Students get military medal for signing up during war

Gary Lynch and Jay Warrick said they didn't think twice.

While the war in Iraq raged, both UB students left the friendly blue bubble of campus last year to join the military.

As a result, they have both earned the National Defense Medal, a yellow and red striped cloth attached to a bronze medal, reserved for American men and women who join during a time of war.

Gary Lynch, a sophomore from Ridge, N.Y., left UB for six years of active duty after joining the Navy on Aug. 25. He said he has had no regrets about his decision to leave school and become a full-time serviceman.

"It is a good cause. It is better for me and it will support what I believe in," he said.

Upon the time of the interview, Lynch was headed for boot camp in Illinois, followed by a year and a half of school in Charleston, S.C. for nuclear, power and prototype training.

Lynch said the school would be similar to college, except his classes will be top secret. Upon earning his degree, he will be able to choose which area he wants to go into based on his grades.

"Hopefully it will work out for the best," he said. "It's an experience, as anything else will be."

According to Lynch, while on active duty he will receive medical and dental coverage, $1,500 a month for attending school, 46 days paid leave and a $12,000 sign-on bonus.

Additionally, the Navy will pay for his books and supplies, as long as he maintains an A average.

After six years of service, the Navy will offer Lynch $60,000 to $80,000 to re-enlist, he said.

Lynch said the character-building traits his experiences in the military will give him are irreplaceable.

"You can gain respect and pride for yourself and others. It's better than doing nothing and sitting around," he said. "It seemed like a worthwhile program because you will better yourself from doing this."

Jay Warrick, a freshman civil engineering major, joined the Marine Corps reserves on Feb.10, 2004 with similar intentions of bettering himself.

"I've always wanted to be in the military, I just didn't know what branch. So I decided to go hard or go home," said Warrick, whose father is in the Navy.

Warrick said hearing his father's Navy stories growing up and his experiences as an Eagle Scout fueled his interest to help others and join the military.

Warrick went on to boot camp in Perris Island, S.C., which he was supposed to complete within 13 weeks. After developing a blood clot, his stay extended to six months.

"I don't care who you are, in boot camp everybody hates life," he said. "You get pretty messed up physically and mentally broken down so they can rebuild you the way they need you to be, to become effective."

In the medical rehabilitation platoon, training was ten times worse, he said, because he didn't have the luxury of counting the days until graduation.

"You don't know when you're getting out of there," Warrick said.

At the boot camp graduation ceremony Warrick and his fellow graduates received the National Defense Medal to wear on their dress uniforms. They were told they would receive the medal when they first arrived.

"As soon as we graduated boot camp we could pin it on," he said.

Following boot camp, Warrick went on for training at Camp Geiger in North Carolina and tank school at Ft. Knox in Kentucky.

As a member of the Eighth Tank Battalion, Charlie Company, Lance Corporal Warrick reports one weekend a month to Mattydale, N.Y., which is just north of Syracuse and attached to an Army reserve station.

"It's a nice little military community," he said. "It's a breath of fresh air to go there and have a real routine. It's a brotherhood."

The possibility of being deployed overseas is a reality Warrick takes as just another part of his job.

"I don't plan around getting deployed, but I'm going to remain flexible," he said. "Honestly, I wouldn't mind getting deployed, but I know everyone would worry way too much about me."

Warrick added that deployment would make him a true Marine.

"I think being able to prove my worth as a Marine would be getting deployed," he said. "I don't think anyone likes getting shot at, but if that does occur I'm ready for it."

Warrick, who is a supporter of President Bush, said that when people in his dorm criticize the President he deals with it in an untraditional way.

"I posted the number to the White House and the defense department on my door and told them to address George W.," he said.

With his training nearly completed, and his future as a Marine reservist yet to be decided, Warrick said the National Defense Medal is secondary compared to the sense of accomplishment one receives for serving their country.

"I'm a firm believe that it doesn't matter how many medals are on your uniform." he said. "What matters is what you do."