RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - It is difficult to rattle the communications and marketing manager for the California Credit Union League–mostly because any “stress” or “tension” the CU movement can dish out pales in comparison to the reality of combat patrols in Iraq.
Melia Meichelbock comes from a military family, so it was no surprise she volunteered for the U.S. Army Reserve after completing her bachelor’s degree. She was ordered to participate in the ongoing occupation of Iraq in 2004, and returned to America 10 months later. She was a civil affairs sergeant and had regular contact with Iraqi civilians after battles had been fought as part of the rebuilding process.
Meichelbock recently talked with the Credit Union Journal about several topics, including her background, how the media’s reporting of the situation in Iraq differs drastically from what she experienced on the ground, her book and how she came to be published in USA Today.
CU Journal: When did you join the Army Reserve, and what inspired you to sign up?
Meichelbock: I joined in 2000. I had just finished college and had always been curious about the military. Several members of my family were in the military, even my grandmother – she was a WAC during World War II. My grandfather was a submarine commander in World War II.
Because the last three generations before me were in the military, I had a lot of respect for it. But I had to get a little older and more mature before I joined. It is a lot different experience going in at 25 compared to the 18-year-olds I saw. I had already been working in the credit union industry and had lived on my own for a while. The 17-and 18-year-olds were away from home for the first time and were a little scared.
CUJ: How long were you in Iraq?
Meichelbock: For 10 months–from Sept. 11, 2004, of all days to be flying in, until the end of June 2005.
CUJ: What do you remember most about your experience in Iraq?
Meichelbock: The country was not as religious as I was expecting, and the people were really, really nice. Everyone I met was really nice. They welcomed me into their homes and offered me food.
I couldn’t speak with most of the women because they did not speak English, and the male translators are not allowed to talk to females. It was non-verbal communication with the women, which was still good–we smiled at each other and ate food together.
A lot of the kids spoke English. I got marriage proposals every day from 5-year-old boys! The soldiers would give kids candy and they would run over and give it to me.
CUJ: Do any of the experiences you had in Iraq help you in your present job with the California CU League?
Meichelbock: Definitely. This is my first job managing employees besides the military. We have a mix of personalities here, but the military has a completely different structure. When I was in Iraq, I had to be responsible for people’s lives–so I took that very seriously. Many people tell me I’m laid back and ask why; I tell them there’s no bullets flying. Once you’ve been responsible for someone getting back home, then other things don’t seem as serious.
Other things do not translate as well. The military is not democratic. Subordinates are not encouraged to ask questions because there is not enough time. In the working world, of course people are supposed to give feedback to make sure you get the best results. Most leaders, even if they don’t run their businesses like a democracy, will take feedback to ensure the processes are the best.
CUJ: You wrote a book about your time in the combat zone, based on a journal you kept. Did you intend to write a book from the beginning, or was the journal originally just for yourself?
Meichelbock: I did intend to write a book. Before I deployed, I researched the different areas I would be living in. I wanted to read about female soldiers’ experiences, but I couldn’t find any. I wanted to write the book to help other future soldiers get a picture of what life is like. I wrote it in layman’s terms so civilians could get a glimpse of what Iraq is like.
Most books are written by members of the media or by male soldiers. I am a girl, so I have a different perspective. And I was a reserve, so that is different from regular Army. Also, I wanted a keepsake of my time there to pass down to my own children and grandchildren. I would have loved it if my grandmother had kept a journal from her experiences in World War II.
CUJ: What has the response been to your book?
Meichelbock: So far, the reviews have been all positive. A lot of credit union people have read it, and some have left reader reviews on Amazon.com.
I tried to keep a sense of humor throughout the book–a dark sense of humor, but a sense of humor nonetheless. Several people have said they enjoyed it and it had just the right amount of humor.
CUJ: Earlier this year, USA Today published an article detailing trauma suffered by some female soldiers. You wrote a rebuttal that was printed in the paper. You said most women you knew assimilated quite well to combat, and you urged USA Today to focus on the positive work female soldiers are doing in Iraq. What prompted you to write the rebuttal?
Meichelbock: It is kind of frustrating– not just women’s issues but Iraq in general. The situation in Iraq is not as negative as you hear from the media.
The lady who was writing the article was a master sergeant–equivalent to a senior vice president at a business. She said she was having stress from being at a large base of 20,000 people. Well, if she is feeling stress in her position, that person should not be in the military. There are tons of us doing a great job out there and the media should not be spotlighting the negative.
CUJ: Did you get any response from USA Today?
Meichelbock: Some people have made comments online in response to my letter. One person agreed with me, another disagreed. The paper called and e-mailed me. They read back what they wanted to print–they took out two lines.
CUJ: What other media exposure have you received since writing your book?
Meichelbock: I did a 10-minute interview on WomensRadio.com. The link is on my website, www.companyofsoldiers.com. I have to sell 5,000 books before it can go into bookstores, so I am doing all my sales online.
