As coalition forces and the remnants of the Iraqi military fought in the streets of Baghdad yesterday, at least two Dartmouth students were wishing they were there. Dan Brown '03 and Declan Lynch '03 -- both of whom will be commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation this year -- expressed some regret that they in all likelihood won't be involved in the war in Iraq.
The soon-to-be officers both articulated support for the current U.S.-led conflict in Iraq, which Brown called "a necessary step." They were also confident that formal warfare in Iraq would end soon.
Lynch, however, was less sanguine in his appraisal of the Iraqi reconstruction that many have speculated will follow the fighting:
"My greatest fear is not the war -- the actual war-fighting is almost done. I think the period of occupation is going to be harder for the military. The missions will be different and harder to train for," Lynch said.
Lynch plays midfield for the College's soccer team and is a brother at Alpha Delta. Brown is a snowboard instructor and president of AD. He is also on the men's rugby team. Both '03s will receive commissions as second lieutenants immediately before commencement.
At least six months of training will follow graduation, according to Brown. It is thus unlikely that either senior will participate in the war in Iraq, though Lynch observed that "fallout [from the conflict] could bring us somewhere else."
The two students cited a variety of reasons for their decision to pursue military service. Both began their involvement with the Marine Corps at 10-week Officer Candidate programs during their junior summers.
"I always wanted to give something back to a country that's given me so much," Brown said. "Also, I think it's really cool to get paid to jump out of airplanes and blow stuff up."
Lynch told The Dartmouth that he always had a "gut feeling" he might join the military.
The two also noted that the events of Sept. 11 influenced their decisions. "After 9/11, I kind of wanted to do something," Brown said.
Brown said he intends to be a pilot, which would allow him to "fly F-18s or the new Joint Strike Fighter." Lynch is currently unsure what he would like to do in the Corps.
"I'm signed up for a four-year commitment, but there's a good chance I could do more," Lynch said. "I'm just going to take it as it comes."
