{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/vd6nz82p0d/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Ibette Rodriguez Interviewed by Christina Acosta"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/038/original/university-libraries-logo-2x.png?1711560609","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Arizona Veterans Project, MS 835"]}},{"label":{"en":["Relation"]},"value":{"en":["Arizona Veterans Collection (is part of)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Rodriguez, Ibette (Interviewee)","Acosta, Christina (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2025-04-21 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["Arizona--Tucson (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}},{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eVideo Interview with Ibette Rodriguez.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Format"]},"value":{"en":[".MP4"]}},{"label":{"en":["Publisher"]},"value":{"en":["University of Arizona Libraries"]}},{"label":{"en":["Identifier"]},"value":{"en":["MS835.054 (uid)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Keyword"]},"value":{"en":["Branch of Service - Army","Highest Rank - E-5","Period of Service - 9/23/07 - 9/23/2015","Company - 2220th and 222nd Transportation Company","Battalion - 1120th Transportation Battalion","Division - 198th Regional Support Group (AZ ARNG)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Oral Histories"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eVideo Interview with Ibette Rodriguez.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"provider":[{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["University of Arizona Libraries"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["University of Arizona Libraries"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/038/original/university-libraries-logo-2x.png?1711560609","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/281/754/small/azu_ms835-054_m.mp4_1752097541.jpg?1752097541","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - azu_ms835-054_m.mp4"]},"duration":3646.42133,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/281/754/small/azu_ms835-054_m.mp4_1752097541.jpg?1752097541","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-arizona.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/281/754/original/azu_ms835-054_m.mp4?1752097540","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":3646.42133,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: Okay, all right, so my name is Christina Acosta. I am doing an interview with Yvette who is a former Army enlisted. Yvette, could you introduce yourself?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=2.0,15.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Hello. My name is Yvette Rodriguez. I'm 38 years old. I joined the military in 2007 and ended my contract in 2015 I was a 88 Mike, which is transportation, heavy vehicle operator, and had one deployment to Iraq from 2010 to 2011 and I'm currently using my GI Bill to pursue my bachelors right in intelligence. Thank","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=16.0,54.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: you. Um, so what motivated or inspired you to join the Army in 2007","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=55.0,61.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: i So what, really, what had some contribution to me joining was the September 11 attacks. I witnessed it on television. You know, it was on a lot of every news outlet at the time, and and that, you know, had some motivation to to get me to join. Also, another contributing factor was my stepfather was also prior service, so I had some guidance there. And he was previous prior army, so I had some guidance there our influence to also join the army.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=62.0,106.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: What was your experience like starting off in the army, going into basic training, like the switch from being a civilian to really being into the military,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=107.0,118.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: right? So when I went into the military, did not know a single thing, right? I did not even know how to march. So actually went to the Alcon mall here in Tucson, many years ago, before I went to basic and I practice marching, trying to march in the middle of of the mall. So, because I was a little nervous, not knowing anything, it's you're going in blind. So when, when I got there, into basic training, it's kind of like day, night and day, everything just hits you. It's, it's the real deal. You're getting yelled at. You're having one second to do everything with two people in your ear. And it's, it creates panic at first, because it's just a shock. It's a shocker. And what it does is it makes you, you know, accept it and embrace it, and learn how to manage it and be really listen at the same time to the orders you're given, and and and put out what they're put out what they're wanting of you, the one, of the most memorable moments that stand out when I got to basic training, this was in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Was out of the 75 people in my platoon, they chose me who did not even know how to march to lead and be in charge of the 75 people in my platoon. So that was a real, you know, come to moment reality hit that I had to get on top of my stuff and know everything, especially if I'm going to be leading 75 people and and so that that hit, I came to the realization really, really fast, and that's what stood out to me the most from basic training.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=119.0,254.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: And how did it feel after going through all of that, having the switch to officially first become a soldier.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=255.0,264.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Yeah, so it, at the end of it, I felt very accomplished, very accomplished going through all the rigorous training and the obstacles you're faced that they place in front of you, the challenges they test you. You find out your limits, and you find out whether you can surpass those limits, and not only going through it physically, but mentally and emotionally, you find out who you really are. So. When come to you know graduation, and you're there, standing there with your family in front of you, you feel very accomplished. After succeeding and going through all of that and finding out who you really are and that you can go past your limits, it's very rewarding.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=265.0,319.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: Alright, um, what was your first duty station after training, and how was that transition into actually having the military as your job?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=320.0,331.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: So we, I had a, it is training. It's for your job in this training after basics. So mine was in Fort Bliss, Texas and and being there, you know you had to, it was you had more, a little bit more freedom, right? You're, you're, you're a soldier now, so as long as you showed up to formation and you did what you were asked to do. You pretty much they were off your back, you know, you had to at least know your whereabouts. You showed up to formation, but you still had to complete the task that were asked of you. Like being there. We still had to, you know, make our beds a certain way. We had to clean the floors, you know, wax the floors. I never waxed the floor ever in my life at that time. So you had to learn how to do that, and you had to take turns and and figure it out with the other people, you know, in your living quarters. So and then learn, learn, you know, what was, what your job was. You had to, you know, go through even more training for that. But yeah, it was a great experience, you know. And you had to also realize who to respect, who was around you, what ranks were around you, even in the chow hall at that time, even in Fort Bliss, if there was a higher enlisted, you let them go first before you. So, yeah, it was, it was a great experience, though.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=332.0,426.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: Um, can you tell me more about your role as an 88 Mike,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=427.0,432.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: yes, so those, we are operating heavy vehicles. Gosh, I forgot the names. This was like, I don't know how many years ago. So the heavy vehicles, yes, you gotta perform, what is it preventative maintenance service. PMS, you have to make sure they're functioning. Do checks, check the tires, check the equipment on these vehicles. And lmtv, I think was one of them. Lmtv, don't ask me what it stands for. You know, I'm I'm not obligated to remember these acronyms anymore. So, um, so yeah, they're just the heavy vehicles you see. Sometimes they'll be pulling stuff down the road. To see them here, sometimes in Tucson, with the with the units here. So pretty much it was, hey, know you how to operate this vehicle. Know how to operate this vehicle. Can you if this vehicle breaks down? You know how to perform. You know, some maintenance on it. If it breaks down on the road while you're transferring vehicles. You know, learn how to it was our job to know how what to do, what's going on, figure it out and and things like that. That was really our job. Was operating these heavy vehicles.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=433.0,510.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: Was it mainly just maintenance that you guys did? Or did you have, like, some missions and stuff or","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=511.0,517.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: so we performed. It was annual training, right? They call annual training at and we would go out to the field. We would go out to like, Florence here, here in Arizona, Florence, Arizona. We go out to Florence and have these little training sessions that would last about, uh, some some will last a weekend, some will last a week, and we would be out in the field, driving our vehicles, knowing how to maneuver them properly in narrow, you know, situations, if we came under attack, we would train how do we react? How do we respond? Where do we place our vehicles? You know, because position is key. You want to ensure 360 security. So how do we contribute to that? So knowing how to operate them is really, it's, it's, it's an advantage for us. So we would, we would learn how to do all of that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=518.0,578.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: And so that was just a How long was at in the field? So","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=579.0,584.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: at in the field, sometimes they would last a weekend, so Friday through Sunday, and sometimes they would last a week.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=585.0,594.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"UNKNOWN SPEAKER: So, um, were you? You were the National","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=595.0,597.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Guard, right? The. Correct Army National Guard,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=598.0,600.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: yeah. So you were just go doing these weekends for about three years before your deployment.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=601.0,607.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Yes. So we would, I would go, we have a weekend drill. We would have, we would go to drill for the day. And it would be, you know, from like 7am all the way to 6pm we would be a drill, leave, go home and go back the following day. Um, we do the same thing.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=608.0,633.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: Were you doing anything else? Um, while you had this national guard job?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=634.0,640.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Yeah. Yeah. So I was, let's see what in that at that time, when it first my, my career, my military career, first started. I was working at FedEx. I was working at FedEx, so I had to coordinate with them and give them my, my drill schedule to let them know, Hey, these are the days I'm not going to be able to, you know, be at work and, and by law, they have to let you attend drill. So, yeah, I mean, it wasn't too bad I would go to drill and, you know, go back to as being a civilian and working at FedEx, that wasn't too bad.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=641.0,682.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: How was it balancing those two different kind of lifestyles?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=683.0,690.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: It wasn't. It wasn't that difficult. But you do have to, you do have a change of mind, right? A mentality, because you go to drill and Okay, it's time to think and act like a soldier. You know when, when seniority steps in, you know you're in formation and you have to salute. And then, once drills over and you got to show up to work Monday morning at FedEx. It's like, oh, I'm back to, you know, walking in, putting on my uniform right, walking into work, drinking my coffee, coming back to civilian world and doing my FedEx job. But, but being a soldier and being disciplined contributes. Those skills contribute to your civilian job because you show up to work on time, you know, you do what's asked of you, you you complete your tasks, you know. So it does have its advantages.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=691.0,758.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: Um, how was the the lead up to your first deployment? When did you find out that you were going to Iraq?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=759.0,766.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: I believe we found out in 2010 um, before it was we deployed in May. So, um, we had, I can't remember the exact month, but we had gone to, Indiana to do actual training for deployment. And not only do we drive the vehicles, heavy, heavy vehicles, we also did clearing of buildings, which was one of my favorite things to do. And they taught us. They taught us how to clear buildings and multi level story buildings. So I believe this one building I cleared was three story, and it took you know it you they, they took their time, and they trained us how to clear rooms. They trained us how to go down hallways, and they trained us how the proper way to go upstairs when you're clearing a building, it's not just your typical, um, climbing these stairs. You have to strategic, strategically go up these stairs so that you don't get uh, shot at from above. Um, so those months prior to finding out, we knew we kind of had an idea of what what to expect, but it was, it was nowhere near the reality of what actually, what it was like once we did hit boots on ground in IRA in Iraq. What","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=767.0,863.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: were your feelings before going to Iraq? Like Were you nervous? Like you? You said that it was nothing like what it actually was. But what were you thinking at that time?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=864.0,876.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Right? So our commander, he's the one that informed us that up. One, he informed us where we were going, and two, he informed us what our job was going to be while we were there. And he he told us he fought to get this particular role, and it was the role of armed convoy. Convoy escort. So he explained to us what we were going to be doing is because we knew how to drive heavy vehicles, and we were classified as heavy vehicle operators. We were going to be driving up armored vehicles to protect a convoy. And interestingly, when we first arrived in Iraq, we were in Humvees. And, I mean, I'm sure this will come out in later questions, but, and I'll get to it later, but Had we stayed in Humvees the whole entire deployment, there's no way we would have survived, because the the the type of IEDs they were making, the Humvees, wouldn't have withstood them the impact. But back to your question, the feelings that I had, it was one. It was excitement. It was excitement to be, you know, yeah, this is like, let's do this, you know, let's go, let's, let's go. And, you know, fight and two at the same time, you can, you had an idea, but at the same time you didn't know what to expect. Really, it's kind of like, well, I'm going to keep going to drill, and then it becomes mundane and it becomes boring. So when they said you're going, you're going to be deploying, alright, there's some excitement there, you know? Um, so, yeah, it was, it was, it was exciting. Um, before getting there, because once you got there, it was, it's when it hit you.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=877.0,1003.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: So your unit's mission when you were Iraq was just an armed convoy escort,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1004.0,1010.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: yes, so, so we would have a in a gun truck right there, called gun trucks. And there were, at first, they were Humvees, right your Hummers, your typical homers that you see four door with the gunners turret up on top. So we would operate the Humvees in a three man team and and it later, eventually we ended up receiving up armored caimans the big MRAP types that you see nowadays, they had a turret on top. We eventually received those. So yes, our mission was to you had this convoy of maybe 50 plus vehicles, and depending on how many vehicles we had, would determine how many gun trucks you needed. So we would my unit was strategically placed the gun trucks in certain positions of this convoy to ensure what you call like a 360 security. So we would protect so you would have some of them would be Air Force drivers who were transporting equipment, driving lmtvs, and so our job was to protect them in this convoy as we traveled from southern Iraq to northern Iraq.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1011.0,1098.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: And while you were doing this, your was your role, mainly, like as a gunner, more to say than just like the typical 88 mic of just driving the vehicle,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1099.0,1111.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: yes. So I definitely wanted to be a gunner, and I did that role. Might I did that job with with pride and with discipline. You have to be in a gunner. You have to know your weapon systems. You have to know how to operate to set up and operate the 50 cow. You have to know how to operate the 240 and the 249 as well as your m4 and knowing and you have to know how to operate the turret and how to set up your turret, you had a lot of responsibility as a gunner, right? The only way your convoy is protected is because of of the gunners, right? So there was a lot of responsibility in my role. And I also took initiative to learn how to operate the radios that we communicated with within the vehicles. Sometimes they would malfunction, believe it or not. You know, you don't get this top notch military equipment. You get equipment that, you know, fails while you're in the middle of Iraq. And sometimes it's like you back in the day when you had the Nintendo cartridge, and you're like, blank, banging on it, and then you're blowing in it. I had to do that. You. Know. And guess what? It worked, you know, you had to blow on the connection and then put it back and turn it and it would work. And I would be on the the turret in my sergeant who was a passenger, hey, Rod, the way the radio is not working. Can you come down? I said, So you want me to leave the 50 Cal here by itself? He said, Yeah, I need you to fix this radio, so I would go down there. So okay, right. So we're driving through the middle of Iraq at night, and I'll go down there and, you know, fix the radio, disconnect it, put it back, bang on it, and it'll start working, and I'll go back up to being a gunner. Um, but there was a lot that went into it and and I enjoyed every minute of it. And I took, I did that, that job with, with a lot of pride. And, yeah, I loved it.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1112.0,1254.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: So what was like a typical convoy escort mission? Like, how long where were they? And, like, how far? Man,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1255.0,1263.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: right, right. Oh, man, it would, we would do missions, right? You have different missions. You would have the missions would be, you know, hey, we would get the order. We need you to escort this convoy from, you know, point A to point B, and that would take maybe, like, three days from, you know, in Iraq. So the only time we traveled was at night. You never traveled during the day. And the reason is because during the day you can see everything, right? So we're just sitting ducks. Therefore we only traveled at night. So sometimes the mission the order would be, we need you to transport this unit and this equipment and be security for them, and from point A to point B, and it's going to take over a week. So it's like going from, say, Douglas Arizona, all the way up to maybe Flagstaff, Arizona, or, you know, further. So these these missions, and you're not traveling fast, you know, you can't travel that fast. These missions would take very long time sometimes, and and they were really, some were really rough, and some were not, but, and some you encountered a lot of things, you know, a lot of hostile activity. And some you did, I I had to learn to see in the dark. You had to become you had to become an expert right at throwing a chem light. You know the ones you break and they glow. You had to become an expert while throwing a chem light in a moving vehicle into a pothole, so that the vehicles behind you don't hit that pothole. Because a lot of times the terrorists were putting the IEDs in the potholes right? So you had to become coordinated while in this moving vehicle, right your your armored vehicle, and throw the chem light so by the time it hit the ground, it landed in or near that pothole, so that other vehicles don't hit it. So, you know, there's, there's a lot that goes into it.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1264.0,1415.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: Um, what? What were you doing during the day? Was it mostly like sleeping, or, like, just because, what was it like, a backwards, like, typical day of, like, someone, like, we do our things during the day and then we sleep at night. So, like, how, how was that just right? Right?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1416.0,1439.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Yeah, so it was, it was opposite, right? Since we only do our missions at night, we get our rest during the day. You wake up a few hours prior to the mission so that you get everything set up. You pack up your stuff. You get everything set up on your vehicle, you know, you pack up your gear, and the priority was ensuring that your your your weapon system was clean right after firing it and traveling because of the dirt and the grime that gets into it. So I would. And the thing is, is that, you know, we could just sleep at a at a base for one day. Then we guess what? We gotta get up and move the next night. I would after we got, after we settled down from traveling on the road, we were still on mission. We would sleep at a base, right? So at a fob. So what I would do is, it's, I would it's night. Time, so there's other people sleeping when you arrive, so you don't want to be too loud. So what I would do, before I went to bed, on my cot, right? We don't have the luxury bed with a mattress over there sleeping on a cot. I would put on a dim light, and I would clean my 50 Cal so that it's ready for when I go back on mission. Um, so I would stay up and I would do that quietly. But I never wanted to be and this is because I never wanted to be the one when you go to test fire your weapon prior to leaving the wire, you shoot your weapon and it doesn't work. So I never wanted to be that one gunner, because then it kind of, it starts, oh well, it kind of brings down your morale and your gun truck, because it's like, you don't know what you're doing up there. Like, did you not set up headspace and timing right? Like, dang. So then now you gotta wait for that gunner to fix their, you know, whatever's going on. But I always wanted to, you know, be on point. Be ready. Be on point. So, yeah, so you, you have showers, right? You just, you have showers. You shower during the day. Once you wake up a few hours prior to leaving, you walk to your shower. You walk to your shower, and then you have their shared showers, a female shower, and then the mail shower. So you have to walk, not like you leave your bedroom and you go around the corner and you walk to your shower. No, you gotta walk couple, you know, feet down there to go take a shower and then walk back. And sometimes it would be humid. It would be humid. So you get out the shower, and then you walk outside and you're, you know, sweating again, um, so that would, that would kind of suck, but that did happen. And then you'd go and want to get a bite to eat, or you want to go down to the little stores they had there on that particular FOB. You want to get some snacks for the road, you know, you gotta. You want to get things to keep you awake. So a lot of sugar, energy drinks, honey buns. So, yeah, it's you would prep. It's basically prepping. You want to get your rest. You want to pack up your things. You want to make sure your your your weapons, you have your weapons and they're clean. And you want to grab snacks and then commission. You put everything all together, all together, and you set up your vehicle, and then do a test fire, and you're ready to roll out. But the one, let me say, the one very important thing is meeting with other other people from from different units, to go over the mission, the route. This was very important, because these other units, they experienced what occurred on that specific route that we were going to be traveling on. They would call them hot spots where they received an idea tech. They received, you know, fire, a hostile fire. So they would let us know, hey, this is the area we took contact. This is what to expect. Look at, look out for it here in this particular location. So we will go over our route. Is the mission brief. So we would go over that, and that was very important.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1440.0,1704.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"UNKNOWN SPEAKER: Yeah, what was it like? Because you said that you had the 50 Cal, the 240 and the 249","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1705.0,1711.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: What was it like operating those weapons, and do you have any memorable experiences with them?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1712.0,1720.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: My favorite was a 50 Cal. That's because it's the biggest, it's the loudest. I rarely liked shooting the 240 and a 249, because they were smaller. I love my 50 Cal, the what? Thing you do have to get right with the 50 count. I'm not sure how it is now, but it's you have to be on point about it, and it's the headspace and timing. And by that, I mean the way that you insert the barrel into the 50 cow, and you have to turn the barrel until you hear a certain amount of clicks. It that that it has to be all properly placed in order for it to proper, to fire properly. So I love that one, the 249 and the 240 they're they're kind of like just easy peasy. You you just put the rounds in there, close the flap, make sure it's set. The rounds are set correctly, flat flush on the the port, and close the tray and racket on. I do. I do appreciate, though sometimes I see in movies like lioness Special Ops, if you know how to shoot a 50 Cal, one way to note it to tell how a person knows how to shoot a 50 Cal is their hand placement when they pull the trigger and racket back. If you put your hand like this, your thumb is going to be in the way, and you're going to scrape your thumb on the on the main part of the 50. But if you pull it like this, the way you're supposed to pull that trigger or pull the handle back to rack it, you don't have your thumb over here, so it's flush. So, um, yeah, no, I just love the 50 Cal. That's my preferred weapon.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1721.0,1847.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: Yeah, I the big guns are always the funnest to shoot. But um,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1848.0,1852.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: so, yes, yes,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1853.0,1856.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: um, you mentioned during these missions, you communicating with other companies just to make sure that, like, the routes were safe. Could you tell me a little bit more about that? Like, how was it to avoid dangerous situations,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1857.0,1874.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: right? Um, it's like a I'm not sure you know, if you've ever hunted before, it's one thing to hunt. You know, if you hunt for deer or turkey, it's another thing to be hunted. And I don't know if you can say like the k, i l, a word on here, but it's, it's a different feeling. It's hardly different feeling. It's it's you're in war, and to know that someone is out there to get you, and probably not just one person is probably multiple, and they're waiting for you to come up to a particular spot so that they can take advantage and fire upon you or do damage to you. So that feeling of, is it going to happen now? Is it happening now? Is it? Is this a rough spot? You know, you're always it's causes. Paranoia is what it does, um, and you're being hunted, you're being hunted, and you don't want to be hunted, so you're always on defense mode, right? You're always on defense mode and, and it's a constant state, right? Because you're not safe until, well, you're not in this form of safe until you get to the fob that you're going to, where you're secure. So if you're on the road for seven hours or eight hours till you reach that FOB, well, you're going to be in that constant state of paranoia for eight hours. So it takes a toll on you, but you're always on on guard. Always On Guard, and you're in an unknown territory, and it's their territory, and they know it. They know it probably not like the back of their hand, just like you probably know your home and your living situation like the back of your head. So place yourself in their shoes. You know, if you're, you're you're coming. You got these people coming to your your town, your where you live, and they want to tell you how to do your business up in your town. So of course, they're going to be mad, they're going to be upset with you, and they're going to not want you there. So learning how to deal with that, how to to defend yourself, you know, constantly scanning, constantly searching, you know, Is this person a threat? Is this person a threat? And they even have kids out there. There was kids out there, and some kids were nice and some were not. So, yeah, kids throwing rocks at you and and you never knew. You never knew what their assignment was. You never knew what their agenda was. So it was not a you're not only protecting yourself, but you gotta protect the other people you're responsible for.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=1875.0,2054.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: You mentioned experiencing an IED blast and indirect fire. Can you talk about that moment?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=2055.0,2063.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Yeah, so let's see the IED one was, I would say, at the very top of my list of my hostile experiences that it caused. I um, as, quote, unquote, the most damage, right? Um, sorry, my voice gets raspy when I talk a lot. Um, the ID, when, when that blast went off. It the i. Iraqi police. They're corrupt, so their vehicle was in the vicinity, and they had the reputation of not to trust them. They had the reputation of that they contributed to their local community to help with the attacks on US soldiers. Um, so when the IED blast went off, the Iraqi vehicle, police vehicle was there, and it was the biggest fireball I've ever seen in my life. Um, it caused me to feel like time was paused. It felt like time was was paused, and I felt like two maybe three seconds went by and I was just had my hands on the the the handles of the 50 Cal and like everything was just moving slow motion. The the one of the saddest things, though, is that my position that I was in at that time, I was the last gun truck, so my responsibility was to keep the Iraqi civilian traffic back from our convoy in a certain amount of feet. So I had, we were just coming off of this on off ramp from a bridge. So I had maybe seven to 10 cars that I was keeping back behind the convoy. When this blast went off, we had we were able to clear the fireball, but the people that took majority of that hit from the fireball was those Iraqi civilians and witnessing that was not a great experience, because I know some of those people, their cars were engulfed in flames, so I highly doubt some of those people survived. So that really hit. It really hit hard, and it's hard to coming deter. It was hard coming to terms that what really kept us safe from taking a direct hit from that blast, because it was big. So I don't know what they used, but it was big. It was it caused a tremendous fireball. The one thing that kept us safe was these. Is very important. At the front of the up armored vehicle, you have to replace these, their batteries. In a sense, there's two batteries, and it goes into this like wooden thing that goes out and you have to extend it, and it stays in the front of your vehicle. And the whole job of this, this mechanism, is to provide 360 security, a security bubble that will protect your vehicle from detonations. If you do not replace those batteries before mission and ensure that they are working, you're going to get hit if an IED blast goes off. Because you're not protected, you don't have that bubble. So I guess, in a sense, it creates this shield. So it was just, had we not, you know, ensure that we do that, that we had done that, then we would have taken direct hit. Because I can guarantee you that terrorist was sitting there, clicking the trigger, clicking the trigger, as we were passing by, clicking the trigger, and mind you, we had EOD, the one who's supposed to find the bombs, right? They were in the very front of our convoy for a reason. They were supposed to detect the bombs and they'll find them. Well, that's not always the case. They didn't find those bombs because they had they found it, then we wouldn't have passed over it. So, that one was one of the, you know, that was the top experience of the of the hostile fire, the other ones, the indirect fire, running for your life, right? We're sitting at a restaurant that they had their own base. We got pizza, a box of pizza. We were sitting outside, and they had these concrete pillars surrounding the restaurant. We heard what sounded like I was with my roommates at the time. We heard what sounded like a car crash. So we ignore, ignored the first one, you know, because, well, I guess it's. We were just eating our pizza and minding our business. Um, well, the same sound happened again, and when that same sound happened again, that's when we looked around at each other and realized that while it wasn't a car crash, it was we were getting bombed. So there was the terrorists were shooting bombs from the freeway that kind of overlook the base we were at, and they were shooting them so that they landed in the base. And that's what was happening outside these concrete pillars. So to experience that and feel like you're exposed and you don't know when this next one is going to land on you, is one thing to you know, be scared of you feel this, this adrenaline, this fight or flight type of thing, and this sprint that we did from underneath the tables of this restaurant we're outside in the courtyard, to sprint from there to where we had parked our up armored vehicle was like one of the longest sprints of my life, because you don't know where that next bomb is going to land, and you're just praying it doesn't land on you. So sprinting from there to our vehicle was, was, I don't know, was just not everybody you know, experiences that. And it's, it's life changing.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=2064.0,2485.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: What helped you get through that stress or the danger of deployment? I know you mentioned you had roommates. Did you have any friends when you were deployed?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=2486.0,2495.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Right? Um, so, yeah. So you have things, right? You gotta have something to help you get through it, right? So that there's a lot of things that that you can do. And the gym for me was one of them, you know, I would go to the gym sometimes twice a day to help you, you know, to help me get through it, to to keep me focused, to keep me in shape, to to handle different situations that you know, eventually placed in. And the gym was one of them. And luckily, we also had what they called an MWR, and I don't know what it stands for, right, but in this place, they provided games like Xbox. I played guitar hero. We would make like this little band. I'd be on the drums, and I'd have a guitar guitarist over here and a guitarist over here, and there was a big screen where they would play movies and have bean bags, they would give you popcorn and stuff like that. So sometimes we would go to that, but the gym was one of them. And sometimes they would have concerts for us. They would bring these music artists and and they would go on stage and put on a concert. So you have to, you know, go and do something. You have to pick up a hobby to get you through the experiences that you go through while on deployment. The other thing is, you want to find roommates that you're going to get along with. Um, luckily, we stayed in this, this building. And it brought me back to if, when you're a kid, you have to, you build your own fort, you play clubhouse, or whatever it is. Um, so you you used whatever you could to build your little living area. And luckily, I had three roommates, and we had bunk beds. So, you know, well, who gets top bunk, who gets bottom bunk? So you had to decide that. And then we used, like broomsticks and sheets to, you know, put like curtains so the people walking by don't see everything and, and it was fun, um, and I have carrying my rock. I was carrying my this and that, and I'm walking to my my my living area, and I open the curtain, and one of my roommates is sitting there because she's have, she has her days off, right? She's sitting there in her sports bra, in shorts, eating a Twinkie and watching football on TV. And I'm just like, What the heck? So, you know, there's good times. And then I go to open the fridge or the freezer, and I'm like, Who the heck? What's Twinkies in the freezer? And she said, debo. So debo is our other roommate. We call her debo, um, because her last name is the board, but yeah, just finding things out about your roommates. You know your your roommate eats frozen Twinkies. I've never heard of that ever. So, you know, there's good times, there's good times. So these are, these are the things that got me through deployment. So,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=2496.0,2690.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: well, that's great. How was it like coming back from deployment? Did you come back to Arizona? Yeah, immediately, or was there some kind of in processing,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=2691.0,2705.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: right? So after the deployment, let me tell you one of the hard, one of the longest waits. And it's like it it lowers your morale is waiting for that plane to come get you, to take you back to the US, because they didn't come the very first time that they said they were going to come, and they got extended. So waiting for that plane just to get there and pick you up is, like, it lowers your morale, because you're, like, you're just waiting to go home, um, and we, we went to, after Iraq, we first went to, I think it was Ireland. And one of the greatest things about it is we were allowed two free Guinness beers from the bar in the airport. And let me tell you, man, after not drinking alcohol for, you know, a year, even half of, half of, you know, Guinness, half a glass of Guinness really knocks you to the floor. So that plane, that plane ride back to, we landed in Texas Fort Bliss. That plane ride was wild. You know, everybody was having a good time. We went back to Texas to do the, you know, the processing, to process you after to, you know, get a physical evaluation and everything. So we had a good time in Texas because we went to Buffalo Wild Wings, had some wings and, and, yeah. So that was a good part. And then, you know, after X amount of days, then you go home. And my home was Arizona, so I came home, the adjustment for me was and what I found out, for, you know, other veterans, the adjustment back home to to reality, to civilian world, is was rough, and I ended up, ended up finding out it's rough for a lot of people, and it and it's understandable, because after, you know, trying to drive, when you're driving here in civilian world after deployment, you're scanning the bridges. You're making sure there's no bombs under, you know, the bridges and on I 10, driving in Tucson, you're checking the debris on the side of the road in Tucson on i 10 to make sure it's not an IED you're in the grocery store down the cereal aisle for 30 minutes, because there's so many options to Choose from, whereas in Iraq you had about five choices of cereal. Um, so people don't, civilians won't, don't realize that it you have to adjust a veterans, it's you have to rewire your brain. And that's very hard to do. It's not like you just go and swap the red and blue wire. Rewiring your brain is very hard to do after whatever you experience on deployment, driving, you know, or getting down off your vehicle, civilian world, and going to, you know, Peter Piper Pizza, and you're scanning your surroundings, who's a threat, who's a threat, you know, who's is, who's behind me? Um, it's very, it's very hard to just and a lot of veterans go through it and and the transition is not easy, and some don't, you know, they still, I don't even think they, to be honest, I don't think veterans 100% transition to back to you know how they were.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=2706.0,2928.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: How did your deployment shape your view of the army and of yourself?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=2929.0,2936.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Still, deployment helped shape my view of the army by viewing viewing the army as I felt like I was doing someone else's job and putting my life at risk for someone else and sacrificing a lot for someone else, because essentially, I'm fighting someone else's war, right? Because I for whatever reason, I don't think that we were there for the reasons that they told us we were there for so I became very frustrated. I went through all of that, and I felt like I was lied to, like for my life, personally, the experience it has its. Pros and cons, has its advantages and disadvantages when, you know, come situations like the rollover, being in the military, feel like it helped me. I did not panic. I was able to, you know, execute what I was supposed to do. Had I not maybe experienced the military, maybe I would have been screaming and and shouting and panicking and fainting, I don't know, but the army, being in the military, and especially experienced deployment, experiencing deployment, has certain advantages, some disadvantages. You know, it's like scars. They're they're forever going to be there and and that's the reality of of of war.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=2937.0,3048.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: So once you you got back from your deployment in 2011 you did you go back to just doing drill on the weekend and doing at what was your job like after that?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3049.0,3065.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/53","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Yeah, so it felt like, so we went back to, you know, usual doing drill on the weekend and a few training sessions at it felt very slow, very like this is a waste of time, like, I'm not doing anything, and it's a trip now that I think about it, because we talked about what I did and Trent what training was like prior to deployment. And so coming back from deployment, oh, it's, it's different, you know, so I didn't like it anymore. I didn't like wasting my time. I felt like when I went to drills for nothing, and I didn't want to do it anymore. I wanted to do something bigger. I wanted to do something better. I wanted to, you know, be more active at drill and feel like I have a purpose. And I think that, I think that those emotions contributed to me ending my contract, which I, you know, I regret, I regret, but everything happens for a reason.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3066.0,3137.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/54","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: So you think that's the main reason that you decided to end your contract in 2015","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3138.0,3145.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/55","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Yes, yes. Had I, had I had someone or had I known how to navigate what I was going through and step outside the box and look at the situation from a different perspective, or as a whole, then I would have received help on how to navigate what I was going through and and not end my career and Actually, oh, you know, figure something out where it'll put me in a better state of mind, you know, or maybe even find a different MOS that I like and, you know, I could pursue that a different route of different, you know, within the military. So, yeah, I think that it, had I done that, or had I had the help I would have? You know, transitioned into a different role and pursued my military career forward.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3146.0,3209.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/56","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: Well, looking back on your career, what? What do you think is your most proudest moment?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3210.0,3216.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/57","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: Oh, man, um, you know, that's hard to narrow down, but one that comes to mind right off the top is earning my promotion to Sergeant. I put in the effort and discipline myself to learn the book that they provided you that they were going to ask you questions off of I studied that book every day, every hour, and I knew that book front and back. And so when I come, came, come the day that you know, I went in there in front of the paddle board and let them just fire off questions. I gave the answers from the book, and it was one of the most rewarding feelings ever, because I disciplined myself to know this book in and out, where they asked me any question and I knew the answer to it.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3217.0,3278.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/58","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: That's really great. So now looking back on your career, I know you mentioned the rollover and how just having that experience prepared you for it. How has your time in the army continued to impact you today?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3279.0,3298.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/59","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: So. Know, there's good days and bad days, um, the army, you know, when knowing how to handle situations, whatever thrown at me, like just yesterday, this elderly lady was her vehicle stalled. She was in a Prius. I heard she had been waiting there for 15 minutes because no one came to help her. So she was kind of in a little bit of a panic. So I helped her. I was with my brother at the time, and he went to, she was stalled in the turning lane. So he went to, I got dismounted the vehicle. He went to go park the vehicle. But knowing what needs to happen in that particular situation, right? It wasn't my situation, but I made it my situation. I inserted myself into that situation because someone needed help and they didn't know what to do. So having experience from the army of, hey, you're presented this situation, how are you going to handle it? Knowing, like, I can have this situation placed in front of me and I'll know what to do is, is very rewarding. Um, so yeah, we were able to to to push her vehicle out the way. We were able to push her into a parking lot where she's no longer stuck in the middle of, you know, potentially being in an accident, because someone can hit her from the rear end who's not paying attention, and we were to get her the help that she needed. She called was her husband showed up, and they were going to call the tow truck. So, right. So that's an advantage disadvantages of experiencing military, and especially deployment, is constantly being on guard, right? Constantly being on guard, because, especially here in Tucson, with the crime and people doing, you know, dumb things because they're feeling a certain type of way, just knowing who's around you, what threats are there, you know, is this person gonna act crazy because they're getting mad at so and so there's this lady behind me, you know, getting very outright because she doesn't want to keep waiting in line. So just being constantly aware of yours, of my surroundings is it takes a toll, because by the end of the day I'm tired, I'm exhausted, you know, and and I'm fatigued. And then on top of that, going through what I went through in the military, physically wise, you know, I gotta deal with the aches and pains, so it takes a toll. It takes a toll. I'm just tired. I'm fatigued.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3299.0,3460.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/60","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: What do you think is the biggest thing that civilians misunderstand about combat veterans or what deployment is like?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3461.0,3471.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/61","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: They don't place themselves in our shoes. They don't place themselves in our shoes. They don't understand well, why is this individual a certain way? Why? Why does honking of the vehicle or the horn of the vehicle? Why does the honking make this person is veteran, so irate, you know? Why does firecrackers on Fourth of July make this veteran act a certain way. They don't place themselves in our shoes. If we could, if veterans could take the civilian and somehow put them physically or even virtually, right with those virtual 3d whatever they are, maybe create a combat scene and put them on that civilian because then maybe that'll give them some sort of sense of what it's like. And hey, they're getting shot at, or this IED blast is going off, you know, or there's people getting burned alive in a in a car. And then maybe that'll help them see, oh, because they would feel, they would they would feel that exposure, that experience, then they would understand, oh, this is why. This is why the fireworks on Fourth of July make this veteran feel this way. I uh, well,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3472.0,3564.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/62","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1: I think as a closing, um, if there's one lesson that you could pass from your time in the army and your time in service to future, shoulders, shoulders, what would it be?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3565.0,3579.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/63","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 2: It would be. And I thought about this question, you know, because there's, there's several lessons, but if I had to narrow it down, it would be, just take the time to decide what you're going to do with your future while you are still in the military. True. Treat it as a career. You think about all the the work you have put into this, physically, mentally and emotionally, and make it worth it. Do not just throw it away and while doing while doing this, also take into effect. Take into account how your body feels. Listen to your body. If you have aches and pains, go to the VA Get Get it. Get it looked at. Take care of yourself. Take care of your body,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=3580.0,59.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/64","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SPEAKER 1  1:0: right? Well, thank you, Yvette, for the interview. I'm gonna start stopping it, but thank you for your time.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=60.0,59.999"},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/65","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"UNKNOWN SPEAKER  1:0: You're welcome. You're welcome. You.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754#t=60.0,62.0"}]},{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["English [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://arizona.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2980/collection_resources/153083/file/281754/transcript/81690/annotation/66","type":"Annotation","motivation":"subtitling","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/file_transcripts/associated_files/000/081/690/original/azu_ms835-054_m.vtt?1752611191","format":"text/vtt","language":"en"},"target":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/file_transcripts/associated_files/000/081/690/original/azu_ms835-054_m.vtt?1752611191"}]}]}]}