When Mary Flynn joined the National Guard, the main reason was to get money for her college career. However, after she was called to serve in Iraq in November 2003, her experience in the military turned into much more.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison student, who works as a specialist in the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment of the Wisconsin National Guard, interrupted her schooling at UW to serve.
“Ironically, I joined the National Guard to pay for school,” Flynn said. “But after I started, I realized I wanted a challenge, and I wanted to serve my country and be part of something bigger.”
Flynn, who was stationed in Iraq until February of this year, will start her senior year this fall.
The transition from student to soldier was difficult, Flynn said.
“I went through a lot of culture shock,” Flynn said. “It was also hard because you go from doing your own thing in Madison — dressing how you want, going to bed when you want — and then, when you go over there, you are told what to do with everything. I don’t like that, so that was hard to get used to.”
Since returning to Wisconsin, Flynn said she has readjusted to normal life, but her life is not the same.
“It’s weird being a student again because your priorities are different. Some things people talk about seem so trivial now,” she said. “But I am thankful to be here and to be able to do what I want to do, and it is nice to get to hang out with family and friends.”
While she looks forward to returning to school, Flynn noted that her experiences in the military will make her a better student here at UW.
“I have a really busy school schedule this semester,” Flynn said. “But after being in Iraq, I’m pretty sure I can handle just about anything now, and I would do it all over again if I had to.”
Others like Flynn have gone through similar situations and, according to Assistant Registrar Catherine Sheskie, more than 114 UW students and alumni have informed the UW Office of the Registrar that they served on active duty with the National Guard or Reserve units since fall 2002.
Currently, there are more than 21 UW students and alumni deployed with the Reserves and Guard combined, most of who are stationed in the Middle East.
Sheskie said when students who have served in the military return to school or current students get called up, there are many changes they struggle with. The registrar’s office assists these students by helping them file necessary paperwork to prepare to leave for duty or return from service.
Students can also take part in the Vets for Vets program, a student organization that helps them readjust to life on campus, Sheskie added.
Like Flynn, a number of those enlisted in the National Guard or Reserves receive financial support for college from state or federal sources.
“It has been a good recruiting tool,” Sheskie said. “But since the Iraqi War, we are seeing more students enlisting for patriotic reasons.”
In addition to students enlisted in the National Guard and Reserves, there are more than 200 UW students in the Army, Navy and Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps programs who have asked for commissions to serve in the U.S. military.
Lt. Col. John Bechtol, a professor of military science for the Army ROTC, said some of the students in ROTC programs also receive scholarships to cover tuition costs.
Bechtol said most cadets who apply for commissions receive them if they complete the necessary requirements, and, if accepted, the cadets serve in the U.S. military as officers.
However, Bechtol said the ROTC training process is extremely difficult. Not only are students expected to prove themselves in physical training, but to excel academically.
“We want people who we can trust our kids with,” Bechtol said, “because the people they will be watching over are someone’s kids.”
