Personal Narrative: Joining The Military

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On September 11,2001 our country was attacked by terrorists. I remember hearing about the first plane crash, and then seeing the second on the news. That day I decided I should join the military one day. I didn’t join until I was 19. I enlisted on January 18th, 2007. Off to Fort Knox, KY for basic combat, I remember being nervous and fearful entering into the unknown. I had left a great family at home as well as a very beautiful girlfriend whom I would later marry. I spent 12 weeks at Fort Knox, KY then 16 weeks at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. Finally, July 2007 I had completed my training and headed home for leave, then to Schofield Barracks, HI to be stationed for three years. I was assigned to the 84th Engineer battalion as a diesel mechanic. I…show more content…
Outside were road side bombs, also known as and IED, and vehicles with bombs who were willing to drive up next to you and blow themselves up. Also out there were people shooting at you as well as throwing grenades at you. They also had multiple other weapons. There is something the military goes by called rules of engagement, also known as ROE. ROE is basically rules made by generals who get their rules from the president. I realize it isn’t good to discuss politics in a college essay, but I still must share this information with you. President Barack Obama wanted us to start creating a more friendly relationship with the Iraqi people, therefore we were told to allow their vehicles to drive in and out of our convoys. To me, this was ignorant idea because they had the potential of having explosives in their vehicles. They have been known to ride beside military vehicles and blow their cars up, which killed or injured US troops. Our president also decided to enforce another rule of engagement. The US military could not fire a weapon at any Iraqi vehicles or civilians unless we had positive identification that they had a weapon and motives to use
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