Photo By Spc. Jason Dangel | Pvt. Ryan Bruin, AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopter maintainer, Company D, 1st Battalion,...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Jason Dangel
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – According to the Department of the Army, nearly 16 percent of all the Soldiers in today's active force are 17-20 years old, which roughly translates into some 80,000 troops.
At a time when the nation is fully engaged in the defeat of terrorism around the world, an outsider would ponder the question of why these young Americans would join the military in the first place.
One such Soldier knew it was inevitable that he would be involved in the Global War on Terrorism when he signed his enlistment contract about a year ago. Today, he is exactly where he wants to be.
Growing up in Lansing, Mich., Pvt. Ryan Bruin, Apache Attack helicopter maintainer, Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, didn't have many opportunities to make a life for himself and at first joined the Army purely for the steady pay.
"I didn't graduate from high school and left home at a really young age," Bruin explained. "There was really no opportunity for me in Michigan and when I didn't graduate with my class I had nothing. I didn't know what I was going to do.
"My brother and I had both talked about joining the Army, not because it was really what I wanted to do, but because there was a steady paycheck involved," Bruin said. "My brother was who actually talked about it first and ironically I was the first one to join."
The news of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan didn't faze Bruin as he arrived at his first duty station at Fort Hood, Texas, earlier this year, just in time for the CAB's pre-deployment preparations.
"Essentially, I didn't think much about the war," Bruin said as he was taking a ten minute break looking up at the Apache helicopter he was working on. "The benefits definitely outweigh the risk. I am learning a lifelong trade, and I can also get a college education for free."
Today in Iraq, Bruin is the youngest Soldier in his battalion and is taking the opportunity to learn from his superiors.
"I have good people backing me and teaching me. My squad leader knows his job from the inside out, and I am really learning a lot.
"Mechanics has always been more of a hobby to me. I was raised working on houses and mechanics. Right now, I am really doing what I love to do, aside from the 130-degree heat," Bruin said laughing.
The young Soldier's leaders acknowledge that he made the right choice to join the Army and commend him for his service.
"From what I understand he didn't have much back home and he made the right choice to join the Army," said Cpl. Jared Akers, Bruin's squad leader and first line supervisor from Pulaski, Va.
"To me joining the service isn't an obligation, it's a choice. Some people step up and others don't. At 18 years old, Bruin stepped up and he's doing a fine job," he said.
"I expect him to do great things while we're out here. He has a lot to learn, but I expect him to replace me someday as the squad leader and we're working to get him there."
As for Bruin he is unsure what the future holds for him and is living life one day at a time, making the most of his first deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"I mean, I not sure if I want to do this forever but right now this is what I do and I'm trying to make the best of it," Bruin said. "All I can say is this is a once in a lifetime experience, and I'm having fun doing it."
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2008 10:32 |
| Story ID: | 22267 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 84 |
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