JOINT BASE BALAD - His first assignment as an Army aviator was flying VIPs in Vietnam, and now his last assignment is flying VIPs here in Iraq.
"It is a full circle," said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Fredrick Bailey, a tactical operations officer for the 2nd Battalion, 641st (2-641) Aviation Regiment of the Oregon Army National Guard. "If I had not had the military experience, I wouldn't be the same person. My wife jokes, when I bleed I bleed green."
Bailey, who is almost 60 years old, will be required to retire after returning from this deployment.
"Back in 1969, when I joined the military, the draft was in effect," said Bailey. "I went to a recruiter and asked what my options are. I wanted to go Special Forces, but they said you have to go infantry and then apply. Then I said 'aviation,' I tested and got in."
Forty years ago, the typical service member didn't have a choice about whether or not to serve in the U.S. military.
"The most significant change is the all-volunteer force now," said Bailey. "When I first came in, people who joined were serving four years whether you liked it or not."
He added that people who got into trouble with the law were given a choice - jail or the military.
"Today's Army is different," said the Fayetteville, Ark., native. "Everyone is here, because they wanted to be here, whatever the reason."
Like so many years ago, Soldiers in today's National Guard know that deployment is inevitable. The outlook and attitude, as always, is still the choice of the Soldier.
"I chose the Army, over the other services, primarily because I could fly," said Bailey, a combat veteran, who has deployed six times during his military career. "I wanted to fly helicopters, and the Army would let me fly them right out of flight school."
Over the years and during multiple deployments, Bailey said he has learned a lot about himself.
"You learn a lot more about yourself going through the training," he said. "You get your system pushed and your comfort zone is thrown out the window."