[SGT.Gardner]

My name is Kevin Gardner
I was Medically Discharged on 20 Jan 2010 From the Army out of FT. Lewis WA. Before I was in the Army I made the mistake of joining the Navy, My time in the Navy saw me through Enginemen A school 6 weeks of BUDS training for the purpose of being a glorified water Taxi driver for those adrenalin seeking Sailors, Sere school as well as the navy’s tactical driving course, I know right.

Shortly after I left the Navy I joined the Army as an 88M. upon deploying to Iraq with 10th mountain 4th brigade out of FT. Polk LA our Battalion Commander was tasked with sending qualified soldiers to the NPTT (national police training team.) My commander told me that the reason why I was chosen to go to the team was because of the training I had received in the navy.

I enjoyed the time I had with those Professionals and I learned a lot. Towards the end of my tour we were heading back to the camp liberty when we were struck by a EFP that was behind one of those dam concrete barriers that are all over that country. I was told that I suffered minor wounds, and sent back to full duty after a month of being laid up. No rest for the wicked, upon returning to the states I PCS to FT Lewis were I went back to a transportation company.

After being on a small team I discovered that I struggled somewhat with the attitudes of my fellow soldiers, to me it was hard to deal with people who did not have that bond that I had had with the other guys on the NPTT team.

A few weeks went by and one morning at pt I saw a line of busses standing in formation a First Sergeant had asked if anyone would like to join SF. My commander pointed at me and said try SPC Gardner, so I got on the bus took a little trip answered some question did a lot of PT and then a physical, well my physical is what killed any chance I had at finding a home in SF, it turns out that the Shrapnel I had taken in Iraq had made hamburger out of my cartilage and the muscles around my right knee did not knit right when it healed. Not only was I not able to join SF but I was medically discharged 3 months later effectively ending my career in the Army.

What I never understood was why I did not let my injury bother me through everything we did no matter how hard it was to me it was a discomfort, but now it hurts every day. I am now a medically retired E-5, I live in Ford WA, and I find that even here I cannot connect with other veterans and then I stumbled upon this forum and thought I would give it a shot.

I know I was never SF but I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to sit and laugh with you all. and I do know there is nothing redacted on my DD-214 did not lose my files in a fire, the files from the Army are not secret , oh there are some things missing but that’s from Lazy NCO’S that did not want to do the paper work we all know how that is. I am married I have 2 daughters one 4 the other 7.

One thing I can say is I was extremely lucky to be given a chance to try out.