1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,550 I'm major . So Tommy Mac 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:05,393 martin . I worked with in public 3 00:00:05,393 --> 00:00:07,449 affairs at the third Medical Command 4 00:00:07,449 --> 00:00:09,504 deployment support . One of the most 5 00:00:09,504 --> 00:00:11,727 satisfying jobs in wearing this uniform 6 00:00:11,727 --> 00:00:13,671 has been , This created a sense of 7 00:00:13,671 --> 00:00:15,893 confidence and protection and belonging 8 00:00:15,893 --> 00:00:18,004 for me , a sense of confidence I felt 9 00:00:18,004 --> 00:00:20,227 throughout the years I could accomplish 10 00:00:20,227 --> 00:00:22,171 anything and if there was anything 11 00:00:22,171 --> 00:00:24,393 questionable , the army has provided me 12 00:00:24,393 --> 00:00:26,616 the tools to be able to learn to figure 13 00:00:26,616 --> 00:00:28,727 that out as far as protection . I'm a 14 00:00:28,727 --> 00:00:30,560 part of a force with the duty of 15 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:32,449 protecting the nation . And I was 16 00:00:32,449 --> 00:00:34,560 reminded of that as a young soldier . 17 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:36,560 When I deployed overseas , I walked 18 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:38,727 through the airport , I was nervous as 19 00:00:38,727 --> 00:00:40,782 myself and my fellow soldiers walked 20 00:00:40,782 --> 00:00:40,440 through the airport . We just heard a 21 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,607 round of applause . There were a group 22 00:00:42,607 --> 00:00:44,718 of civilians . They just stopped what 23 00:00:44,718 --> 00:00:46,829 they were doing and they applauded us 24 00:00:46,829 --> 00:00:46,810 and thanked us for our service and the 25 00:00:46,810 --> 00:00:49,260 fierce excited and we were reminded 26 00:00:49,260 --> 00:00:52,100 that we were a part of a bigger purpose . 27 00:00:52,110 --> 00:00:54,300 It amazes me how many civilians I've 28 00:00:54,300 --> 00:00:56,630 met that they also served in the 29 00:00:56,630 --> 00:00:59,530 military in different branches . And I 30 00:00:59,530 --> 00:01:01,400 just immediately felt a sense of 31 00:01:01,410 --> 00:01:03,890 connection that no matter where I go in 32 00:01:03,890 --> 00:01:06,112 this world , I'm connected to a veteran 33 00:01:06,112 --> 00:01:09,000 or someone who previously served . I've 34 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,167 won this uniform for years . I've gone 35 00:01:11,167 --> 00:01:13,111 from being prior listed to being a 36 00:01:13,111 --> 00:01:15,111 private all the way through being a 37 00:01:15,111 --> 00:01:17,278 major . When I was fired , enlisted as 38 00:01:17,278 --> 00:01:19,167 a medic , I worked in el Salvador 39 00:01:19,167 --> 00:01:21,333 Central America on a medical mission . 40 00:01:21,333 --> 00:01:23,580 I went to Iraq as a finance officer and 41 00:01:23,580 --> 00:01:25,860 now is a major working within public 42 00:01:25,860 --> 00:01:28,027 affairs at the third medical Command . 43 00:01:28,027 --> 00:01:30,082 Some of the highlights being here at 44 00:01:30,082 --> 00:01:32,082 the third medical Command . Working 45 00:01:32,082 --> 00:01:34,138 within the public affairs department 46 00:01:34,138 --> 00:01:36,350 has been covering events like the best 47 00:01:36,350 --> 00:01:38,600 word competition have been able to 48 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,370 create marketing ads showcasing some of 49 00:01:41,370 --> 00:01:43,148 our soldiers and their civilian 50 00:01:43,148 --> 00:01:45,780 military careers . Um and I've also had 51 00:01:45,780 --> 00:01:47,836 the opportunity to travel and follow 52 00:01:47,836 --> 00:01:50,720 generals and as they've given awesome 53 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,210 speeches and mobilize our soldiers For 54 00:01:54,220 --> 00:01:56,600 for example , most recently um in the 55 00:01:56,610 --> 00:01:58,443 fight against Covid , one of the 56 00:01:58,443 --> 00:02:01,000 largest army reserve mobilizations and 57 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:02,889 one of my favorite missions was a 58 00:02:02,889 --> 00:02:05,350 medical readiness exercise in Ghana 59 00:02:05,350 --> 00:02:07,840 Africa where I highlighted some of our 60 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:09,562 armed reserve soldiers working 61 00:02:09,562 --> 00:02:11,740 alongside active duty Anthony in 62 00:02:11,740 --> 00:02:13,907 medical professionals on surgeries and 63 00:02:13,907 --> 00:02:16,950 other procedures . My civilian military 64 00:02:16,950 --> 00:02:19,510 career the latter portion of the years 65 00:02:19,510 --> 00:02:22,180 has really benefited one another . I 66 00:02:22,190 --> 00:02:25,250 attended film school at USC School of 67 00:02:25,250 --> 00:02:28,110 Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles And for 68 00:02:28,110 --> 00:02:31,070 me been in public affairs , I've been 69 00:02:31,070 --> 00:02:33,810 able to bring a sense of storytelling 70 00:02:33,810 --> 00:02:36,300 to the products I've created here . Um 71 00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:38,700 as a young soldier in Iraq , I've used 72 00:02:38,710 --> 00:02:42,020 my platform to tell stories . Even 73 00:02:42,030 --> 00:02:43,919 hosted events in Saddam Hussein's 74 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,030 Palace theater for soldiers to forget 75 00:02:46,030 --> 00:02:48,650 where they were back then and to and to 76 00:02:48,660 --> 00:02:51,290 create something um to transition their 77 00:02:51,290 --> 00:02:53,580 thoughts into something positive . I'm 78 00:02:53,580 --> 00:02:55,802 grateful for this career . I'm grateful 79 00:02:55,802 --> 00:02:57,913 for wearing this uniform in the booth 80 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,830 and I am and will forever be a soldier 81 00:03:00,830 --> 00:03:02,760 for life . Yeah . 82 00:03:06,940 --> 00:03:10,060 Mm hmm , mm hmm .