Eric Mazzone:
CLASS OF 1995
Loy Norrix High SchoolClass of 1995
Kalamazoo, MI
Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeClass of 2007
Kalamazoo, MI
Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeClass of 1997
Kalamazoo, MI
Eric's Story
College
Well lets see, I started at KVCC in Computer Science, but decided that the professors had no idea what they were teaching. I then switched to pre-education, because I wanted to be a teacher, and I added Phys-Ed to be a coach also.
Then I joined the Military and stopped going to College, to get a full time job.
I tried going back to KVCC to pursue a Degree in Graphic Design, and further into Photography. But I was not able to take many classes because of conflicts with work.
In the Summer of 2006 I went back again to KVCC for Business Administration transfer program to WMU. I'm doing really well in my classes and will graduate from KVCC in the Spring of 2009.
When I transfer to WMU I will study either Personal Finacial Advising or Accounting.
In January 2007 I was activated to attend the Defense Language Institute in Monterey California to learn German. I graduated in September 2007 and quickly deployed to Iraq in November of 2007 to November 2008.
I am now back at KVCC for my final semester.
Workplace
After High School I started working at Humphrey Products in their student help program. I worked there until July of '97, just before I shipped out to basic training.
When I got back from basic and AIT I went to a temp service and got a job at Midwest Fasteners, I stayed there until mid 2000 when I went to Pharmacia as a temp.
In Feb 2001 I was highered in at Pharmacia full time. I stayed there until mid 2004 when I left under less than favorable circumstances.
I then worked at The Printer Ink and Toner Warehouse.
I did shipping, customer support and tech support. I really liked it there. I left in March of 2006 for better things.
I started with The Home Depot part time in August of 2007. Which will enable me to take classes full time at KVCC.
Military
I joined the Army Reserve in Jan '97, and my 8 ye...Expand for more
ar enlistment is up this next Jan.
I went to Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina in Sept '97. I then had my Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. My MOS is 38A, Civil Affairs Specialist.
In Civil Affairs we are the ones the deal with all the Civilians in a country. By deffinition "We act as liason between civilian, military and non-governmental organizations. NGOs are groups like the Red Cross and Doctors without Borders. We help facilitate the restoration of civil governments and civil infrastructure in host nations.
In Aug 1999 I was deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Endeavor, Task Force Falcon.
I was stationed in Strpce, Kosovo with my team until Christmas we were pulled back to Camp Bondsteel. (Oh by the way if you get an e-mail saying it is by a Marine at Camp Bondsteel, Bosnia it is a false story. Bondsteel is in Kosovo.) We stayed on Bondsteel until we left in Early March. While in Kosovo my team helped rebuild 5 towns, 2 schools, and helped 4 major employers restart their businesses. I learned so much in Kosovo that even though I was scared to go I would not give up the experiance. I even volunteered to go back the next two times my unit had the tasking to go back.
After I got back too the states I hurt my knees doing a APFT, and it took my unit 3 years to get me into see a doctor so I could do the PT test again and get promoted. As it stands I'm still a SPC E-4, when I should have just gotten E-6 SSG. Now another medical condition has reared its ugly head and I have to see a doctor again, but I can still to the PT test for now, and I will pass it the next time I take it making me eligible for promotion. Hopefully this condition will be resolved by the end of Nov. and I will be overseas by Dec or Jan.
Joining the Army was the best decision I have ever made.
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