VETERAN PROFILE | Brady Chattaway, Texarkana Arkansas Police Department
Current employer/leadership position: officer with
Texarkana Arkansas Police Department
How long: Almost a year and a half
Branch of military: U.S. Air Force
When were you drafted or when did you enlist? March 2016 Can you describe a funny moment from boot camp?
My MTI (drill sergeant) walking in on me impersonating him and getting PT’D (physical training) for the next hour.
What are some of the things you remember about adapting to military life? I did not struggle with adapting, but being away from home at a young age and being placed into a completely structured environment took time getting used to.
Where did you serve? I was stationed at Edwards AFB in California for my entire enlistment.
If you deployed overseas, where and when did you serve? Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. January 2020 – September 2020
What fun things did you and your friends do while on deployment? We only had time to eat, sleep and workout when we were off. But during the slow times on/off work, we played a lot of spades and listened to music. My wife and I met during our deployment, so we also spent a lot of time getting to know each other.
When did you leave the military? March 2022
When you were first discharged, what are some things about civilians that were difficult for you to deal with? It took some time to understand that not everyone I encounter has been through what I have, and that I was no longer an NCO (Non-commissioned officer), which is a supervisor position. With that being said, the level of maturity, inexperience and attitude of civilians. Additionally, I realized I couldn’t talk to or around civilians the way we talked in the military.
What are some things you miss about being in the service? What are some you are glad to have left behind? I miss a lot of things; the structure, the friends I made during hard times, the traveling and exploring new places and just the overall livelihood I lived while enlisted. There’s not much that I’m glad I left behind except for certain leadership traits that I experienced.
What led you to choose your current career? How has your military experience helped you with your work? I was Security Forces, which is the Air Force’s law enforcement. I worked law enforcement on and around base enforcing state laws, along with assisting outside state and federal agencies. It directly translated into becoming a civilian law enforcement officer.