I was commisioned into the US Army in 2003 and served as a Field Artillery Officer until I left active duty in August 2008. I spent 1 year in the National Guard, then left to start the journey to Physical Therapy School
After my Artillery Basic Course in Fort Sill, OK, I was assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd infantry Division and traveled to Fort Lewis Washington.
I got there in August of 2003, and deployed to OIF 2 November 2003 as the Company Fire Support Officer for Charlie Company, 5-20 Infantry. i still remember the first time I actually used NVGs (night vision goggles) was on an night raid walking through a big open field.
We spent the year doing mounted and dismounted patrols in Northern Iraq, and returneed November 2004. About January 1st 2005 I took over as Fire Direction Officer for Charlie Battery, 1-37 Field Artillery (FA), then became the Battery XO for Bravo Battery, 1-37 FA August 2005.
We spent a majority of our time training as "Red Leg riflemen" and deployed back to Iraq May 2006. I got tasked to be on a Military Transition Team (MiTT), so I was an advisor to the Iraqi Army. I did that for 7-ish months, then returned to 1-37 FA and took over as the security platoon leader for my Battalion Commander for the remaining 8 months of the deployment.
There was rumbling of it happening, and we were told about 11 months in we'd get some extra time.