As part of the student council’s citizenship program, the students have “adopted” Sgt. Jesse Larkin of the Army National Guard. Sgt. Larkin spoke to the students on his deployment to Iraq from 2005 to 2006 and answered questions the students had prepared.

Larkin responded to one question of why did he join the Army? His answer was simple and to the point.

He said in some small way he thought he could make the world a little safer.

“It’s fulfilling,” he said.

He said it has been a life changing experience and it puts your life into perspective.

Larkin said after 9-11 he wanted to make it so his nieces and nephews, as well as the students’ children; don’t have to worry about going to war.

“The hardest part was leaving my new niece and nephew,” Larkin said of his first deployment.

When he returned, the babies were walking around and he had become an uncle twice more.

Larkin said he will be leaving in two weeks for North Carolina and train for two months. His unit will head to Afghanistan in February for a nine-month deployment. Larkin will be the infantry team leader, in charge of four men doing security.

He said you get close with the other people serving by the end of deployment and the trust level is huge.

“You’ll know their grandmother’s maiden name,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of friends in the Army.”

He discussed how people move up in ranks, what the weather was like in Iraq and if he ever gets scared.

“Oh yeah,” he said. “Everyone gets scared; you can’t help it. You just keep it in the back of your mind.”

Larkin said the weather in Kuwait was 130 degrees Fahrenheit, but there was no humidity.

When asked about what Afghanistan is like, Larkin told the students he’ll be letting them know.

“I promise to come back to your school,” Larkin told the students.

Larkin thanked the students for “adopting” him and looks forward to keeping in touch via letters.

The students will write letters, send pictures and care packages with items they need the most.

Larkin said it was good to talk to the students and thought it was really nice for them to “adopt” him.

“Their letters give me something to look forward to,” he said.