I enlisted in the Marines in November 4, 2001 as a motor vehicle operator (truck driver), I signed the contract pre-9/11 and did not know how to get out of it. From my first step on the “yellow footprints,” I knew the military was not for me and that I had made a serious mistake. Upon some serious trials and tribulations, I was finally honorably discharged after 3 years 1 month and 4 days (but who’s counting?). I served in Iraq/Kuwait from Feb. 1 to Aug. 9, 2003 with the Marine Corps most decorated infantry battalion, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division and refused to deploy a second time. Thankfully, I was able to get a doctor’s authorization for my early discharge and avoided time spent in the brig for what would have been intentionally missing a movement. I currently attend University of California, San Diego as a U.S. history major with a minor in environmental studies alongside working at the Veterans Affairs hospital where I assist veterans with disability claims. It should come as no surprise, but I oppose this quagmire of a conflict/war as well as several other actions this country has taken in the engendering of its history.