Memes have become a new language of our generation of veterans. A way to share jokes, memories, and cultural references. But “memes” can be more, too. They can be a shared idea, as shown by the increasing presence of memes in general social, cultural, and political dialogue. They also connect the individual with the original idea in a way that’s more democratized than was possible before.
I know if you have to explain something, it’s probably not self-evident, but in this case the meme of “Rucksack Rambler” evolved out of a lengthy reflection on how I can help others and continue my own learning and growth.
Rucksack
We spend a lot of time moving around in the military. On a patrol, you usually carry a rucksack or “assault pack” with the bare essentials for getting the job done, whatever it is. Not just any backpack, in the military your ruck takes on a different significance. When you can only bring what you can carry, you have to make hard choices about what’s worth keeping.
When you’re doing something dangerous in an uncertain situation, your ruck is a filter—only the most important stuff gets brought for the journey. Everything has a purpose, and not everything makes the cut. It has to serve a real purpose to be brought along. This could be tools and necessities, like a radio, batteries, ammo, and food, or little personal comforts like an extra pair of socks, a photo of family, a great book, or a good luck charm. They’re the things that keep you prepared for uncertainty and adventure. They’re the basic priorities that allow you to continue the journey.
This community and site is intended to be a rucksack of ideas, learning, and resources that have helped me along my professional and personal journeys. Hopefully some of them will be useful to others, too.
Rambler
There’s a lot going on here. “Rambler” could mean someone who talks a lot, maybe that guy who doesn’t know when to shut up. It could mean someone who enjoys walking in the countryside (thanks, dictionary). It could be a defunct American car brand from the glory days of muscle cars. It could be a style of house or reference a Led Zeppelin song about always being on the move and going from place to place—something veterans understand intuitively.
Rucksack Rambler is intended to be a bit of all these—except maybe the car—moving around within the veteran and professional communities, sharing information and ideas, exploring new territory, embracing new experiences, learning, and connecting along the way. We have the strength and connection of our shared martial bond, and now we get to help each other throughout our next steps, too.
Smash it all together, and we have an idea. We’ll see where this goes!