Dave, I just wrote an opinion peace and got it emailed to West, which the LTC responded to. All I have done since is to continue to comment on it and posted the exchanges between myself and the LTC.
In my own estimation he is a good man of faith, commitment, courage and integrity. Even if we lose him in the armed services, we will gain him in the community in which he resides and I believe ultimately we will not lose in the exchange.
You and I know that when God closes one door for us, he opens another door. LtCol West will have several new doors ready to be opened by him.
Those new open doors will benefit him, his family and us as a nation.