Servicemembers get chance to tell their side of story

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Duff
  • Air Force Print News
SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  Members of the Department of Defense's "Why We Serve" speakers bureau team shared stories of their service with employees of USAA, a 22,000-strong military financial services company, here Sept. 25-26.

Over the past three weeks, the DOD's "Why We Serve" team of servicemembers from all the armed forces has hit more than 108 venues in 26 states speaking about their individual experiences in the military through 30-minute presentations and question and answer sessions.

"As a trucker, speaking about my experiences in the Air Force to 90,000 people in Los Angeles was an experience in itself," said Staff Sgt. Paula Newman, assigned to the 11th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.

But, it made her proud because she knew she was "getting the word out to the public about the good things happening in Iraq and Afghanistan -- where for five years not a day goes by without a news report telling of the death and destruction over there," Sergeant Newman said.

"I joined the Air Force to serve my country," said Sergeant Newman, of Nashville, Tenn. Deploying to Iraq gave her the opportunity to see her efforts make a difference. With three deployments under her belt, her experiences have become more meaningful.

As a vehicle operator, Sergeant Newman normally drives people around the base or makes deliveries. But being deployed to Iraq gave her the opportunity to put her skills to work in a war environment -- the experience of a lifetime as she trekked across Iraq in convoys delivering supplies.

Sergeant Newman said she knows her job is important in day-to-day operations on base, but while in Iraq, she said that she was witness to the impact of being in vehicle operations.

Every time a new school would open, or seeing Iraqis who just got to vote for the first time cheering on their convoy, those memories are immeasurable, she said.

"I knew at those moments, that I was helping make history."

The "Why We Serve" speakers bureau gives us a chance to "reconnect" with the American people by sharing our personal experiences, she said.

It gives servicemembers a chance "to tell about all of the good things that are going on over there the media doesn't seem to talk about," she said.

These large speaking venues are an opportunity to "touch the communities with our personal stories," said Master Sgt. Mark Muskett, an independent duty medical technician from the 435th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Sergeant Muskett has served in deployments supporting both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Returning in May 2006 after eight months with the Coalition Military Assistance Transition team, Sergeant Muskett saw four medical clinics transition from coalition-run to complete turnovers to the Iraqis he helped train.

"I had the opportunity to see the changes," he said. "Although there are many different political views on the war on terrorism, good things are happening there, too."

The Gadsden, Ala., veteran said sometimes there seems to be a negative perception by the public so he hopes speaking about his experiences might help them understand that the war on terrorism is not an overnight thing.

"It's so important for the employees here at USAA to know the military and their families the best we can," USAA employee Jennifer Smith said.
 
To hear these speakers talk about why they serve and what their experiences have been helps us know them better, she said.

"Having these firsthand accounts from people who have actually been there and served helps to better understand what our members are going through."

"To hear that progress is being made, that good is being done in this difficult war, was encouraging. I could see his frustration about the news media accounts, and after hearing him speak I feel even more strongly how important it is to support our troops and their families," she said.

As part of the visit to USAA, servicemembers sat down with employees to a meal of Meals Ready to Eat, or MREs. The MRE has a great grab and go design, said Sergeant Newman, who ate countless portions during the months she was deployed.

"Always put the garbage away as you go," she said. "You never know when you'll have to get away quickly and you don't want to leave a trail for the enemy to follow."

Getting the knack of her snack, USAA employee Liz Wagner said her MRE was not as bad she thought it would be.

"But, I commend you," she told Sergeant Newman. "I can't imagine eating them every day."