A Military Member Pandemic Redeployment Experience
We are living through difficult times, and regardless of some disbelieves, the pandemic is still ongoing. COVID-19 manifestation has yet to be controlled by our government, and many are not taking it as seriously as they should. This global disease is not merely affecting the mass population but our brave military members who sacrifice their lives while deploying to a combat zone and then redeploying to their home station. I was fortunate to get the international traveling experience of one of our true heroes, whose identity will remain anonymous for security reasons.
The Ibis Journal:
How would you describe your redeployment to your home station after almost a year of deployment in Afghanistan?
Military Member:
The first emotion I’ll describe is a relief after the long travel, including the initial pre-quarantine confinement (in an undisclosed overseas location); because the living conditions and food in both places were terrible, just basically any amenities we had were garbage. Going through that (the initial confinement), caused me anxiety, it was only a few minutes after living the nightmare and wanting to get it over with. We passed from getting stuck in a combat zone to getting marginalized within this sort of footprint, to then arrive in US soil in its current state was depressing.
The Ibis Journal:
How did your family members’ safety during the pandemic affect you and your comrades while deployed?
Military Member:
I will say that my perspective on the pandemic was a side-line perspective because we were in such a remote location controlled from the rest of the world, that we personally did not have to deal with a sudden sort of outbreak. I was personally concerned about my grandparents being at such an elderly age that catching the viruses could be a death sentence because it causes pneumonia, and then also my parents being in the medical field would be assisting those that are infected; especially because they’ll be at close proximity of my grandparents which it felt like a bigger threat to my family as a whole.
As far as other people (within my unit), a lot of us were delayed or stuck in remote locations. I noticed that my coworkers, who wanted to welcome their newborns and be there for their spouses in such critical moments of their lives showing signs of depression. Overall, the extended time out there in combination with the anxiety, depression, or the sort of helplessness feeling really brought the moral down. It took a toll, and there is still a lot of recovery to be done.
The Ibis Journal:
Did you feel safe while traveling internationally from a combat zone to the United States? Or was your arrival in the United States, in its current condition, overwhelmingly discouraging?
Military Member:
I want to say that I initially felt safe but reflecting back on it, the questionnaire that they made us fill out asking us, as far as, have you been sick, have you been exposed to anyone (who has contracted the virus); we would have had no way to know and is like we fill out the form, let’s take your temperature and then get on the plane.
At the moment that we were going through the motions, I don’t think I even thought of that. I was more concerned about just getting out of that country rather than the possibility of being exposed to it. While we were on the plane, we were breathing the same air; some people weren’t wearing their masks, and others were coughing. I mean, some of them were not sanitizing their hands, and just being there, while flying home, made me feel confined to a possibly contagious military transportation.
The Ibis Journal:
What was your reaction to our current reality upon arrival? How different did you find the US compared to how you left prior to your deployment?
Military Member:
I mean, upon arrival, we were separated from the rest of the population, so I feel like my first exposure was on my drive home. There was basically no one on the roads, that was such a different feel, and it made me realize the gravity of the situation.
The Ibis Journal:
How did you feel about being in a combat zone with zero cases and transitioning to a place with over 100,00 cases? What was your perspective when witnessing that many of the population were not wearing masks while walking through the few open establishments?
Military Member:
I was surprised to see how people conduct themselves when social distancing. While overseas, we have a better understanding of following proper guidelines to prevent the spread of pathogens by wearing masks and maintaining six feet of distance (between each other), especially at the DFAC (military dining facility).
I was a little disconcerted while running errands and settling in because of the people who were not following procedure and were acting as if nothing was happening. I was more concerned about being far away from them; I think it was more of a public safety measure, and I don’t think that anyone is sort of being oppressed by what the government or the health officials are asking the people to do, for us to protect ourselves, we must protect others, and I don’t think that’s sort of perspective that’s accepted by everybody.
The Ibis Journal:
What would you tell someone about to deploy to or redeploy from a combat zone?
Military Member:
For anyone who’s about to deploy, I’ll say just be ready and mentally prepared for an extended stay, have long travel delays, and inform family and friends that you might be out there a bit longer than expected, at least until a vaccine is created and administer to the public to build that sort of crowd immunity to the virus. I’ll tell them to maintain social distancing, conduct health precautions, and hope for the best. Most importantly, to listen to health professionals.
The Ibis Journal: Thank you for your service.
I want to thank our troops, the real American heroes, for their service and commitment to protecting our country’s freedom and all others. I believe that our country can do better, that we can do better, and we must do better to ensure a safer and healthier future for us all. Health is a matter for us all. I’m calling out to the humane side within each of you, not just to understand but to take seriously the pandemic that is still taking the lives of the daughters, sons, parents, grandparents of our troops, and the rest of us living right next to your door.
When traveling, please stay safe and listen to all health officials because we, the Evye Luvz team, care and would love to continue rediscovering the world with you, zip code, city, or country at a time.
