Phillip Reeves

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Segment Synopsis: Reeves grew up with several brothers in Bossier City, Louisiana and in Colorado for a time. In middle school he enjoyed reading. He describes himself as an "angsty, angry kid" in high school. He graduated in 2008 and was ready to have a job.

Keywords: brothers; wrestling

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Segment Synopsis: After high school, Reeves knew he wanted to join the military but did not want to do it right away. In 2010, Reeves joined the Army Reserves because he wanted combat, to be in the "world of men".

Keywords: Army Reserves

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Segment Synopsis: For basic training, Reeves was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia. Reeves describes boot camp as being brutal but glad that he did it.

Keywords: Fort Benning Georgia; Medic; Sand Hill

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Segment Synopsis: Reeves discusses going to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Sam, Houston, to become a combat medic. While it was a challenge academically, he has no regrets about his MOS.

Keywords: Fort Sam Houston, Tx

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Segment Synopsis: Reeves' duty station was in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he had to report to one weekend out of every month and then two weeks in the summer. During this time he attended classes at Louisiana State University in Shreveport.

Keywords: duty station; Hot Spring, Ar.

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Segment Synopsis: Before being deployed, Reeves had to go to training in El Paso, Texas, where he received live tissue training in a goat lab. He recounts this experience.

Keywords: El Paso Texas; tissue lab

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Segment Synopsis: Reeves was deployed as part of a route clearance team to Shindan Air Force Base in Afghanistan, which is on the western part of the country near Iran. He discusses what the civilian population was like, the region, and what life was like on the base.

Keywords: Afghanistan; Shindan Air Force Base

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Segment Synopsis: Reeves discusses his unit's typical missions. He talks about different military vehicles that were used for route clearance such as the Husky and the Buffalo. His unit would have to deal with explosives made from gasoline and fertilizer. He also explains that it was his job to check others for traumatic brain injuries.

Keywords: buffalo clearance vehicle; Husky VMMD; route clearance

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Segment Synopsis: As a medic, Reeves received one day of mental health training, yet was expected to help fellow soldiers with mental health problems. He discusses what it was like to be on a ten-month deployment and how it affected not only him but the others around him.

Keywords: battle mind; mental health

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Segment Synopsis: Reeves briefly discusses his thoughts on joining the Army Reserves--from loving basic training to realizing there were faults with his unit.

Keywords: army reserves

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Segment Synopsis: Reeves came home during the 2013 government shutdown, so his demobilization process was sped up. He acknowledges that people lied to get into the military as well as lied during demobilization to get to go home.

Keywords: 2013 government shutdown

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Segment Synopsis: Although he wanted to join the Coast Guard, Reeves was unable to due to a tattoo. He went home and became a handy man's apprentice. Today he is enrolled at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, after which he hopes to teach high school.

Keywords: buisness; coast guard

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Reeves says that he is very happy with his military career and that he would do it all again. His advice to someone thinking about joining the military would be to join active duty if they need a push. Active duty gives direction in life. Go to combat. That it is life experience that you can't get anywhere else. He also suggest people conduct research, research, research before they join.

Keywords: service