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The war through your eyes: Iraq 10 years on
1
of 3
Student to Soldier
I joined the Army National Guard as a freshman in college. I come from a family of 5 girls, I am the 4th. I was always the tomboy and had thought about joining the army out of high school, but my Dad wouldn't allow it. "You're going to college." He told me. My older sisters had all started college and my dad was determined that all his girls would be college-educated. A goal he never attained after a few tours in Vietnam.
So, after a full semester away from home and a little more independent I decided to join the National Guard. I could go to college and join the military - and some of my college would be paid for to boot!
I returned home from Basic Training in August of 2011 - a few weeks later 9/11 happened.
My Mom called crying - convinced I was, at that moment, strapping on my rucksack and heading out of my dorm room. I explained that I had additional training to complete and that I could not be deployed for at least a year.
Then, in the fall of 2003, my senior year of college, I noticed some changes in our drill weekends. We were getting newer equipment. We were getting up to date shots and ID tags...ok, now my Mom can start to worry - I think we're getting deployed.
We got the call in early November. We'd be gone by Christmas and in Iraq the first part of 2004.
My year in Iraq was such a learning and growing experience for me. It was some of the hardest experiences I've faced and some of the most rewarding as well. I am actually thankful for my year "studying abroad" as I say.
I was part of a medical battalion - in a smaller unit in the headquarters platoon. I was a communication specialist that then turned into being responsible for anything you could plug in. I radioed in helicopters to evacuate seriously injured troops and Iraqis alike, I set up large antennas, I networked computers, I joined a church choir, I learned how to scratch someone's back to get mine scratched back, I learned how to splice cable for phones (and then to take them off the hook before you started so you wouldn't get zapped), I became a runner, and I did a little soul searching.
People are surprised when I tell them that I - not so much enjoyed - but appreciated my time in Iraq. It allowed me to escape my life - put it on hold - and really figure out what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be.
When I got home, I had a new perspective. I had gone through experiences that I never thought I would come out alive so, stress didn't really exist anymore. I would always think, well, no one is shooting, I am not going to die today - things I couldn't always say in Iraq, so really, what's the use in getting stressed out?
I started school back up, changed my major and completed it my first year back. I wanted to finish the goal I started back in 2000 - get my college degree. And, in May 2006 I completed that goal - and in March 2009 I completed my other goal I started my freshman year - completed my contract with the National Guard - now a college grad and Combat Veteran.
So, after a full semester away from home and a little more independent I decided to join the National Guard. I could go to college and join the military - and some of my college would be paid for to boot!
I returned home from Basic Training in August of 2011 - a few weeks later 9/11 happened.
My Mom called crying - convinced I was, at that moment, strapping on my rucksack and heading out of my dorm room. I explained that I had additional training to complete and that I could not be deployed for at least a year.
Then, in the fall of 2003, my senior year of college, I noticed some changes in our drill weekends. We were getting newer equipment. We were getting up to date shots and ID tags...ok, now my Mom can start to worry - I think we're getting deployed.
We got the call in early November. We'd be gone by Christmas and in Iraq the first part of 2004.
My year in Iraq was such a learning and growing experience for me. It was some of the hardest experiences I've faced and some of the most rewarding as well. I am actually thankful for my year "studying abroad" as I say.
I was part of a medical battalion - in a smaller unit in the headquarters platoon. I was a communication specialist that then turned into being responsible for anything you could plug in. I radioed in helicopters to evacuate seriously injured troops and Iraqis alike, I set up large antennas, I networked computers, I joined a church choir, I learned how to scratch someone's back to get mine scratched back, I learned how to splice cable for phones (and then to take them off the hook before you started so you wouldn't get zapped), I became a runner, and I did a little soul searching.
People are surprised when I tell them that I - not so much enjoyed - but appreciated my time in Iraq. It allowed me to escape my life - put it on hold - and really figure out what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be.
When I got home, I had a new perspective. I had gone through experiences that I never thought I would come out alive so, stress didn't really exist anymore. I would always think, well, no one is shooting, I am not going to die today - things I couldn't always say in Iraq, so really, what's the use in getting stressed out?
I started school back up, changed my major and completed it my first year back. I wanted to finish the goal I started back in 2000 - get my college degree. And, in May 2006 I completed that goal - and in March 2009 I completed my other goal I started my freshman year - completed my contract with the National Guard - now a college grad and Combat Veteran.
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