Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
5:34 | After returning to college after airborne school, Christina Cross prepared herself physically and mentally for the prospect of heading off to war. More training at Fort Polk and Fort Benning got her ready for her deployment to Ramadi, Iraq.
Keywords : Training Civilian working physical fitness preparation mental health physical health Oklahoma Fort Polk Fort Benning deployment Ramadi Iraq
Growing up with both parents as Marines, Christina Cross grew up with a military influence in her family that caused her to want to join. Living on a military base as a kid was very influential for her and helped give her a sense of what it was like. She still remembers the influence that 9/11 had on her life and desire to join the service.
Working in Civil Affairs, it's essential to understand the nuances of what is going on in the place you're deployed. Christina Cross made sure she was well-versed in the intellectual part as well as the physical training. Being given the honor graduate award at airborne school meant a lot to her.
First arriving in Iraq, Christina Cross and her battalion had to adjust to life in the desert. She was tasked with working with the Iraqis to improve the local schools which had suffered from the war. Her experiences with the Iraqi people were also memorable.
Being a female soldier in Iraq allowed Christina Cross to be very influential especially among the women & children that they came in contact with. By learning what Iraqi women were good at, they were able to create a Women's Business Center that let the women sew, knit and create products that they were later able to sell at the bazaar.
Christina Cross remembers some of the close calls she had while stationed in Ramadi, Iraq. Remaining alert during civilian interactions and while moving through new areas was essential for them to stay safe.
Dealing with IEDs was a constant threat in Iraq that Christina Cross had to deal with as a Humvee driver. Figuring out how to best navigate situations with these devices took time to learn.
Christina Cross remembers her last few weeks in Ramadi and the difficulties that came from transitioning away from the meaningful work she felt she was doing. Making relationships with the Iraqi children made it hard to leave.
