DELARAM DISTRICT CENTER, Afghanistan — Deployments can be challenging for service members and their families.
Sgt. Izmael Loria, squad leader, Echo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, has faced this challenge twice in two years with back-to-back combat deployments.
“I got orders to a deploying unit while I was on my last deployment,” said Loria, of Rialto, Calif. “I love this deployment though. It’s different experience from my last (one).”
Loria, a field wireman, deployed to Afghanistan with 8th Communications Battalion, based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., in June 2011. He came home in January 2012 and then deployed again to Afghanistan in April 2012 with Echo Battery.
After deploying, Marines have a mandated period of non-deployable duty, but Loria says he waived that dwell time. He says he didn’t mind deploying again because he wants to save money.
“My first thought was ‘I hope my wife doesn’t divorce me,’” Loria said with a smile. “She’s good though. She’s stuck by me and is supportive of my career.”
Loria says he joined the Marine Corps because he had stopped going to school and wasn’t doing anything with his life. He has been in the Marine Corps for four years and reenlisted on his first deployment.
“I reenlisted mainly for my daughter,” he said. She receives medical benefits and he has a steady income to provide for her, he added.
During his time in the Marine Corps, Loria was stationed in Japan and has travelled to the Philippines and Korea.
“It was a good experience, and I loved seeing the different cultures,” he added. “I miss the food in Japan and the beach there. My favorite part about my time in the Marine Corps is the traveling I’ve done.”
Loria wants to go on inspector and instructor duty to Austin, Texas for his next duty assignment. He plans on leaving the Marine Corps once his current contract is finished and would like to stay in Texas and return to school to study criminal justice.
Editor’s Note: Echo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, is a part of Regimental Combat Team 6. RCT-6 falls under 1st Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.