I entered the Army active duty for two reasons: 1) To get money for college, and 2) to do something different with my life.

 

I was deployed to Iraq twice, and am now an inactive reservist- meaning that I can’t be sent back. However, I’m still really involved with the Army- I attend Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, CT, and coordinate the Veterans on campus.

 

While in Iraq I did a number of different things, depending on what I was asked to do. Examples included everything from repairing night vision goggles and installing Acorn systems, to pulling guard duty and gin truck gunning. 

 

In Iraq, in many places there really isn’t anything around for miles and miles. When you’re over there, you lose a lot of your feelings. I guess you can say you become desensitized. Over there, you make friends for life and you create a new family. The people you are over there with will be in your heart and mind for the rest of your life. You get used to the knowledge that you can die any day, and it doesn’t bother you. Over there, you do your job no matter what circumstances because everything that you do helps the person next to you.

 

Since returning from Iraq for the second time, my outlook on life has definitely changed. I know what real problems are now, so I rarely complain about anything. I don’t fear dying at all, so I can live life to its fullest and worry free and I always completely scan wherever I go for threats.

 

I feel the next president should pull the troops out and let the Iraqi soldiers that were trained to be soldiers do their job.

 

The best things young Americans can do to show support for the troops are the little things. For example, when you talk to someone over there, don’t ask the bad questions, like, “How many people did you kill over there?”, or, “Does killing people bother you?”, or, “Did you know anyone that died?”. Instead, ask “How many people did you help?”, or “How did you guys pass the time?” or, “What did you have fun doing?”