The Awesome Times Militaries Weren’t Used for Fighting

Most of us naturally assume that the only thing the military is good for is fighting wars, and we’re not entirely wrong about that. However, the military, especially the one in the U.S., does more than open fire at their enemies: they also show up in times of need that aren't related to war. Do makeshift hospital beds ring a bell? What about springing into action during natural disasters? So in honor of all those brave men and women, here are some of the awesome things the military has done that often goes unnoticed. \r \r 1. Cleaning Oil Spills\r \r Every year, several gallons of oil makes its way into the American waters. That’s obviously a cause for concern. But the good news is that the military is no stranger to helping clean our oceans, like that time in 2010 when the U.S. Coast Guard led clean-up activities following the Deepwater Horizon explosion. They are also known to partner up with experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to help further protect people and the surrounding environment by either remove oil before it reaches the coastline, burning it, or releasing chemical dispersants to break down the oil into smaller droplets so that it can be eaten by microbes.\r \r 2. Building Makeshift Hospitals for Patients\r \r The coronavirus pandemic took everyone by surprise, especially hospitals who were unable to handle the large volume of patients that were pouring in on a daily basis. That’s when the military stepped up to the plate by sending in their Army Corps of Engineers who created makeshift hospitals by converting large open spaces such as hotels, convention centers and dormitories. The military medical teams also lent a much needed hand in an effort to reduce the burden on overworked doctors and nurses.\r \r 3. Evacuating Flood Victims\r \r In times of major flash floods brought on by heavy rainfalls and hurricanes, the military will often participate in life-saving evacuation missions to save those who are either trapped or have been washed away by the raging waters. They will bring in their tactical military vehicles which are able to traverse the flooded streets in search for survivors. Their aid also extends outside of the U.S. to other flood-prone countries in need of their much needed assistance.\r \r 4. Providing Food and Humanitarian Relief\r \r When natural disasters strike, many people find themselves in survival mode, thinking only about themselves and their loved ones as they fight to snatch whatever remaining resources they can. Not only does the military provide much-needed supplies, food and water, but they also create a sense of order so that people won’t trample over each other in the process. This can be seen when they lent support to the Hurricane Sandy torn Queens and Staten Island, as well as the Caribbean islands St. Martin and Dominica who were devastated by Hurricane Irma and Maria.\r \r 5. Search and Rescue Operations\r \r You know those movies where a civilian or service member is stuck in foreign nation and a team is sent from home to rescue them? Well, search and rescue operations are basically like this, minus the constant explosions and cool action scenes. Like that time in 200 when a U.S. Army unit in Afghanistan's Helmand Province became trapped under immense fire from the Taliban Forces. As a result, the Quick Reaction Force team was sent to rescue them, but they too found themselves in dire danger. Thus the Combat and Search Rescue team had to swoop in with the Blackhawks to rescue the trapped soldiers.