On November 9th our newest Cav Chronicle reporters: Aisha Maldonado & Annelise Lora conducted a candid interview with a military Veteran. His name is Christopher Zuniga and he currently serves as JSEC’s Army Community Partner and Military Recruiter. The reporters asked him a series of questions that they felt JSEC students and all readers would be interested in learning about. Upon arriving for his interview Sergeant First Class Christopher Zuniga brought a duffle bag filled with pencils, pens, t-shirts, sweatshirts, lanyards, and other Army merchandise and gave to JSEC for distribution to students. After a quick meet-n-greet the reporters went to work and conducted this extensive interview:
INTERVIEW with SGG First Class Chris Zuniga:
Q:What are the rules in the army?
A: There are several rules In the military, you have to be a good person, you can’t do drugs, you can’t drink and drive. You also have to be at certain places at a certain time with a certain uniform throughout the day during while performing duties.
Q: Have you ever gone overseas?
A: Yes, I’ve gone overseas several times, specifically been to Korea two times for non-combat deployment and was there for 9 months both times. I’ve also gone to Iraq in 2010 and Germany for only 3 hours waiting to take a plane to go to Iraq.
Q: What are the physical requirements to join the army?
A: The physical requirements allow most to enlist as long as you don’t have any medical conditions limiting service. They do issue certain waivers related to this and must be approved. An example of this would be: If you had asthma when you were little there are processes that we have to do to get you approved. As long as they don’t have any disabilities, like a broken leg, or a missing leg or arm. To join anything that limits your movement may be an obstacle but addressed on an individual basis.
Q:What would disqualify you from joining the military?
A: There are several things that may disqualify a person from joining the military such as breaking laws or for being locked up or having any felonies and finally having any serious medical conditions. For example if a person had asthma if they got a prescription for the inhaler then that may cover medical and legal issues.
Q: What’s the best thing about being in the army?
A: There are several, as for family, his family will always be able to have a house over there head, food on the table. He has a study pay check that gets bigger by the year with regular raises. Financial and educational security is another so one benefit that he has is his daughter will have education as in his daughter will go to college for free. Also you get to see different cultures, meet new people, and see and hear different point of views. So overall the atmosphere, security, and friendship you make over the years really are the best things about being in the army.
Q:How long is basic training?
A:It is ten weeks and during those ten weeks you have a family weekend. Then the job that you picked, you’ll go to AIT ,(advanced individual training)and that will help you learn how to do your job. While you’re in school the whole time you get paid, you don’t have to pay your rent and you get free food.
Q:Does being in the army affect relationships with your significant other
A: It will affect your relationship regardless. Sometimes we will would be gone for long periods of time and have to go to a different place to train before deployment which effects time spent with family and friends. Also when working at your home station some are local but still gone for another month of training. You have to be smart and choose your partner as they will need to be aware of these things.
Q:How old do you need to be to join the army?
A: 17 years old and a junior in high school. You have to have your parents permission to start any of the process. You do need to finish high school before getting a job in the army so you can receive either a high school diploma or a GED.
Q:Why do we see so many veterans homeless and without healthcare?
A:It just depends on what you want to do because the help is there you have to go through a process.
Q:How long is the joining process?
A:It depends on your medical history, law violations, and things that you have in your background The fastest enlistment was 3 weeks and longest was 6 months because of a potential soldier failing one of the tests.
Q:What is the worst thing being in the military
A: From his point of view it is being gone so much because he is misses some family events. You will have 30 days of vacation every years though.
Q:What are some things you can get kick out of the military for?
A: You can get kick out for drug issue, drinking issue, and sexual assault. Also anything you do outside of the army are can be grounds for dismissal.
Reporters had to return to class but really appreciated the time Chris gave them. Any student thinking about potentially joining the military are welcomed to speak to him and he can share even more about the Military. Chris will be working with the PE/Health Staff to create some fun physical challenges in the gym so keep your eyes out for him. Should you want to speak to Chris directly he is more than willing to have a conversation with you. You can reach out to him anytime. The Cav Chronicle Newspaper Staff want to thank Chris the time he gave for this interview.