Retired Army Sgt. First Class Tom Cushing gave the local community an in-depth look at the lifestyle that is military service during the annual Veterans Round Table Discussion Monday evening.
Cushing was the featured speaker for the event and covered several topics from overseas deployments to continued community service following retirement and how enlisting in the military is much more than just a job for the servicemen and women of the US Armed Forces. Cushing says the largest example of this is how in a traditional 9 to 5 job an individual will go to work and promptly return home once they have concluded their workday.
In the military, a typical workday can easily span over several weeks and unlike a typical job, there is no guarantee you may come home once it is complete. Additionally, Cushing says the bonds that are forged amongst “coworkers” in the armed service is far beyond what most individuals can comprehend.
Cushing served 20 years of active duty in the Army and another five in the Army reserves attaining the rank of Sgt. First Class before his retirement. He saw several deployments overseas including to Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan and was involved in Operation Desert Storm.
One of the lead organizers of the round table Clarence Frye, a Navy veteran with 30 years of service, says the event is not only an educational resource for civilians, he believes it is a therapeutic outlet for veterans that allows them to speak freely about their experiences.
The Veterans Round Table is part of All Veterans Tribute activities ongoing throughout the week and is sponsored by the ESU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Social Sciences, Sociology and Criminology.
