Constitution and the place of our military as our staunch defender of those values, that no tanks rolling through Washington were needed. I have held that anecdote as an indicator of our true exceptionalism for my whole adult life – all the way up ‘til now.” Lessons That Last Beyond ServiceWhile every veteran’s experience is different, military service can instill lessons about responsibility, perseverance, teamwork, leadership and service to others. Those principles do not necessarily end when military service does. They can continue to shape how veterans approach their families, communities and careers.For our Motley Rice veterans, those experiences are also part of the diverse perspectives they bring to our firm. We are grateful not only for their service to our country, but also for the contributions they make each day as colleagues and members of the Motley Rice team.This Veterans Day, we thank our veterans and veterans across the country for their service, sacrifice and commitment.To the veterans of Motley Rice: Thank you for your service and for sharing the values that continue to guide you today.