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Air Force Pilot Bethany (Lohmann) Slack '00
and Carlee Miller '05
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St. Kate's Alumnae Deployed
 Air Force Pilot Bethany (Lohmann) Slack (Math) '00 and National Guard Human Resource Specialist Carlee Marie Miller (English) '05, both deployed in the Mideast, admit the conflicting responses of the regional citizens to U. S. forces but focus on the positive service the military strives to provide.
Having served two tours of duty in Iraq (2006 and 2007), Captain Slack will soon be deployed there again. As an F-16 and MQ-1 pilot, the majority of her missions involved doing "Close Air Support" for ground troops. Though each mission was unique, her primary goal was to "provide support and protection to ground troops that have to go outside of the wire (the perimeter of the base) to carry out their missions." This could involve offering air protection for their convoys, looking for IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) along their travel routes, providing fire support during if they are receiving enemy fire, or searching for mortar teams firing at the base.
"There are many times," she comments, expressing her personal viewpoint, "it is difficult to see that we are making progress in Iraq. However, the belief that the Iraqi people not involved in insurgent activity deserve to live a better life and be afforded the opportunities that many of us as Americans take for granted makes me know that the cause is worth fighting for. If I was in their position, I couldn't imagine living every day of my life in fear for my family, my friends, and my own life."
 Sergeant Miller, who is stationed in Kuwait and processes the paperwork of the soldiers going into the war zones, finds that generally the people of Kuwait like Americans because of the first Gulf War. At times, however, she is not sure what to think about whether or not the work in Iraq and Afghanistan is making a positive difference overall or progress since her understanding of what is actually going on is vague. "The only news we really get here is what we read in Stars and Stripes (a newspaper for active duty personnel) or see on the news. . . . One thing I have noticed being here, though, is that the U.S. and coalition forces are doing some good things. Many people back home don't know that some of the things that the troops do over here would be considered humanitarian: building or repairing roads, rebuilding schools for the children, rendering medical aid to Iraqis where their own healthcare is not available. If I have one hope for this war, it would be that our presence and the lives that have been lost (on our coalition side and the innocent Iraqis) will not be in vain."
Conflicting Responses Among Residents
It is at times a struggle to stay positive, since there are such varying reactions to coalition forces. Slack observes: "Some people are very happy and grateful that we are here. Others have been raised to hate Americans and feel that we cannot be seen as anything other than the enemy. This really struck home with me when I was volunteering on the hospital in our base in Iraq. A young boy had been brought in that was caught in the crossfire. I tried to read him books and give him toys to play with, but he was so afraid of me he wouldn't allow me to come near him."
Miller is more distant from these everyday experiences. "As a soldier, I purposely don't think too deeply into what the soldiers we process will have to face in Iraq. As a National Guard soldier, on the civilian side of your life, you are able to separate the soldier part of your life from your civilian life. At that point, it is easier to have an opinion on the war and have a strong political stance than when you are here (even when not in Iraq) seeing the soldiers who will fight this war every day. Here, every soldier does what he or she needs to do to attain some sense of normalcy in a place very far and different from home."
Miller's role is to "make sure that their paperwork is all squared away so they don't have to worry about whether or not their spouse or children are able to get the medical care they need back at home, or whether they are being paid correctly, or whether their promotion will really come through for that extra little bit of pay to help their loved ones at home. Easing that burden helps to allow soldiers to keep their minds alert (and not distracted) on the really important things, like the road, and keeping up with mission requirements."
Inspiration for Selecting Military Service
 Service personnel join up for many different reasons. Though unexpected, skydiving was the leap that launched Slack into military service. As a St. Kate's RA, she thought skydiving might be fun for her hall residents. After continuing the sport, she found that many skydivers also had their private pilot licenses. At the same time, a Katie friend was joining the Air Force ROTC. "It sounded like a great opportunity and experience, and there was no obligation until after the first year. I really enjoyed the challenge it presented me in many areas of my life, and I liked the idea of dedicating myself to a greater cause -- serving my country. Once I found out that I was selected as a pilot candidate, it gave me a new drive and focus in my life, and I felt like I had found what I was meant to do. I have now flown several aircraft, including the Cessna 150, T-37, T-38, F-16CG, and the MQ-1."
In addition, Slack has lived all over the country, "including North Dakota, Oklahoma, Georgia, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. One of our training exercises brought me to the United Arab Emirates for a month, which was a very unique experience.''
Previously deployed in Bosnia (2002-2003) for the NATO peacekeeping mission, Miller has also enjoyed travel through her service. "I have gotten to live in or visit and learn about countries that most people will never see such as Bosnia (and most of the Former Yugoslavia), Germany, Hungary and Kuwait. From these experiences, I feel like I've learned a lot about being human and just how thankful I am to have been born in the United States and grow up in a country that really does enjoy more freedoms and privileges than many, many countries in the world."
"Two main things inspired me to the join the National Guard," explains Miller, "a desire to serve my state in times of need and the need to somehow pay for my college education. I had wanted to join the Army right after high school, but my parents would not allow it, so I joined when I was a junior in college. I signed my Army contract four months before 9/11.
Effects on Personal Life
The effects on one's personal life are mixed for both women. Married, without children, Slack muses: "I have gone many places and had some incredible opportunities and experiences that could have never been possible had I not been in the Air Force. . . . On the downside, I do not get to see my parents or five sisters very often. It is usually about twice a year, which is hard when I know I am missing seeing my nieces and nephews grow up and not being a part of special occasions. My husband and I have been married for two and a half years, but have only lived together for ten months of that time due to assignments or deployments. But that is part of the military lifestyle. We are also putting off having a family of our own . . . Right now I think it would be very difficult to raise children."
Miller, who is not married or with children, agrees that it is easier to be deployed when one does not have children to raise. "I have my cat and dog waiting for me at home and many friends and family members who I am close to and miss dearly. I can't assume to know what other people think about the effects of deployment on a single soldier vs. a soldier with dependents, but it is hard to leave for us all. . . For single soldiers, some of the concerns often are: worrying about where we are going to store all of our belongings while we are away or keeping the apartment or house we live in at home, and the fact there is no one to notice a break-in. We worry about what we will have to do to make sure our pets are taken care of while we are away . . . .our lives often feel disjointed."
She continues: "Going through basic training really gave me a sense of discipline which has served me well. . . . Professionally, it has been difficult being in the National Guard. Though my civilian employer is very supportive and is holding a position for me while I am gone, there are still many stressors that come with leaving a job for a year and then coming right back to it after that year has passed. When I first returned from my first deployment in Bosnia, I had a hard time finding a job. I applied to many positions that I qualified for and always wondered if it was the fact that I was in the National Guard that led some employers to toss my resume to the side. After about three months of unemployment, I finally found a company who would hire a National Guard soldier, and for that I was very grateful and relieved."
Miller adds, "Adjusting back to civilian life after a deployment is also a real task. The best way I can describe it is when you are deployed, home and everything associated with it is a dream -- as if it never existed -- and then when you get back home, it is as if the deployment were a dream and never existed except in your mind. These transitions are difficult, and they affect your person, professional, and family life greatly."
Advice for Others
 So what wisdom do these courageous women have for others considering military service? Miller says: "I would say the same thing my father (an Army soldier for over 20 years) said to me as I considered enlisting in the Army: 'Think hard about the fact that if you choose to enlist, you are signing a contract with the United States government and are pledging to protect this country. You may someday have to give your life in its defense, and that is very serious. It is a decision that should be taken very seriously and only entered into after a great deal of thought.'"
Slack echoes this sentiment. "Just like any job, it is not for everyone. I would recommend having them talk to several different people in different positions or the ones that they are considering to get some different perspectives. It is important to hear not only the great things that come with the job, but also the downsides and for them to think about what is most important in their lives. You must be willing to make many sacrifices in terms of your personal and family life and be willing to give the ultimate sacrifice -- your life for your country." |
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