I am not alone. During my deployment with the California Army National Guard to Tikrit, Iraq during 2005 (OIF III), I thought a lot about my oath. The oath that I took to defend the United States Constitution against both enemies foreign and domestic. At that point in time I was obsessed of turning Iraq into democratic society to the three major elections that was taking place during that time. Also one thing I could not forget was that the search for Weapons of Mass Destruction, and the lead of the war those built upon half truths.

When return for my deployment I informed that in order to keep drawing my GI Bill I had to maintain my enlistment in the Army National Guard. Or I had to go into an Inactive Ready Reserve drawn no GI Bill, and be put on a big list of the go back to Iraq with any unit any army who needed a Black Hawk helicopter mechanic. No real choice at all. Once I return to school what really agitated me is that here were no sentiments about the war whatsoever, no discussions for or against it, just apathy. After seeing an interview one member of Iraq Veterans Against the War I realized I had to right and the obligation to speak against the domestic enemies of the Constitution.

Since I have joined Iraq Veterans Against the War have been embraced by community fellow concern veterans, whose concern is bringing the troops home now. I participated many events with Iraq Veterans Against the War, I am proud of every single one of them. I am currently the Los Angeles chapter vice president, a member of the national Board of Directors, a student at Cal State University Northridge majoring in Biomedical Physics, and a sergeant in the Army National Guard until August 2008. In Iraq Veterans Against the War I have learned that I am not alone.