A Soldier’s Life, iss. 1

After spending a year in Iraq from 2003-2004, I had it in my head that I knew exactly what training for this mission would be like. After all, I’m a veteran with a combat patch and a Combat Action Badge! After 14 years in the U.S. Army, I’m ready for anything, right? Uh…right.
What a difference six years makes! I faced a good deal of culture shock when confronted with the training and equipment that is necessary for deployment to today’s version of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and it was honestly not from resting in the comfort of serving two days a month and two weeks a year as a reservist in the interim. I have spent most of my time since returning from Iraq serving on active duty stateside, but we didn’t need 40 pounds of body armor or live-fire convoy training for duty in North Little Rock, Madison, Wis., or New Orleans.
The training and equipment are all different now. We are better-protected physically both in and out of vehicles. We are better trained to interact with the citizens of Iraq because of culture and language classes that we are required to take. We are now much more prepared to handle just about any situation that may arise in the course of our mission. This is because our trainers today have the benefit of six years worth of lessons learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom, and they now have more than just a few weeks to train us for what we are about to face.
The bill for better training and equipment that the soldier must pay, however, comes in the form of physical demand. The fact is, a soldier has to be physically and mentally fit to wear the uniform and serve in a combat zone. I used to think the military required us to be in good shape as a matter of discipline. While this is true, there is also something to be said for the physical and mental demands of the job. We wear tons of gear and carry out missions in the oppressively hot climate of the Middle East while dealing with the stress of watching out for an unseen enemy. The job is hard enough on a soldier who is physically and mentally in good shape.
I have spent the last four months learning how to be a journalist in a combat zone. I have also learned new combat tactics and rules of engagement when faced with a potential threat, all while getting used to new equipment I had never heard of before being placed on this mission. Oh, and I have also had to get to know all but two other members of my unit and form chemistry with them while going through this training. Talk about stress!
The training has been the toughest I have ever endured in all my years of service. Because I am a soldier in the U.S. Army, I have the best training and equipment this world has ever known. As I have come to know my fellow soldiers in the 343rd MPAD over these past few months, I have realized that I have something else that will be invaluable to me during this mission. I have the privilege of knowing and serving with some of the best soldiers, journalists and people the military has ever produced.

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