The reintegration back into civilian life will be a huge
transition for any soldier after being in a combat zone for a
year.
We have lived with helicopters flying over us 24/7, hearing
explosions in the distance is a regular occurrence, and not to
mention the sporadic gunfire beyond the perimeter daily.
Editor’s Note: This column was received before Rene Arbizu’s unit was told they would be arriving at Moffett Field in Mountain View Saturday.
The reintegration back into civilian life will be a huge transition for any soldier after being in a combat zone for a year.
We have lived with helicopters flying over us 24/7, hearing explosions in the distance is a regular occurrence, and not to mention the sporadic gunfire beyond the perimeter daily.
Every day we went to work there was a chance that we wouldn’t come back, and after a year of living with that increased threat, the tension and physical stresses that it causes? We are tired.
We have done our mission always with one goal in mind, get every one of us home safely regardless of anything else. We were ready to leave; we had started to relax a bit because we knew that we were never going to go outside ”the wire” again. We were happy because in our entire year here, our unit had never taken a casualty in the line of duty. Most units here performing the same mission as we were cannot say that.
Even though we came under attack almost daily from roadside bombs and small-arms ambushes we all made it back to base every day without a scratch.
And I do mean every day. For the past six months we have worked 12 to 14 hour days and most times 15 to 20 days with one day off in between. So, to go the entire time without one of our own getting hurt was a blessing.
For the past year I have been watching my back and those of my squad-mates. Every time we were on the road our guard was up and we were waiting for all hell to break loose every time we turned a corner.
It can get frustrating after a while, always watching everybody and waiting for someone to pull out a gun, or throw a grenade your way. It was very exhausting after a while, always being so alert. Everywhere we went we had one hand on our pistols.
I know that it will be difficult to relax at home after a whole year of living with eyes in the back of my head. Just getting in my car and driving to the grocery store will be hard; I will feel naked without my body armor that I have worn every time on the road here.
Without my pistol on my hip I may feel defenseless, but I have to remember that there is no threat when I get home.
Even being alone at times will seem strange, here I have showered, slept, ate, played and worked beside my teammates.
In the past year I think all the time that I have spent alone may add up to no more than a week.
Even though I am looking forward to getting home, and into an environment where I can relax, I know that I will miss my friends and the good times that we have shared here.
There is no bond stronger than the one that comes from knowing that your life is in the hands of your friends and theirs are in yours.
I look forward to the day when I’m home and I can put all this behind me and life returns to normal.
I can only hope and pray though, that my friends and fellow service members will be able to do the same.
War affects different people differently and sometimes people have a hard time dealing with what they have seen or done because of it.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a pill you can take to make it all go away or help you cope with your feelings.
The only thing that we can do is hope that family and friends will understand when their loved ones come home a little different than when they left a year ago.
