Community: Blogs

Films about military service have always really engaged me.  One relevant movie on my radar more recently was Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker”.  I really just wanted to get a quick look at how well they portrayed the Iraq experience and service members in general.  This type of accuracy is always important for me, as most civilians only get their idea of what we sacrifice from Hollywood or the news (which the division between the two gets blurrier by the year).    Expecting just to have this flick on for 15 minutes- I was tired already, I was locked in...

I took time over the holidays to give myself an overdue break.  I hadn’t stopped to take care of myself in a while, and I hope that everyone’s holiday brought them the same chance - or that you take time if you need it, soon.  Rally up - for yourself - to be more effective in whatever your fight is.  Speaking of that rallying, the most important thing I want to express is how great it is to see so many more of you stepping up here in the community - sharing, posting.  This demonstration of force shows that many of you understand...

  A lot of Veterans talk about issues driving, but I never hear much helpful on the topic.  I couldn’t have been more prepared to drive in Iraq, given conditions- however I’m wondering when I’ll feel right driving back in the states again.  Like I said, I was very prepared.  I grew up in professional go-kart racing as a part of the World Karting Association.  Following my Dad and Grandpa, I was the third generation hitting the track with other kids who would go on to race Indy Cars, racing against Danica Patrick and her sister Brooke too, for a...

Shortly after I got back, I started working at an Army training facility and the office I was in was adjacent to the gymnasium.  This gym had a full basketball court which was fun for while, but the wall I shared was the endline of the court- right behind the basket.  I don’t know how many times a day basketballs would hit that shared wall, which could un-nerve anybody, but it was a little bit more intense than that.  A flying basketball isn’t much of a threat, but when they’re shaking the walls constantly and I’ve been home from Iraq...

Fireworks can be literally breathtaking as they burst and then spread across a night sky.  I really wanted to enjoy them after I came back.  Even though you could anticipate the timing of the boom, knew when it was coming, it didn’t make it any easier.  The year I came back, at the public display of fireworks near my hometown, the booms were setting off car-alarms behind us.  Enjoying the show, at this point, was long gone.  My concept of the 4th of July holiday celebration and ability to keep my composure were quickly fading. As holidays go, I remember on...

The effects of our military experience can undeniably make it more difficult to readjust, reintegrate, transition, and take the next step- whether it’s a for a job, school, feeling normal again, or even just getting out of a bed and moving again.  Everyone who serves deserves the best support available, and though there were departments and hotlines and offices set up when I came home, and more since then... no resources felt tailored exactly to the unique experiences of military veterans.  There were no solutions that came from first-hand experience that lowered the walls of stigma and empowered us too. ...

It’s been awhile since my time in Iraq, and things are hard for other reasons now.  The surge of love and laughter from family and friends when you get back is expected, and natural, but it’s not how the transition back ends.  I wish I could have kept all that support in a piggy bank and take out a withdrawal as I needed it.  New challenges and opportunities quickly arose for me, but I was still feeling like something was missing- so I had the uniform back on in a week from returning.  When an Army Captain called me and...

Training up just to go to Iraq took for-ev-er.  The hardest part was not being able to count down the days since we really hadn’t even gotten there/started yet.  Sounds like something a kid would scream from the back seat, but the Army was driving and we all couldn’t even start counting the days until 60 and a wake-up finally passed.  That eternal stretch of preparation became a blur when our C4 took off for Kuwait. The paperwork said we were ready, but is anyone ever ready for that?  So fast forward with me about 13 months…   Deploying, serving-...

The most trying time during my military career was actually preparing to go to Iraq.  Arriving was no year-long vacation, but the most stress and uncertainty was during the two months of training we had before deploying. We trained on everything to prepare to go- if you were on the ground too then you know, convoy ops, search and seizure, engaging an enemy in close quarters, buddy aid, etc.  These are all valuable boxes to check, and when the training staff weren’t rushing us through a checklist just to get to the sand- I was dealing with financial and relationship...

     I spent all of the year 2004 in and around Mosul, Iraq.  Your impression when you hear public affairs soldier might be more of someone who sits in the rear and emails with the media or maybe someone who escorts journalists. However, the Army gave me a video camera and a rifle- and I wasn't going to be able to show the real story if I just stayed on base all day. Anyone, anything, any mission- we were on it, combat cameramen seeing the best and worst of Iraq over the course of a 13 month deployment. I've been...