MEMPHIS - Employees and members of Memphis Area Teachers’ CU can breathe a little easier knowing that the CU’s Senior Security Officer Steve Garces is back on duty at the credit union–instead of Iraq.
Garces, who is a master sergeant in the Marines, recently returned home after serving two tours of duty in Iraq. To mark his homecoming, MATCU threw a cookout where Garces received the Spirit of Kindness award, presented by The Kindness Revolution founder Ed Horrell. As part of the celebration, Garces and his family received a variety of gifts donated by members and businesses in the community, including $250 scholarships for each of his two daughters from the Global Children’s Educational Foundation. CU Journal asked Garces to share his observations and insights from his time overseas.
CU Journal: How long have you been in the Marine Corps, and how long had you been out when you were called back to active duty?
Garces: My current time in the Marine Corps is 14 years. I joined in February of 94 and after serving nine years in the Reserves I was called to active duty. My first deployment in 2003. I served nine months in Iraq and in my second deployment in May of 2007 I served just about a year in Iraq.
CUJ: Why did you join the Marines?
Garces: I felt the need to serve my country after Operation Desert Storm and the Marines are always first in the fight.
CUJ: Tell us a little bit about your time in Iraq–what were your duties there?
Garces: While in Iraq I served as Platoon Sergeant for the MITT (Military in Transition Team). I had four squads that consisted of 14 Marines per squad. Each squad was in charge of training and advising an Iraqi Company (50 to 80 Iraqi Soldiers). My job was to make sure my Marines were training and advising the IAs (Iraqi Army) with the basic tactics of planning, foot and mobile patrols, and first aid. I also handled all logistics and administrative needs of the Marines.
CUJ: There is good and bad in nearly every experience–what was the best thing you saw or did in Iraq; what was the worst?
Garces: The best thing I saw was that IAs had improved on their tactics on day and night operations. The worst thing would be an Iraqi Company Commander who lost his life due to an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).
CUJ: How do you use your military experience in your job at the credit union?
Garces: I feel that I am able to take charge and lead by example in order to provide a healthy work environment here at MATCU.
CUJ: Was there anything you learned from working at the credit union that helped you while you were in Iraq?
Garces: My experience at the credit union while working in various departments gave me the knowledge to educate my Marines on finances and risk potential; i.e. forgery, fraud, identity theft and counterfeits.
CUJ: What attracted you to MATCU?
Garces: What attracted me to the credit union was the opportunity to better myself and my family. It is a great environment to work in.
CUJ: Upon your return, what had changed the most? What stayed the same?
Garces: The only noticeable change was the newsletter on the intranet and our new locations. I feel like time stood still and I’ve fallen back in to my daily routine here at MATCU.(c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved.http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com
