Photo By Pfc. Christopher McKenna | Staff Sgt. Craig Bedard, from Cranston, R.I., the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st...... read more read more
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By Pvt. Christopher McKenna
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Public Affairs Office
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq — Thirteen years in the Navy taught Craig Bedard to fight fires. He transitioned to the Army to continue serving his country, and learn a new skill he hopes to practice after his time in the military comes to an end.
Staff Sergeant Bedard now works as the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) force protection non-commissioned officer-in-charge. Working with the Rakkasans, Bedard conducts assessments to make sure things are running smoothly with the systems at different bases. His work, though much different from his years as a fire fighter with the Navy, is very valuable to him.
"Dealing with surveillance systems is something I plan to continue doing outside of the military," Bedard said. "I'm looking into becoming an aerostat technician at the U.S.-Mexico border as a FSR," he said.
This is Bedard's first deployment since transitioning to the Army two-and-a-half years ago. He made the transition through a program known as Blue-to-Green, which helped him continue his service uninterrupted.
"I track and maintain all the surveillance systems in the (area of operations) so if there is an issue they will call me and I can try and bring a solution to the problem at the lowest level possible," Bedard said. "If that's not possible, then I will get the field service representative contractors and send them out to fix it."
Bedard dreamed of serving his country early on in life.
"It was around my junior year of high school when I had a good idea of what I was going to do," Bedard said. "I went into the Navy directly out of high school, and served nearly 13 years as a fireman, or as the Navy call it, a damage control man."
From a primarily Navy family, the Cranston, R.I., native was influenced by his uncles to join the military in 1992. His family stood behind his decision and continues to support him staying.
Bedard understands, though, that deployments are trying times for family members. Bedard's Navy career consisted of eight combined deployments.
"While in the Navy, I did five deployments here to Iraq, and also deployed to Europe, Asia, Russia and South America," he said. "Each deployment was six-months long."
His mission here with the Rakkasans is a drastic change from fighting fires in the Navy, but Bedard is pleasantly surprised with this deployment.
"The quality of life is much better than I anticipated. I had heard stories from people who were out here for the invasion, and I was expecting to be living in a tent, out of a bag and eating three (Meals Ready to Eat) a day. That's not the case. I have a (containerized housing unit) and I get to eat every day at a dining facility."
Miles away from an ocean, this seaman seems to have finally found his legs.
| Date Taken: | 06.29.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.29.2008 09:29 |
| Story ID: | 20978 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 434 |
| Downloads: | 345 |
This work, Former Sailor builds future as Soldier, by PFC Christopher McKenna, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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