Specialist Matthew Forney, a 20-year-old Military Intelligence Analyst, currently serving his very first deployment. He is presently in Iraq and I was able to contact him via telephone.
Specialist Forney, you are in the US Army National Guard, what is it you do, and can you explain a little bit about your job?
I am a Military Intelligence Analyst. A 35F (pronounced 35 Foxtrot). I chose this job because of my unusually high test score. Actually, it was my recruiter that recommended it to me because of my high test score. I wanted to do Infantry, but he suggested I would excel better at Military Intelligence. I am basically given all of this information, both classified and unclassified, and have to predict what is enemy is doing, going to do, and has already done.
Why did you decide to join the military?
I wanted to be my own person. I didn’t want to be given everything, you know? So I joined the Wisconsin National Guard to do that. My real home is a middle-class suburb just north of Madison, Wisconsin. I guess that’s why. My mom died of cancer when I was 14 years old. At that time I knew she had cancer, but didn’t really think she was really going to die, since it was, you know, my mom. When she did it really messed me up for a little while. My dad became an alcoholic and lost his job. Actually he still is an alcoholic and doesn’t have a job. My little brother looks up to me, so I have to show him the right way to be through example. I also kind of want to make my mom really proud.
How do you feel about Military Intelligence?
Well, just like any other group, we have our shitbags. I remember in MI AIT (Military Intelligence Advanced Individual Training) at Fort Huachuca, seeing a bunch of shitbags. It really is a shame how a few individuals can give us a bad name. I hope that isn’t what people think of us because there really are some brilliant people. It is a very difficult job to do.
Why would people view Military Intelligence negatively?
Well, for one, we have some of us that act like children. They just never grew up. It makes us look bad. Another reason is that , well let’s face it, you cant be right about everything. When we are wrong people (other soldiers) look at us like we’re idiots. You can only know so much as a human being. It’s like they expect us to be fuckin’ psychics or something. Why don’t they say the same for like economists or something? I guess it comes with the territory.
So you’re deployed right now, can you tell me a little bit about that?
Well, I am currently in Iraq at Division headquarters level (10-15,000 soldiers). Yeah, I don’t really get to go out a lot (patrols). It really feels like I am working at a desk job back home. Except last week, we received some mortar fire, and one of the rounds almost hit my bedroom. I don’t like being deployed at such a high level because I don’t really know what the real battleground is like, since I’ve never been there. It is actually kind of boring where I am. You can get a massage, go to Pizza Hut, and even go shopping (called a PX, Post Exchange). I would rather be at a Battalion level (300-1,200 soldiers) so that I can actually be with the soldiers that go out on patrols.
How do you feel about the war?
Man, I don’t know. I don’t want to say anything I’m going to regret. Let me tell you though, I’d rather be in Afghanistan.
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