19-year-old sees less chance of deployment
By Samantha C. DePoy
Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – Kelly Martin guesses her chances for deployment are down to 20 percent. That’s better than the 50 percent chance she figured two weeks ago, and the 75 percent chance a month back.

The 19-year-old University of Maine at Farmington freshman from Madawaska is an automated logistical supply specialist with the 152nd Maintenance Company of the Army National Guard. She has been on alert, the step before mobilization, since Feb. 14.

“The word now is that if we do have to go it will be as part of the cleanup crew,” she said. “I wish they would just take us off alert.”

Her four olive-green duffle bags are packed, and waiting to go to the Persian Gulf in a locker at the armory in Bangor. “I am really hoping to unpack those bags for good,” she said.

Now that war seems to be wrapping up in Iraq, Martin said she “isn’t as jumpy. My stress levels are lowered a lot.”

Her big concern now is where the United States will look to go after Iraq. Martin said the United States may go to war with Syria or North Korea and that they will need “fresh troops which may mean me.”

More than 15 friends from her hometown are stationed in Iraq. Over April vacation, she tried to get word on those friends. “The families don’t know much, but they know their kids are there, they are doing OK and they are hoping to come home soon.”

Despite the worry, the nightmares and the waiting, Martin is happy she signed up. “I’ll never regret it,” she said frankly. “It’s been stressful these past few months, but it could have been worse. I could have been over there.”