An interview with Derek Blumke
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Service Branch: Air Force Military Job Title: Aircraft electrical & environmental systems technician and aircraft maintenance expeditor Years of Service: 1999-2005 |
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Derek Blumke joined the Air Force along with friends from high school and served as an aircraft technician. His experience in Afghanistan, where he was deployed three times, was limited largely to the base because he was part of the only unit that could repair planes.
After his tours were up, Derek returned to the United States and enrolled in a community college. "During active duty I was basically doing the most important thing I am ever do in my life. I return home am going to community college sitting in a classroom with eighteen and nineteen-year-olds, and basically feeling worthless. I'm living in my parents basement - the typical [veteran assimilation] story."
His classmates asked him prying questions about whether or not he killed anyone and why he joined the military. Derek felts that the tone of the questions implied that his peers couldn't understand why anyone would ever join the military. Without any assistance to ease the transition, Derek developed depression shortly after returning.
"The only thing I found that helps [ease the transition back] is contact with other veterans," Derek said.
Download Derek's podcast here, or listen to the interview with Derek below: