Every night, when we go to bed, we need to feel a little special gratitude for the men and women who serve in our armed forces and provide us a sense of security that so many people in other nations never know.

Career military people like to remind civilian friends, often jokingly, that “we guard you while you sleep.” But that’s the way it is. Without the thousands of skilled and dedicated people who put life and limb on the line both at home and abroad, our lives would be much different. Look at the map and think about it. Consider where the people exist in uncertainty and terror because of their governments and outside threats.

It’s not often discussed, but a lot of our military people serve on active duty and then refine and hone their skills and leadership capabilities by attending our U.S. service academies.

Take the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland, for example. A fellow named Jed Lomax recently began a six-week program for incoming “freshmen.” But Lomax is 21 and laughed as he remarked that Plebe Summer, noted for its 16-hour days of physical and mental rigor, would be nothing compared with his experience running convoys in Iraq every day for seven months.

“It’s a relief,” said the former petty officer second class.

Veterans such as Lomax realize what lies ahead and may even get a break or two from upperclassmen who respect what they have done and what they are trying to do.

“I’ve been there and done that, and I can do it again,” said Michael Lewis, who had been in Anbar Province in Iraq. He worked as an aviation systems computer technician and could tell his “harassers” a lot about duty, honor and country.

Officials at the academies are impressed with the veterans they get in their ranks and agree that those students often have far better talents to handle assignments after completing their classes. One ex-Marine who said he had seen a whole new world and was eager for whatever was dealt him said he is ready to “humble myself to get through this with honor and dignity. In our field, if you lose your ability to follow, you lose your ability to lead.”

Quite a testimonial to the able, intelligent and diverse people who work hard to learn how to serve us and the country – and comforting to us who need to appreciate all they do and respect them for their service.