Serving our country and the world should be everyone's choice

In my country, military service was no longer mandatory for a few years. When I enlisted for military service, it was no longer mandatory for a few months.
I joined the army, at this stage in my country it is called recruitment in October 2024 as soon as I finished secondary school.

I still remember finishing my high school and not really knowing what to do because my parents had few resources for me to go and study at a university, so my option was to actually finish high school and stay there and find a job to help around the world. home. and do my own things with the money I earned from working.
I remember going with my father to a job center for those who don't know what it is, it's a building where many job offers are displayed and where we can apply for one of those jobs.
I remember seeing so many offers but none of them seduced me, but my eyes fell on a poster that said come be part of this military family, join the army and come enjoy all the advantages of serving your country.
I immediately told my father that I wanted to go, my father at first didn't think it was a great idea, he had never gone to the army and in the midst of so many job offers I decided on what seemed to be the most difficult, the most difficult, but the which gave me greater personal fulfillment.
So I enlisted, I was called to take the physical and medical exams and the next thing I knew I was entering an army barracks with my hands full of suitcases and enormous hope but at the same time anxiety, while my father saw me entering at that big barracks gate with watery eyes.
At that time, as a volunteer I could decide to leave at any time, this idea crossed my mind so many times that I had the words in my mouth to say that I gave up almost daily.
But time passed, each day, each night was a challenge, not only physical, but also mental.
In the end, the objectives were achieved and I finished my training and became a driver, then I was placed in a barracks close to my residence and progressed over six years to the rank of corporal in the army.

Deciding to finally leave and embrace another militarized and police force, serve my country, help people and be useful to those who need us most.
Still during my time in the army, I was on a peace mission in Lebanon where I helped the population with my comrades to have more and better living conditions, it was something that filled my heart with pride and hope for a better world, where peace it is possible.
In my opinion, military service should be voluntary, but there should be incentives so that, like any other job, it is attractive for young people to enlist and do something for their country and for global aid.
I know that in many countries it is an obligation, but I believe that we should be free in our choices and this should also be each person's choice.

All photographs were taken by me during a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon for the United Nations