Being called to war is a reality many servicemen and servicewomen have to face. Still, beyond their efforts to protect their country, many of them come home to fight an entirely new battle of their own.
Josh Martinez, a 27-year-old television production major at Oxnard College, is a student and honorable veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps coping with the issue of transitioning from the military world, to the civilian life.
“I was proud to serve my country,” said Martinez. “When I got back, I felt excited because I was able to fight for a cause. Now, it’s a hindrance because I get asked so many questions. People always want to know if I killed anyone and what I did out there.”
Despite his own personal melee, Martinez has decided to take the issue of ‘transitioning’ and is attempting to translate a veteran’s perspectives through film to help people better understand the issues.
According to Martinez, people don’t understand what he and other veterans are going through. He also expressed his frustration with people who tend to glorify servicemen and women who go to war, but don’t realize that there are consequences for them going out there and doing your job.
“I loved deploying and I hated it as well,” said Martinez. “There were times where you get this adrenaline rush, but there were other times when you’re sitting around waiting to hear when you’re going to go home.”
Martinez spent 6 years as a Marine, stationed in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In 2003, he deployed to the Middle East for the Iraqi invasion, as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City. As an artilleryman, he provided fire support for the infantry units, as well as the ground combat units.
“The best thing about doing my job in the military was the camaraderie between everyone there,” said Martinez. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
With a 5-person crew, Martinez is putting the finishing touches on his film titled, “Operation Welcome Home: The War Within.” Currently in post-production, he expects to be fully finished with his documentary in a few weeks.
Kitty Merrill, film and television professor, supports Martinez in his project.
“I think it’s so valuable,” said Merrill. “With community colleges, we serve a lot of different populations and right now, veterans returning after serving their country and re-integrating, community college can be a very important part of that.”
Martinez is using the medium of film to tell his courageous story and the story of his fellow veterans.
“Film in general, TV, it’s the way you get the conversation going,” said Merrill. “We need to be talking about all the issues that veterans face in order to honor the people that have served.”
Along with having to deal with transitioning issues, there are some veterans that have to deal with much more serious issues like mental health problems or psychological setbacks.
Leo Orange, Educational Assistance Center Coordinator at OC, is aware of many of the issues that veterans like Martinez are faced with.
“Veterans are coming back with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and they’re coming back with issues in regards to transitioning,” said Orange. “In this economy and the job market, the burden of being productive in the military and now transitioning into civilian life is extremely difficult for military personnel that are coming home.”
Orange also states that veterans have to deal with many other added stressors that make it even more difficult for a smooth transition. Still, he believes that anything that can assist veterans on transitioning with college or civilian life, especially coming from a fellow veteran who has been there, is extremely important.
“No one knows what it’s like to be there, unless you were there,” said Orange. “No one knows what it’s like to feel what you feel, unless you were there feeling it. So I think that this documentary will be very beneficial.”
For Martinez himself, transitioning was a very hard task to accomplish. He remembers being very hostile because he felt that no one understood him nor where he was coming from.
Soon enough, however, Martinez was able to realize that not very many people had been able to do what he had done or go where he had gone. Till this day, this concept gets him through his days.
“You have to remember everything that happened for the rest of your life,” said Martinez. “But I have been able to manage by researching coping methods online and reading. I understand now that I am not alone.”
With his film, Martinez wants the viewers to know what it’s really like for veterans when they return home first hand. He also wants his audience to see the real issues that veterans face, without the glory.
“A lot of veterans are having issues transitioning into being a civilian,” said Martinez. “So, I hope that with this film, people can understand why veterans feel detached from society, and we need help in changing that.”
