On Sept. 11, 2001, the United States of America was deliberately attacked by international terrorist group, Al-Qaeda.
It was the day that 23 yearold Monroe native Chris Mouk looks at and remembers why he made the right decision in joining the Louisiana National Guard.
During high school Mouk was involved in Reserve Officers Training Course, or ROTC, yet it wasn’t until he began to prepare for college that he seriously considered joining the National Guard.
“I initially joined because of school; they offered a lot of benefits. Yet when I look back on 9/11, it just reassures me that I’m serving a greater purpose,” said Mouk.
The ROTC provides many scholarships to students who participate in the program during high school. One scholarship the program gives out is for full paid tuition, which includes room and board.
Mouk attended ULM for one year before entering basic training, which lasted two-and-a-half months, followed by 23 weeks of additional training.
Mouk said, “It’s a pretty big transition; they work hard to put you in a certain mind frame and sometimes you can come back rigid and hardcore.”
Contrary to Mouk, who was never deployed, 21-year-old atmospheric sciences major Joseph Ussery was sent to Baghdad, Iraq for eight months.
“I constantly had to be alert. It opened my eyes to a brand new world. It taught me to live for the now, that you aren’t guaranteed tomorrow,” said Ussery.
He also gives credit to his family for helping him stay focused.
“Friends and family mean everything to soldiers overseas. Without them and their support and love, soldiers would have no motivation to get the mission done,” he said.
After being in school for a short period, Ussery was deployed. He had to transition his mind set from student to soldier.
“Being overseas is definitely a lifestyle change. Being at home you are surrounded by people you love and maintain relationships with. Being forced into a new place with new people and different rules is very overwhelming,” said Ussery.
He continued, “I no longer had to worry about what test do I have to do next, or what homework assignment do I have to turn in now. My mind frame turned to how can I keep myself and fellow soldiers alive.”
After eight months overseas and after adapting to life in Iraq and the military, Ussery is now forced to adapt back to his lifestyle in Monroe since his return home.
“Coming home is a big part of the deployment that many people tend to over-look. Sure it is the light at the end of the tunnel, but it is not the end of the deployment for the soldier,” said Ussery.
Ussery said that coming home was the hardest part of deployment. He talked about how different the sands of Iraq are to the grasses of Monroe. “I have to get readjusted with the life I once had and reestablish relationships with people I love very much. It almost seems unreal to be home,” said Ussery.
With almost 50,000 troops still fighting in Iraq, Ussery and Mouk are grateful to be readjusting to life back in college.
