I’m in the Army Reserve. I left for basic training about a year ago. I went to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Right after we finished with basic, we headed straight out to AIT. That stands for advanced individual training. It’s your first round of specialized schooling. I studied for 13 weeks in Fort Lee, Virginia, to be a water-treatment specialist.

I never really planned on joining the military. I thought about it seriously for the first time for just about two weeks before I went ahead and enlisted. I was in school before I joined up, but I elected not to finish school so that I could get started. When I was signing up, the recruitment officers all told me that my chances of going to Iraq were very high. I don’t think about it that much, but when the time comes, I am willing to go. Actually, this coming week they are going to begin training us with heading over to Iraq more in mind. They are saying that by June, we should be deployed.

Initially, going into basic training as a Native American was a very different experience from what other soldiers go through. It seemed that way to me at least. I wasn’t used to being away from my culture at all. It was a big change for me. But people were very understanding. Everybody was always really interested to learn more about me and about being Blackfeet. I didn’t even meet another Native American soldier until after training, but now I have three other Natives right in my own unit.

My first three weeks away, I missed home. Then, after nine months of active duty, I got to come home and I didn’t want to be here. You get used to being in that military environment.

I guess my family was pretty surprised when I enlisted. But they shouldn’t have been. We come from one of the biggest military families here on the reservation. My great-grandmother received an award from the government since all of her boys served in the military. I kind of have some big shoes to fill.

I’m looking into going into administration and supply as a specialty. Hopefully I’ll get my schooling soon. But the best thing about being in the military has been traveling and getting to meet so many people. It also got me into great shape. I am so healthy now. I’ve been up since 4 AM with no problem.

HEIDI RUNNING WOLF

COMMENTS

Subject: Hey SSG Date: Mar 17 2006 05:24:34 AM Author: Pikunaki Thanks for your post, I wish you and all the young people lots of luck and a safe return home. What you are saying is really true and I am glad you posted Subject: ... Date: Mar 07 2006 09:53:30 AM Author: SSG Im also in the Army and I am native I will say this. Yes there is issues with the land subject/gov and us natives to say there isnt now would be a lie. However I joined to defend my nation my tribal nation and the usa in the process of doing my job. Lets just be honest about any minority serving most of us ARENT rich and institutionalized racism has helped in making most of us lower class to poverty ridden peoples and when the military comes around dangling that college money and a chance to get out of where we are living.In our desperation we grab that with both hands in the hopes we can pull ourselves out of where we are. If we are going to talk about serving in the military realize that many didnt initially join because of patriotism this includes the majority poor whites as well Subject: JENNY Date: Feb 08 2006 09:11:58 AM Author: rezrunr101 us n8ives make some of the best fighters in the world..look at Ira Hayes or Lori Piestewa..none of us "hate" the U.S. for taking our land...we just as willing to lay our lives on the line for this country as any other ethnic group Subject: ARMY Date: Feb 07 2006 02:06:36 AM Author: Jessica Hey how are you? Well my name is Jessica, I too am Blackfeet..my mom grew up in Browning..last name Boggs. The Army has so much to offer. My older sister is in the Army and I just signed. Nice to know another Blackfoot in the military. Take care and God Bless! Good Luck in all you do, Jessica. JessaLynnMZ@aol.com Subject: ........pride. Date: Feb 02 2006 11:11:45 AM Author: ber i guess that we all are proud of our soldiers...cause if not we all were kinda hippies, its great to know that US has a lot of qualified people to conquer the world, but at the same time it sucks, it´s not a family thing, it´s just that you all are pride of what you've been seing on CNN. Subject: Heidi Date: Jan 31 2006 02:07:35 PM Author: Hopi Manybears Hey Heidi..you go gurl!! Come home, okay? our little Lori Piestewa didn't get that chance. Subject: too bad it's on this site Date: Jan 31 2006 12:38:40 PM Author: Lisa such a good story...too bad it had to be on this site. You are one of a great many we are proud of. Subject: question for Vanessa Date: Jan 30 2006 09:55:02 PM Author: Robert I'm from this reservation and my name is on the little sign with stars on it in front of the car wash on main street. The one that says Operation Iraqi Freedom, you seen the pics, right? I served for 16 years in the army and am a combat veteran. I decided to join the military....not for either one of your two reasons, but for my own reason. I'll break it down for you. I also have a very rich family history in the military. I have proof of my family participation in every was since the Indian Wars and can only assume in every war previous to that but cannot document. The only war my family is not in is the civil war for reasons that should be obvious. No Congressional Medal of Honor receipients or code talkers, but more like battle of the bulge participants, Normandy. You know, the kind of guys who prefer you put the medal on him without the dammits on the back and punch it into his chest. I would never let that kind of history die with my generation. So Jenny, some of us join because of the man who would stand to my left or right. My question to you Vanessa, Why did you let that amazing history fade away with your coming? Subject: to heidi Date: Jan 28 2006 11:59:52 PM Author: friends we are proud of you and glad you decided to do something better with your life than drinking around. good luck in iraq and come home safely. Subject: sow huh? Date: Jan 18 2006 08:51:16 PM Author: um why would you be any more surprised about natives joining the military than urban blacks? Subject: Answer to your question Jenny... Date: Jan 17 2006 09:21:05 PM Author: Vanessa Why do Native Americans join the army? Well, Native Americans have been in North America for God only knows how long... By joining the military, it's a way for a Native to support and defend their homeland. There is so much pride in that. Interesting? Yes, I think so myself. The other reason is sad, but true. It's because of poverty. When you're impoverished there are few options available for an individual. The Army and other branches of military advertise themselves as a gateway for oppurtunity and as an escape from a world that doesn't have much to offer. Fucked Up? Most definitely. Also, me being Navajo and all... I have military history in my family. My great grandfather is a Code Talker - George Kirk is his name. Most Navajo kids admire the Code Talkers and think that joining the militiary is respectable. I wish there were better options available besides joining the military... Subject: natives in the military Date: Jan 17 2006 04:45:37 PM Author: trey Both my grandpa and my grandma served in WWII, as did 3 of his brothers. At the same reserve seven brothers also enlisted. Some were decorated, wounded, made sergeants, lieutenants, corporals, but most importantly, all came back alive. ( That's amazing to me as I know my grandpa was a paratrooper in France. ) When he came back he was able to get work as an Indian agent for the government. Subject: pt 3 though it appears 1st Date: Jan 16 2006 07:56:13 PM Author: kele i went to the anti wardemo also which is why i don't want to give this article any more thought or promotion than i have to. Subject: this is part two although it appears 1st Date: Jan 16 2006 07:55:26 PM Author: kele' pt 2 fore with this issue so what are they supposed to do they're damned if they do (smoke crack and kill people) and damned if they don't (read VICE) these do's and don't are getting so fucking OTT nowadays i don't know if those really harsh one's in the worst issue ever are even that bad anymore at the time it was pretty shocking but that whole issue had me thinking maybe this whole thing's a joke but then how could a commercial project be a fucking joke it has to be real if the thing is actually in my hands but what does that even mean anyway anything could be in my hands even a nice pair of fucking tits which i really like because i'm no fag even though a good friend asked me if i was over the weekend he was with his girl and shit so's i knew dood wasn't coming on to me and so i totally told him no man i don't roll with other doods just cus i ain't got no chick and he kind of shut up and started ripping on some iranian guy that was sitting in the corner of the room that was soo stupid he's actually from palastine which is where all the fighting and shit happens on the strip that seperates ireal from that place thats sort of like deptfor high st at the top you got all these students and down the bottom its roodbwoy city and you really don't wanna go there unless you got balls or want chicken they got a shop that sells that shit for like a pound but they don't do pizza's like the places in woolwhich do i used to pretend i was from there but that was just to get on a demo i went Subject: the army Date: Jan 16 2006 07:40:02 PM Author: kele' olkaroodoodoo hey i'm tottally against violence and armed combat and eating meat and animal testing and violence towards women, children, the elderly, the handicapped, the unemployed, the 'different', the gays, the lesbo's, mambers of ethnic minorites that had to struggle to get this far and at the end of the day why the fuck does everything have to be like that any-fucking-way. I mean why shouldn't chicks join the army alex may think there's no do-able puss in this ish' but i fo-sho' think this beeeyatch is fo sheezy andyway if the army wasn't IN iraq in the first place there would be no war and no need to send her out there and she could get killed and that's not going to help the fucking rez is it, these people are lucky to have people like gavin mcinnes and shane and that black guy come in and help out thier cause and after all the good work these 'big three' did the fucking army goes and gets this entirely fuckable chick killed over earning some oil from some fucking ragheads petrol is going through the roof and maybe its a good thing because people need to walk more nowadays anyways people are all out in thier fucking cars like whatever and blaring all the garage shit and that just makes blacks look bad because it emphisizes all the negative aspects of our culture and way of life not every black man is an angry gun-toting crack-fuelled killer of people you know the funniest part is the main ones that are like that are in or were in the army which is exactly what you brought to the Subject: JENNY Date: Jan 15 2006 11:43:45 AM Author: Jenny I'm Jenny and I have a question. Why do so many Native Americans join the army? Don't they hate the USA for taking all their land?