Interview with a Veteran (Justin T.)

Q. What part of the Armed Forces were you in?
A. I was in the Army National Guard then changed over to Army Active Duty.

Q. How many years did you serve? Between what years did you serve?
A. About 10 years. 02/1996 I joined the Canonsburg National Guard then in 01/2003 I changed over to Active Duty until 05/2007.

Q. What did you like about being in the Armed Forces?
A. The camaraderie as a group. You also had a sense of pride with everything you did.

Q. What didn’t you like about being in the Armed Forces?
A. No set hours. In an infantry unit their is a chance to get called to do something at any time, even when you're off.

Q. Did you go to war? If yes, which one?
A. Yes. Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) AND Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

Q. How did it make you feel to protect the United States?
A. It felt great! It made me feel like I had a purpose that I was getting to make a difference and help those in the future and the children who don’t have any power yet.

Q. Did you have a certain rank? If yes, which one?
A. Yes. I got out as a sergeant but I was supposed to go to Officer Training School but I could not due the war.

Q. What type of equipment did you use? Guns?
A. I had a 9mm Beretta Pistol and a M16 on patrols. Stationary in Guard Towers I manned a 50cal or a 240 Bravo.

Q. What were you in the service?
A. I was a 91W Combat Medic for an infantry unit.

Q. What made you join the service?
A. I joined to help pay for collage. Then I graduated from PIT and when September 11th hit the whole country was changed. I looked for a job in anything for a year and could not find work. So the army said they would give me a job and pay off my collage debt.