“I joined when I was 17. I had always wanted to answer our nations call. I had originally wanted to be a Navy Seal but the Army took me when I was 17 and a junior in HS and the Navy made me wait until I was 18. My school was not a very military friendly school, it was back when Clinton was the President and times were tough for the military, so few people were getting in and and several people were getting out. It was going to pay for my college and I wanted to get the training and do the fun things that you see in movies and I had heard about through recruiters. I also had a great recruiter. I claim him as a part of my family. He was always very honest with me. When I read about those people who have gone above and beyond, I think of him,” he says.  And because of him, Ensminger’s life changed completely. He recalls the moment he got deployed as being one of his “best experience[s] with the military.” While serving as Captain, Ensminger was also an Infantry Officer assigned to the Space Program as a space operations officer. In addition to this, his role as Captain also made him responsible for leading 120 soldiers while working with battalion staff.

“Doing what you’re trained to do and succeeding is a great feeling,” says Ensminger. “The look of thanks that we got from the people of Afghanistan was great. Knowing we helped even for a short time is a good thing.” He continues, “The companionship that you get is really the best part. Losing my buddies is the worst. Having friends die fighting for our country—they will be missed.”

Another negative aspect, Ensminger admits, is that there are plenty of misconceptions about the War in Afghanistan. The war, which was launched in October 2001 under the U.S. military operation, Operation Enduring Freedom, had the main goal of capturing Osama bin Laden while destroying al-Qaeda and removing the Taliban regime. According to Ensminger, however, the press does not always accurately depict the war. “I think the war [in Afghanistan] is more complex than people think. We are dealing with an enemy with high resolve,” he explains. To try to understand, Ensminger suggests people watch Al Jazeera and BBC, or to “find a friend in the military and keep in touch with them”.

There may also be some confusion over the War in Afghanistan and the War in Iraq. “They are different fights all together,” he says. With so much focus on Iraq thesedays, Ensminger acknowledges that resources were limited in Afghanistan as a result of the Iraq War. “Many of our vehicles were older and it seemed to take longer to get more advanced weapon systems. A lot of our aviation assets were also based out of Iraq even though there is high demand in Afghanistan.”

He also wants people to know that days in Afghanistan were always different. Some days, he says, were full of activity "rush, rush, rush" and then other days his unit wouldn't have anything to do, depending on what intel they were given. His favorite days were ones which involved humanitarian missions. “We were supplied with food, clothes, and building materials that we would distribute to those in need,” he states.

As for their living arrangements, Ensminger says it always varied. While some living quarters had contracted water sources, internet access and air conditioning, there were places where the crew had only well water and heat generated solely from wood burning stoves. On the coldest winter nights, their Afghan diet of foods high in fat and carbohydrates were what “kept them going.”

These days, however, Joe Ensminger does not need to worry about not having heat or being apart from his family. He is back at home and getting back to living a normal life. Since returning, he has traveled and gone on trips with his father and makes time to whitewater raft almost every weekend. One day, he has plans to retire from the military and start a family. He says he would like to get involved with politics and continue serving and giving back to the country he loves so much.

As for his memories of Afghanistan, Ensminger is grateful to have served.  “The men I have had the honor and privilege to serve with and for [have been my favorite part of being in the military]. Soldiers make our military great and I am thankful to have raised my hand and answered the call.”

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