We began this series of interviews with people who have served in the military with Paul, who is a Vietnam war veteran. It turned out to be a very emotional interview with many varied responses but ultimately bringing our community closer together. I don't think I understood going into this how very powerful this topic would be. It made me realize that we need to be talking more often about our people who serve in the military. This is a population who need to be recognized and whose needs are very important to all of us.
This next interview is with KJ who has made a career of serving in the military. This is a very different type of interview as KJ comes from a different generation and as you will read, times are different now as they were then back in previous generations of soldiers. Mental health issues are now paid attention to more directly. But some things still remain the same as in the amount of dedication and commitment these men and women bring to what they do in times of service.
I wish to humbly thank both Paul and KJ for granting me the honor of these interviews. You make a difference, then and now, with all that you have done to serve our country. We appreciate your talking to us so candidly on this highly charged subject.
And now I present to you, KJ.
Bio:
I joined the Army when I was 17 and started my service two weeks after I graduated from high school. I spent three years on active duty as an Intelligence Analyst and then left active duty to continue my education while still serving in the Army Reserve. September 11th was a big turning point for me. At that time I was a Sergeant First Class, counter-terrorism specialist, who had never deployed or seen action. I really wanted to get involved!
As soon as possible after September 11th, I joined a local Army National Guard Special Forces unit that was preparing for deployment. After just a few months with that unit I deployed to Afghanistan. I was in charge of a small organization that spent considerable time meeting with the local populace around Kabul. I travelled as far as the border with Pakistan and spent a lot of time on the road. I was also a liaison to other foreign military forces in the country. I was there from August 2002 until April 2003. Our unit saw a lot of action at a time when we could still get out and meet the locals.
In 2005 I volunteered to accompany an active duty Special Forces unit that was deploying to Iraq and was short-handed. The idea behind this trip was that I would learn new techniques that would help my National Guard unit out. I was in Iraq, just north of Baghdad, from January 2006 until September 2006. On this tour I hardly got out of the camp at all. I sat behind a computer and read and wrote reports. I was a Master Sergeant.
In early 2007 I was again called to duty with my Guard unit. This time we went through a very long mobilization and training period. I was on active duty from February 2007 until October 2008 but only in Iraq from October 2007 until June of 2008. I was in a very bad part of the country and spent a lot of time on the road. I worked with the Iraqi military and police and met several locals.
