By the time the Manitoban goes to print, University of Manitoba student Caitlin Yacucha will be promoted to the rank of corporal within the Canadian Forces, and she says that if given the choice to redo the entire journey she would in a heartbeat.

Yacucha said that she always been fascinated by soldiers of the First and Second World Wars, but found it difficult to explain exactly what inspired her to join the Canadian Forces.
Once in the military, Yacucha decided that she also wanted to pursue her educational interests and said balancing both parts of her life is definitely the toughest part.

“I’m in the army because I want to be a solider, and I’m in university because I want to be a student. I am very passionate about both and finding the right balance is difficult,” explained Yacucha.

Yacucha recognizes that her work takes her away from family and friends often, but accepted it as necessary sacrifice when she joined the Forces. She said that although the military road is hard to follow, it was a great stepping-stone for her, even if it doesn’t end up being the chosen career for some.

“[ . . . ] It’s hard work, but it’s absolutely worth it,” advises Yacucha.
Yacucha says that she spent 10 hot and dusty months in Afghanistan but had the opportunity to meet soldiers from many other countries including the United States, Great Britain, Australia, France and Germany.

Yacucha says that it was dangerous, and sometimes she was afraid, but it was very much worth her while, even if after her time spent overseas it was hard to reintegrate into Canadian society.

“Simple things such as driving or going grocery shopping can be overwhelming. Certain noises or smells can coax memories to the surface. Things like that will stay with soldiers for the rest of their lives,” explained Yacucha.

Balancing school and work responsibilities is something that U of M student and Cpl. John Sullivan said he is also still working on.

Sullivan was previously a financial planner for 12 years but left his civilian life behind to join the Canadian Forces when he was 38 years old.

“The change was motivated by my desire to serve the country in a time of crisis in a part of the world, Afghanistan, that I knew little about. I wanted to witness the crisis from a vantage point that really only the military could provide,” explained Sullivan.

Sullivan wanted to view Canada’s involvement in the war through his own eyes, and he felt the military offered an excellent vehicle to do this while grow personally and serving his country.

“Your job requires you put mission before self, which, if taken seriously reinforces the importance of everything you do, even the little things,” said Sullivan.

This value makes Sullivan’s trade his primary priority and concern, followed by ensuring the safety of his location, equipment and personnel. His personal comfort is one of his last priorities.

Sullivan works in the communications sector for the military, and his primary objective is establishing communications in the field. He echoed Yacucha’s sentiments that the military can be very physically and mentally demanding at times.

However, Sullivan said he felt that the challenging nature of the environment and job quickly builds trust amongst co-workers, as trust and good working relationships are necessary.

“The one characteristic within the military that I admire the most is the quality of the relationships you have with others,” said Sullivan.

“All things considered, the organization can be like an extended family; more often than not, every attempt is made to accommodate members who need help.”

Sullivan says that his work and experiences in the Canadian Forces has given him a deep appreciation for education and everything it entails.

“An education is a privilege, something I used to take for granted, and in Afghanistan for a generation of children it represents hope. Hope for a better life, a future,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan felt that his experience is probably not much different from any working student, except he has different experiences to draw from.

“I hope now I am better able to pair my experience with what used to be only words in a textbook,” says Sullivan.

These experiences were not what he expected, and they have given Sullivan an inside perspective on the struggle, the power of choice, and illustrated to him the similarities between Afghanis and Canadians.

“This struggle for me is not so much a question of right and wrong as it is one of choice. To be free to choose is something I think we all take too much for granted,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan said that he thought the Afghani people simply want to build a safer country and make a better life for their children, and felt that through the work of the Canadian Forces they are realizing that they can choose to do that.

“I was fortunate to have seen the look on their faces, young girls going to school for the first time. [ . . . ] It wasn’t unlike the excited look on the faces of my own children when they left for school for the first time,” said Sullivan.