The answer is how it affects my girls… My wife and daughters. When I leave for work they know I might not make it home. They know it could be that last goodbye. Not because what we do is inherently dangerous all the time, but depending on where you are assigned danger does lurk around every corner. The pain I see in their eyes and hear in their voices knowing I’m going to work, even though I have a scheduled day to come home, I still might not make it back because of staffing shortages is the worst thing I deal with. Having to look your loved ones in the eyes and walk out that door knowing you are the cause of their anxiety even though you are just trying to provide for them is the hardest thing about my job. I don’t get to come home every night, or even every other night, sometimes not for 10, 20, 40, or even months at a time and they know as soon as I walk out that door they aren’t guaranteed to see me when my schedule says I’m supposed to be off duty.