When the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense emailed me about the Why We Serve program, I knew I wanted to speak directly with someone who has actually served. Enter Gunnery Sergeant Jeremy M. de Vries who is a twelve year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.No matter your political beliefs, I hope this interview will help enhance your understanding on what's going on in Iraq.
Mike McGuff: I noticed you were born in Canada. Some might find it surprising you joined the United States Marine Corps. Why did you want to serve?
Jeremy M. de Vries: My family moved to the United States in 1991. I spent the last three years of school in Georgia and Tennessee and loved the American way of life. I loved the people, the culture, the patriotism of the average American. It was something I wanted to be a part of. I considered the United States my adoptive country right away and decided that the opportinity
to serve a country that I loved refected how I felt about America.
Mike McGuff: You returned from duty in Iraq last year. Tell me from the perspective of serving there, what are Americans back home not understanding or getting the full picture of when it concerns the war in your opinion?
Jeremy M. de Vries: I served on a military transition team (MiTT). A MiTT is a small team, 11 personnel in my case, who's job it is to train Iraqi forces in administrative procedures, weapons, and combat tactics. We were very limited as far as an active combat role went. I thought the MiTT team played a very important role in Iraq, one that would provide the Iraqi Army (IA) the the training and equipment necessary to take control of their areas of responsibility vice having the US military secure the region for them. It seemed after coming
back home, and especially during my speaking engagements, that a lot of Americans
really had no information about MiTT teams, or other ways the US served Iraq (civil affairs groups being another example). I think the assumption amoung many Americans is that the troops in Iraq are all out on the streets everyday kicking in doors and conducting combat operations.
Mike McGuff: Is there anyway those left back home can fully understand the full issues without being there ourselves?
Jeremy M. de Vries: I think it's difficult to explain the issues to the masses in one fell swoop. I think that the 'Why We Serve' program is a good way to attempt to reach as many people as possible so that individual service members can try to explain, in our own opinions, the issues. I think a lot of understanding also needs to come from research on the issues by the average
American. There is media and information out there to help explain these issues that the people want to be better informed on.
Mike McGuff: You served as a Senior Enlisted Advisor and Logistics Chief, vehicle driver, gunner, and commander, as well as an improvised explosive device reaction trainer. The media has done numerous stories on these very dangerous jobs. Tell me what went through your mind as you left each day to start a patrol.
Jeremy M. de Vries: I'll be the first to admit that i'd be nervous going out on patrols. You'd try and use up some of that nervous energy getting your equipment ready (whether it was the gun, vehicle, or navigation systems). You'd check and double-check your personal gear to ensure you had everything you needed for the day. We'd have briefs before every convoy to reenforce the convoy tactics we'd been taught and to ensure everyone was well versed in what to do if something bad happened. We'd also spend time with each other before departing, just joking around with each other, knowing that might be the last conversation you would have with your friend and collegue. Once we mounted up on our vehicles though, regardless of position in the vehicle that day, I was totally focused on the task at hand, and the specific job I was assigned to.
If attacked you do what you've been taught to do. Otherwise you keep focused on the mission and before you know it you're where you needed to be. Once we'd get back to our main camp, it was always a huge relief.
Mike McGuff: We have heard some amazing stories from our military. What are some stories from your personal experiences that stand out in your mind while on duty in Iraq?
Jeremy M. de Vries: It was amazing to me how close our team was. It was like serving with 10 of your best friends or serving with 10 brothers. Just the bond we had with each other was so remarkable. Forward Operating Base Duke (FOB Duke) an Army base where we were based out of (between Najaf and Karbala) had a camp run/race in memory of the soldiers and Marines that were killed in action while serving at FOB Duke. Civilian contract employees from KBR and Blackwater, British contractors from Aegis, and people from all four services took part in this run. It was really touching to me that so many people wanted to take part of something in remembrence of our brethren.
Additionaly, seeing the rise in proficiency of the IA, from a ragtag group of people, and the change of them into soldiers meant a lot to me. It meant that the days we'd spend, in 130 degree weather, thru sandstorms and rough living, and the time we'd spend away from our families, was productive and served a notable purpose.
Mike McGuff: What was it like helping the Iraqis form an army? Can they succeed in your opinion?
There were a lot of issues that made training the Iraqis difficult. First, we had the language barrier. Without the help of some outstanding Iraqi locals, our translators, our job would be impossible. We also had to deal with cultural differences. Muslims celebrate the religious holiday Ramadan, by fasting - to include water - thru daylight hours. It is extremely difficult to try and convince people to train in the middle of summer, after they haven't had any water to drink or food to eat for extended periods of time. That being said, I think it was worth it to me. To provide the means necessary to protect their freedom, by having an effective military to defend it, was very important to me. I love the study of history, and understand that without the French assisting our military in the Revolutionary War, that the US might not have been able and probably would not have been able to win the freedoms that we have today.
Jeremy M. de Vries: I think the Iraqi Army can definately suceed in the effort to maintain freedom in Iraq. I felt that the locals started to feel confidence in their soldiers. I think that confidence will help the people then feel more comfortable approaching the troops about insurgent activity.
Mike McGuff: While travelling for the Why We Serve program, what have you learned? What are the top questions you've been receiving from the public?
Jeremy M. de Vries: I think the main thing that the Why We Serve program has not really taught me, but reenforced in me, is that the American people are why I serve. A few of my engagements have been to kids groups ranging from youngsters in middle schools, to older teenagers. Having the chance to explain to them why I serve, and to try to instill in them the importance of respect for others, doing the right thing, and to answer questions that they might not have the opportunity to get answers to elsewhere, is very important to me.
Most of the more frequently asked questions during all my speaking engagements, have been focused around how long I expect the US military to remain in Iraq and what the US military has been accomplishing in Iraq. I try to answer any questions to the best of my ability but have to explain that some questions are really policy based and that sometimes, i may not have an answer to give them if i'm not knowledgeable enough about the specifics to provide an accurate answer.
Mike McGuff: Anything else you want to add?
Jeremy M. de Vries: I like to include a quote in my speeches that is important to me and I hope helps the listeners of my speeches understand overall where i'm coming from in regards to why I serve. "Such a glorious cause, had never before rallied the attention of mankind. Oppressors and oppressed would recieve a powerful lesson; the great work would be accomplished or the rights of humanity would fall beneath its ruin." Marquis de Lafeyette, a French noble and Revolutionary war hero speaking about the fight for freedom in the War of
Independence.
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