From Aspirations to Deployment

This chapter explores the author's journey from a desire to join the military, inspired by experiences in the Civil Air Patrol and ROTC, to their pivotal enlistment decision post-9/11. It recounts the challenges and transformative experiences faced during boot camp, the realities of military training, and the transition to life in Germany before deployment to Iraq. Highlighting the intensity of combat preparation and the harsh conditions of deployment, the chapter offers a firsthand account of a soldier's evolving identity amidst the chaos of war.