Personal Narrative: My Deployment To Iraq

I have experienced many stressful situations recently my organization, however none have compared to stress I experiences leading up to my deployment to Iraq. When I joined the Oregon National Guard, I was told to never go to the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (41 IBCT), made up of two Infantry Battalions, a Calvary Battalion, a Field Artillery Battalion, Support Battalion and the Headquarters. I was also told that I should especially never want to work in 2nd Battalion of the 162nd Infantry (2-162 IN BN), which was the strongest of the two Infantry elements in the brigade. After working in the state Joint Force Headquarters for eight years, because no other person in my career field would take the position, I was asked to take one for the team, and join 2-162 IN BN, as their Senior Human Resources Noncommissioned Officer. Two years leading up to the deployment I was continually tested, and these experience have ultimately made me a stronger leader.

Normally a battalion staff would have an HR officer in charge of the Human Resources (HR) section, and I would serve as his Enlisted Manager carrying out the day-to-day actions. This staff officer would attend meetings, training and planning sessions, …show more content…
I think my hairline or lack of hair is a great example of a symptom of the physiological effects of stress from serving 20 years in my organization. George and Jones pointed out around 18 symptoms, such as “high blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, and sleep disorders,” to name a few. (P. 274). Other than not having, a heart attacked, I have experienced all of the symptoms mentioned in the text. The physiological effects of stress do not just have a short-term effect; I am reminded every day that will always have to take high blood pressure medications, and my back has never been the