Ex-soldier hopes to transition to outdoor civilian job

U.S. Army Sgt. Brian Welch and several of the Iraqi children he called "his irritants." "They thought we were God at times," Brian said of the children who idolized American soldiers. Brian, 23, is the son of Ron and Jan Welch of Danbury. Brian has one older brother, Nathan, who lives in Arizona with his wife, Cheryl. (Courtesy photo)

DANBURY -- Brian Welch saw joining the Army as a stepping stone toward college when he graduated from high school five years ago. Now, leaving active service, it's the Army that has given him direction not only to college, but to career possibilities after that.

Brian was home-schooled by his mother, and earned his GED degree through Decatur Community High School in Oberlin in 2004. He joined the Army "as a stepping stone" to college, he said. He planned on serving three years; a stint 41⁄2-five years long was unplanned, he said, with a wry smile.

He trained at Fort Benning, Ga., and was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, 1st Brigade, 1/87 Delta Co.in Fort Drum, N.Y.

Welch stands on the roof of Saddam Hussein's palace in July 2006, during a deployment with the U.S. Army in Iraq. (Courtesy photo)

Brian's first deployment to Iraq was at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, from Aug. 15, 2005, to July 28, 2006. He was stationed at Forward Operating Base McHenry near Kirkuk for his second deployment, from Sept. 7, 2007, until Oct. 14, 2008.

Brian said he didn't try to understand America's involvement in the Iraqi war. "There are so many factors ... too many variables," he said. It's the Iraqi kids and good friends that Brian will remember from his service.

"In Baghdad, during my first deployment, the kids were everywhere ... most of them unattended," Brian said. "They thought we were a supply train. They wanted everything from chocolates to pianos -- they though we had it all."

Brian Welch, right, relaxes with his parents, Ron and Jan, of Danbury, following his discharge Dec. 10 from the U.S. Army. Brian was deployed twice to Iraq, earning two Army Commendation medals and three achievement medals. He credits the Army's ACAP employment assistance program for steering him toward college and career opportunities that will capitalize on one of his desires, to work outdoors. The Welches moved to Danbury in 2001, after living 17 years in Texas. (Courtesy photo)

The kids could be irritants for sure, Brian said, but they could also be good sources of intelligence. They'd tell soldiers what they saw and when they saw it, Brian said, although it could mean trouble if the wrong Iraqi adults saw such an exchange of information.

Brian said he made many good, good friends among his fellow soldiers, people he plans to stay in touch with.

He returned to the United States, and will be officially discharged Jan. 23.

During his service, Brian was awarded two Army Commendation medals and three achievement medals.

As part of his preparation to leave the military, Brian was required to participate in ACAP -- the "Army Career and Alumni Program" -- a program which helps soldiers transition from federal service and provides employment counseling and assistance.

Brian said he had thought about working for the U.S. Border Patrol, (he was born and raised in Texas), but, although he wanted to be involved in law enforcement, he wanted something outside of conventional law enforcement and something in the great outdoors. It was the Army's ACAP process that steered Brian toward career opportunities with the U.S. Forestry Service.

"I had no clue (what I wanted to do) until I started the ACAP process," Brian said.

Brian leaves Jan. 29 for Riverton, Wyo., and placement testing and registration for summer classes at Central Wyoming College. He's considering two program options: "Outdoor Education and Leadership," which includes biology, mountaineering and rock climbing; and "Fire Science," which includes firefighting skills, urban rangeland fires and brush fires.

Brian will serve in the inactive Army Reserve for 31⁄2 years. His "MOS" -- Military Occupational Specialty -- is infantry. He said, "If they need infantry, I could get called back. But not too many do."