Interview with Sarah T. Ray, November 20, 2013

Partial Transcript: Alright so we're here with Sarah Ray. Um, Sarah, you want to tell us where you're from and...

Segment Synopsis: Ray talks about growing up in Michigan, mentioning her relationship with her older sister and parents. She talks about how and why she decided to join the Army, including her mother's reaction. She talks about her sister's boyfriend who was killed in Iraq. She talks about the support she receives from her sister.

Keywords: Camaraderie; Decision; Growing up; Mother's reaction

Subjects: Jackson (Mich.); United States. Army

Partial Transcript: So when you joined you signed up to be military police.

Segment Synopsis: Ray discusses why she joined the military police, the closest infantry-like job for a woman. She goes on to talk about her experiences during boot camp, mentioning that she enjoyed learning new things.

Keywords: "Smoking" yourself; Experiences; Memorable moments; Physical training (PT) test; Speaking Spanish

Subjects: United States. Army--Military police.; United States. Army--Women

Partial Transcript: So when you were graduating and your parents showed up, did you--was your mom...

Segment Synopsis: Ray talks about her experiences during her military police training, including her handgun training. She talks about the variety of personalities among the military police trainees. She talks about how her experiences during training helped broaden her perceptions about people.

Keywords: Attitudes; Experiences; Handgun training; Other trainees; Perceptions; Personalities

Subjects: United States. Army--Military police.; United States. Army--Women

Partial Transcript: Lets fast-forward to after AI-- or basic, AIT and military police training, what was next?

Segment Synopsis: Ray talks about getting her deployment notice during her first drill weekend. She talks about her excitement in regard to deploying, mentioning that people in her unit also wanted to deploy. She talks about her training leading up to her deployment. She also talks about her expectations of her deployment.

Keywords: Annual training (AT); Concerns; Deployment notices; Drill weekends; Home units; Parents; Reactions; Worst case scenario training

Subjects: Cincinnati (Ohio); Fort Bliss (Tex.); United States. Army--Military police.; United States. Army--Reserves

Partial Transcript: Going into country, tell me about coming to Afghanistan for the first time.

Segment Synopsis: Ray talks about landing at Bagram Airfield during her first tour of duty in Afghanistan, and then talks about landing at Kandahar Airfield during her second tour of duty. She talks about her experiences during her first tour of duty in Bagram.

Keywords: Bagram Airfield (Afghanistan); Bagram base attack (May 2010); Calling home; Expectations; Experiences; First tour of duty; KAF; Kandahar Airfield (Afghanistan)

Subjects: Afghan War, 2001-; United States. Army--Military police.

Partial Transcript: What took place, what took place after those, those ten months...

Segment Synopsis: Ray talks about returning home and having a difficult time transitioning back into civilian life.

Keywords: Demobilization; Returning home; Transitioning

Subjects: Afghan War, 2001- --Veterans.

Partial Transcript: What was the mission of this second deployment?

Segment Synopsis: Ray discusses her experiences during her second tour of duty, mentioning that it was very different from her first tour of duty. She talks about training and living with Afghan police outside of Kandahar, Afghanistan. She talks about two incidents she experienced while she was there, mentioning that it quelled her desire for excitement. She also talks about how the second attack caused tension between the Americans and Afghan police.

Keywords: Afghan National Police (ANP); Being in-country; Calling home; Improvised explosive devices (IEDs); Insurgent attacks; Security Force Assistance Team (SFAT); Training

Subjects: Afghan War, 2001-; Kandahār (Afghanistan); United States. Army--Military police.

Partial Transcript: Nearing the end of the deployment wha--when was this and when did you head back home?

Segment Synopsis: Ray talks coming back stateside and demobilizing at Fort Bliss in Texas. She talks about her homecoming with her family.

Keywords: Demobilization; Employment; Homecoming; Horse farms; Transitioning

Subjects: Afghan War, 2001- --Veterans.; Fort Bliss (Tex.)

Partial Transcript: And--so what was that process like and who or what really motivated you to...

Segment Synopsis: Ray talks about her decision to enroll in school. She talks about the differences between herself and her fellow classmates. She talks about having trouble relating to other students.

Keywords: ACT Compass test; Decision to enroll; Frustrations; Structure

Subjects: Afghan War, 2001--Veterans.; Veterans--Education (Higher)--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So, lets see, I usually ask this question towards the, towards the end of the, of the interview...

Segment Synopsis: Ray discusses her future both in the Army Reserves and outside of the military. She talks about how college is helping her prepare for civilian life. She also talks about how she's proud of her military service.

Keywords: Experiences; Pride

Subjects: Afghan War, 2001- --Veterans.; United States. Army--Reserves