Veteran's Day Is Here
There are certain jobs I know I could just never do. And I am in awe of them. Fighting for our country is one of those. The level of bravery it takes to go to battle is to me, unfathomable.
Today on Veteran’s Day we honor soldiers who have served our country, and I always feel overwhelmed by the idea and how to even think about it.
So I asked a veteran. I’m lucky, he’s also our friend and trainer, Jason Sarbacker, of JFit360. He trains my husband and me twice a week. And sometimes that includes a story from when he served. But this time he agreed to answer a few more questions.
HCC: When and where did you serve? What was your role?
Jason: From 2001 through 2004. I was stationed with the First Battalion, Second Marine division located in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for the bulk of my time with the Marines. First Battalion, Second Marine was deployed to Kuwait early in 2003 and we proceeded to invade Iraq once Operation Iraqi Freedom kicked off. My role in the Marines early on was that of a basic infantryman, also known as an 0311 in military occupational specialty coding. After filling that role for some time I was offered the opportunity to join the First Battalion, Second Marine Division’s Scout Sniper Platoon, and not long after went to Sniper School.
HCC: What inspired you to serve your country?
Jason: Growing up I was definitely a G.I. Joe kind-of-kid and was fascinated with movies like Rambo and played war games in the woods with my brothers and neighborhood friends. Like a lot of teenagers, I had very little interest in school, and going to college was not very high on my to-do list, so I started looking into the Marines towards the end of my senior year. I ended up signing all the paperwork in mid-August 2001 and had orders to leave for boot camp in November. Not long after signing my life away, so to speak, September 11th happened, and I never had reservations or regrets about joining.
HCC: What were some of the most difficult parts of your experience?
Jason: Up to the time of deploying to Iraq, my only experience with death was that of a grandparent. That all changed on March 23rd, 2003. We took heavy casualties and lost a lot of young men.
HCC: What was an accomplishment you feel proud of?
Jason: That I completed Sniper School on the first go. Scout Sniper School is very difficult to pass and has a very high failure rate. I think we started with 26 Marines and after 12 weeks only 14 graduated.
HCC: I know you don't like to be called a hero. Why is that?
Jason: I am not a hero. Heroes give the ultimate sacrifice, or they attempt to and by some miracle, they live to tell about it but usually don’t talk about it. Others do for them.
HCC: Is there something you think people who really value our veterans can do to show that, today or on any other day?
Jason: I think the best thing for people to do is to not forget about the men and women who are currently serving. The homecoming I had when I got back from Iraq was insane! Thousands and thousands of people showed up at Camp Lejeune to welcome us back. I will never forget how good that felt, and I am afraid current service members are not getting that. They are risking just as much as I was when I served.
Editor’s Note: If you’re inspired by Jason to welcome returning vets home, here is some information on groups you can work with to do that: www.operationwearehere.com/AirportArrivalDepartureWelcomeSigns.html
If you want to train with Jason, he may not have any openings, but you can ask! jay@jfit360.com