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Keith Nolan: Deaf in the military
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Keith Nolan always wanted to join the United States military. The challenge: he is Deaf, which is an automatic disqualification according to military rules. In this talk, he describes his fight to fight for his country. (In American Sign Language with real-time interpretation by Rita Alexander)
Keith Nolan - Teacher
Keith Nolan doesn't believe his deafness should be a barrier to serving his country -- and is making the case for increasing the role of citizens with disabilities in the military. Full bio
Keith Nolan doesn't believe his deafness should be a barrier to serving his country -- and is making the case for increasing the role of citizens with disabilities in the military. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:10
(Interpreter voice-over) Hello, everyone.
My name is Keith Nolan.
My name is Keith Nolan.
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I’m a cadet private.
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My talk today is on the topic
of the military.
of the military.
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How many of you out there thought
you’d ever like to join the military?
you’d ever like to join the military?
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I see a number of you nodding.
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And I thought the same thing
ever since I was young.
ever since I was young.
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Growing up, I’d always wanted
to join the military.
to join the military.
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I loved military history
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and I’ve read a great deal on the subject.
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Also, I have various family members,
such as my grandfather and great uncle,
such as my grandfather and great uncle,
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who fought in World War II.
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And like them, I wanted the same thing:
to serve my country.
to serve my country.
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So the question is: Can I?
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No, I can’t.
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Why? Simply because I’m deaf.
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Regardless of that fact, I still had
that longing to join the military.
that longing to join the military.
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For example, after I graduated
from high school,
from high school,
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three months before 9/11 occurred,
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I went to a naval recruiting center
with high hopes of joining the navy.
with high hopes of joining the navy.
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I went in and a strapping naval man
stood up and addressed me.
stood up and addressed me.
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As he was speaking to me,
it was impossible for me to read his lips,
it was impossible for me to read his lips,
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so I said, “I'm sorry, I’m deaf.”
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He tore off a little piece of paper
and wrote down three words:
and wrote down three words:
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“Bad ear. Disqual.”
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He didn't even fully
spell out "Disqualified,"
spell out "Disqualified,"
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just: “Bad ear. Disqual.”
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So I went on my way.
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I tried various locations a number
of different times, trying to join,
of different times, trying to join,
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but over and over again,
I got the same response:
I got the same response:
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“Sorry, you’re deaf. We can’t accept you.”
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So I shifted gears
and decided to become a teacher.
and decided to become a teacher.
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I completed a master's in deaf education
and taught for almost two years,
and taught for almost two years,
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until this past spring,
when three things occurred
when three things occurred
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that changed that course,
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the first of which, while I was teaching
a high school history class.
a high school history class.
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I’d lectured on the Mexican-American War.
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The bell had rung,
and I was seated at my desk,
and I was seated at my desk,
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when one of my students,
who is deaf, approached me
who is deaf, approached me
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and said that he’d like
to join the military.
to join the military.
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I said, “Ah, sorry.
You can’t. You're deaf.”
You can’t. You're deaf.”
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Then I caught myself.
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It struck me that all along
I had been told no, I can’t,
I had been told no, I can’t,
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and now I was perpetuating
that same message
that same message
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to the next generation, to my own student.
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That realization had a large impact
that really resonated with me.
that really resonated with me.
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Now, the second thing that happened,
my friend had just moved to Israel.
my friend had just moved to Israel.
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Did you know that in Israel
they accept deaf people into the military?
they accept deaf people into the military?
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How can deaf people be
in the military, right?
in the military, right?
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Could this really be true? Come on!
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Well, I went to Israel last summer
to see for myself.
to see for myself.
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I interviewed 10 deaf Israeli soldiers,
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all of those video interviews
and questions I’ve compiled,
and questions I’ve compiled,
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and the findings,
I’ll share with you later.
I’ll share with you later.
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Thirdly, CSUN here, my alma mater,
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had recently started up
an Army ROTC program.
an Army ROTC program.
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ROTC, which stands for
Reserve Officer Training Corps,
Reserve Officer Training Corps,
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allows students working on
their college majors
their college majors
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to concurrently participate
in the ROTC program.
in the ROTC program.
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Upon graduation, ROTC students
have a military career
have a military career
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ready and waiting for them.
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So if one joined the army, one could
commission as a second lieutenant.
commission as a second lieutenant.
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That's generally the ROTC
program here at CSUN.
program here at CSUN.
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Having learned that, I was intrigued.
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I already had a profession as a teacher,
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but I went ahead anyway
and sent an email off to the program,
and sent an email off to the program,
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explaining that I was
a teacher of the deaf,
a teacher of the deaf,
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wondering if I could take
a few classes with them
a few classes with them
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and perhaps share their lessons
with my students.
with my students.
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I got an email response back,
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and surprisingly, it was the first
time that I wasn't told,
time that I wasn't told,
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"Sorry, no, you can’t. You’re deaf."
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It said, "Well, that's interesting.
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I think maybe we can work something out
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and you can take a few classes with us."
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This was unprecedented.
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So naturally, I was shocked.
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Although I was teaching, I decided I had
to grab the opportunity right away
to grab the opportunity right away
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and get my foot in the door.
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Altogether, that's how it transpired.
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Now, with all my life experiences,
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having talked with all the people I had,
and given everything I’ve read,
and given everything I’ve read,
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I decided to write a research paper
called “Deaf in the Military.”
called “Deaf in the Military.”
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I'll share with you
what those 98 pages entail.
what those 98 pages entail.
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Here in America, we’ve actually had
deaf soldiers serving in the past.
deaf soldiers serving in the past.
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In fact, during
the Texas War of Independence,
the Texas War of Independence,
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there was a key character
named Deaf Smith,
named Deaf Smith,
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who made a large contribution
to that war effort.
to that war effort.
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For the American Civil War,
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Gallaudet University actually has archived
a list of deaf soldiers in that war
a list of deaf soldiers in that war
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from the North and the South,
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showing that deaf soldiers
were even fighting against each other.
were even fighting against each other.
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During World War II,
there are a few rare examples
there are a few rare examples
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of deaf people who made it
into the military at that time
into the military at that time
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and were able to serve
their country as well.
their country as well.
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History illustrates the fact
that America has had deaf soldiers,
that America has had deaf soldiers,
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in contrast to today.
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In my paper, I also discuss
the deaf Israeli soldiers.
the deaf Israeli soldiers.
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I learned that they serve
in non-combat roles.
in non-combat roles.
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The deaf soldiers are not
on the front lines engaged in fire,
on the front lines engaged in fire,
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but rather, are behind the lines
serving in supportive roles.
serving in supportive roles.
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There are a plethora of various
non-combat jobs accessible to the deaf:
non-combat jobs accessible to the deaf:
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intelligence, computer technology,
map drawing, supply,
map drawing, supply,
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military dog training --
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the list goes on.
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The communication
between deaf Israeli soldiers
between deaf Israeli soldiers
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and other soldiers who are hearing
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is carried out with the same approaches
deaf people in general use
deaf people in general use
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with the hearing public on a daily basis.
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You can use your voice,
lip-read, gestures,
lip-read, gestures,
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sometimes another soldier knows
sign language and that can be utilized,
sign language and that can be utilized,
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pen and paper, texts, computers, emails --
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seriously, there’s no
magic wand necessary.
magic wand necessary.
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It's the same thing we do every day.
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Interpreters are used there primarily
for boot camp training.
for boot camp training.
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For the average work, it’s not necessary
to have an interpreter by your side.
to have an interpreter by your side.
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The Israeli Army is comprised
of small groups.
of small groups.
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Each of these units with deaf
soldiers have developed
soldiers have developed
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their own way of communicating
with each other,
with each other,
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so there’s no need for interpreters.
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The top picture is of one soldier I met.
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The bottom photo
is of Prime Minister Begin
is of Prime Minister Begin
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with a deaf soldier in Israel.
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Another part of my paper touches on
disabled soldiers in the US Military.
disabled soldiers in the US Military.
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Obviously, military work can be dangerous
and involve injury.
and involve injury.
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One example here is Captain Luckett.
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Due to an explosion, he lost his leg.
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He’s recovered and currently has
a prosthetic leg.
a prosthetic leg.
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Now that he’s strong, he's back in combat,
still fighting in Afghanistan.
still fighting in Afghanistan.
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It’s remarkable.
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And guess what? He’s not the only one.
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There are 40 other soldiers like him,
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amputees who are serving in combat zones.
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Incredible.
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Also, we have a blind soldier here.
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While he was in Iraq,
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an explosion from a suicide car bomber
destroyed his eyesight.
destroyed his eyesight.
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He’s recovered and hasn’t left the army.
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The army has retained him on active duty,
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and he’s currently running a hospital
for wounded soldiers.
for wounded soldiers.
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I also found out online
about another soldier,
about another soldier,
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who is deaf in one ear.
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He’s developed civil programs in Iraq,
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one of which actually started
a school for the deaf in Iraq.
a school for the deaf in Iraq.
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All of this is incredible.
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But I am going to ask all of you:
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If the US Military can retain
their disabled soldiers,
their disabled soldiers,
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why can’t they accept
disabled citizens as well?
disabled citizens as well?
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Moreover, out of all the US Military jobs,
80% are non-combat positions.
80% are non-combat positions.
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There are many jobs that we
in the Deaf community can do.
in the Deaf community can do.
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If I were to be in the military,
I’d like to do intelligence work.
I’d like to do intelligence work.
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But there is an array
of other things we can do,
of other things we can do,
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such as mechanics, finance, medicine, etc.
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So to summarize, I’ve presented
three premises to support my argument,
three premises to support my argument,
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the first being, Israeli defense
openly accepts deaf soldiers.
openly accepts deaf soldiers.
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If you have the qualities
and skills required, they’ll take you.
and skills required, they’ll take you.
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Secondly, the US Military
has accommodations
has accommodations
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for retaining their disabled soldiers.
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And lastly, 80% of occupations
in the military are non-combat.
in the military are non-combat.
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Now, can we Deaf Americans
serve our country?
serve our country?
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Yes! Of course!
Absolutely, without a doubt!
Absolutely, without a doubt!
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Now I’ll explain a bit
about my experience in the Army ROTC,
about my experience in the Army ROTC,
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which began last fall.
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I have been involved with that thus far
and it’s still going on now.
and it’s still going on now.
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Really, I need to preface this
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by saying that this is the first time
my battalion had ever had a deaf cadet.
my battalion had ever had a deaf cadet.
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They had never experienced that before.
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So of course, they were taken aback,
wondering, initially,
wondering, initially,
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how I would do this or that,
how would we communicate and such,
how would we communicate and such,
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which is a natural reaction,
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considering that many of them
had never interacted with a deaf person
had never interacted with a deaf person
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prior to me.
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Plus, I was taken aback by this --
it was the real thing, the army.
it was the real thing, the army.
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I had to learn a whole new world,
full of military jargon,
full of military jargon,
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with its own culture and everything.
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So we started out slow,
getting to know each other
getting to know each other
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and learning how
to work together, progressively.
to work together, progressively.
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For example, on the first day
of class, I had no uniform.
of class, I had no uniform.
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So I showed up in regular clothes,
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while the other cadets
were all in uniform.
were all in uniform.
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I found out that every morning at 5:30,
there was physical training, PT.
there was physical training, PT.
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On Fridays, there would be
field training -- labs -- off-campus,
field training -- labs -- off-campus,
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and occasionally, we would have
weekend training at a military base.
weekend training at a military base.
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So I showed up, ready,
each morning at 5:30,
each morning at 5:30,
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with all the cadets in uniform
and me in civilian clothes.
and me in civilian clothes.
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They told me, “Hey, you know,
you don't need to work out.
you don't need to work out.
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You can just simply take classes.”
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I told them I wanted to, anyway.
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They acknowledged that, and I continued
to show up every morning to train.
to show up every morning to train.
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When Friday came,
I asked if I could do the field training.
I asked if I could do the field training.
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I was told no, just stick with class.
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I insisted that I wanted to try.
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Somewhat reluctantly,
they let me attend the lab,
they let me attend the lab,
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but only as an observer;
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I would only be allowed
to sit and watch, not participate.
to sit and watch, not participate.
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Alright, so, I showed up on Friday,
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and watched as the cadets learned
marching drill commands,
marching drill commands,
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like how to stand at attention,
how to properly salute,
how to properly salute,
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and all the basics.
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I had to ask again if I could join.
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Finally, I got the go-ahead.
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I went to get in formation.
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I figured I better stand
in the second line,
in the second line,
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so I could watch what the cadets
were doing in the row ahead of me.
were doing in the row ahead of me.
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But the officer who opened the door
for me to join the ROTC program
for me to join the ROTC program
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spotted me in the back and said,
“Hey! Uh-uh. I want you in the front.
“Hey! Uh-uh. I want you in the front.
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You want to be a soldier?
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You've got to learn the commands
just like the rest of them.
just like the rest of them.
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You’re not going to follow other people.
Learn it yourself!”
Learn it yourself!”
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I thought, "Wow.
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He’s viewing me like any person,
giving dignity to who I am."
giving dignity to who I am."
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I was impressed by that.
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So as the weeks went by,
I still didn’t have a uniform.
I still didn’t have a uniform.
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I asked if it would be possible
to get one, but I was told it wasn't.
to get one, but I was told it wasn't.
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So I continued on that way,
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until one day, I was informed
that I’d be getting a uniform.
that I’d be getting a uniform.
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"Please!" I said, “Really?
Why? What changed?”
Why? What changed?”
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I was told, “We see your motivation,
you show up every morning, dedicated,
you show up every morning, dedicated,
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and always gave a 110% effort.”
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They wanted to give me the uniform.
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It was remarkable.
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We went to the warehouse
to get my uniform.
to get my uniform.
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10:50
I assumed I’d just get a uniform
and a pair of boots, nothing more.
and a pair of boots, nothing more.
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10:54
But they filled two duffel bags
chock-full of gear:
chock-full of gear:
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10:57
helmet, ammo vest, shovel,
sleeping bag -- the whole nine yards.
sleeping bag -- the whole nine yards.
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I was astonished.
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And I have to tell you,
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each morning that I get up
and put on my uniform,
and put on my uniform,
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I feel privileged.
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11:11
It’s truly an honor to wear the uniform.
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So, moving along,
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11:17
when it came time to train
at the garrison base,
at the garrison base,
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at first, I was told I couldn’t go.
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11:22
There was concern on the ROTC's part
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that if the interpreter
were to get injured during the training,
were to get injured during the training,
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it would be a liability issue.
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11:28
So we had to figure out
all those issues and confusion,
all those issues and confusion,
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11:31
but we worked it out,
and in the end, they let me go.
and in the end, they let me go.
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11:33
That's how events were unfolding;
I was permitted to do more and more.
I was permitted to do more and more.
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11:37
Once, at the garrison base,
during one of the training days,
during one of the training days,
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11:40
a huge Chinook helicopter with its
tandem rotors landed right down to us,
tandem rotors landed right down to us,
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forcefully spinning
exhilaration in the air.
exhilaration in the air.
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11:48
All of us cadets were supposed
to be getting on board.
to be getting on board.
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Everyone was geared up and ready.
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11:52
However, the cadre had decided
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I wasn’t going to be able
to ride the Chinook.
to ride the Chinook.
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They were afraid
if the pilot shouted out orders,
if the pilot shouted out orders,
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how would I be able
to follow the instructions?
to follow the instructions?
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I’d potentially cause a disruption.
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12:04
So I had to stand aside,
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while the others were filing
toward the helicopter.
toward the helicopter.
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I could see the cadre huddled up,
discussing, mulling it over.
discussing, mulling it over.
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12:11
At the last minute, one of them said,
“Come on! Get on the helicopter!”
“Come on! Get on the helicopter!”
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12:15
I rushed over and got in.
It was such a thrill.
It was such a thrill.
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12:19
And that was the spirit of learning about
and supporting one another
and supporting one another
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12:22
that carried over.
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12:23
And since then, I’ve been involved
in everything they do,
in everything they do,
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12:26
without any separation.
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12:28
This is where my passion lies.
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12:30
I love them. I’ll show you
some pictures here.
some pictures here.
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12:34
Bruin Battalion, Bravo Company --
that’s the name of the group I belong to.
that’s the name of the group I belong to.
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12:38
The cadre are the officers and sergeants
who oversee the ROTC program.
who oversee the ROTC program.
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12:43
In the beginning, you can see,
it was a bit of an awkward phase.
it was a bit of an awkward phase.
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12:46
But once they learned more about me
and what I’m capable of doing,
and what I’m capable of doing,
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12:49
there's been tremendous support and unity.
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12:51
The cadets, my fellow peers --
well, when you train and sweat together,
well, when you train and sweat together,
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you feel the bond
of camaraderie right away.
of camaraderie right away.
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12:57
A brother- or sisterly cohesiveness
makes them like family.
makes them like family.
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13:00
In training and military science classes,
we learn theories of warfare,
we learn theories of warfare,
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how to lead soldiers,
how to do reconnaissance,
how to do reconnaissance,
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13:07
strategies, how to knock out a bunker
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13:09
and land navigation, where you’re finding
your way out in the mountains.
your way out in the mountains.
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4036
13:15
As far as accommodations,
I’ve been provided with interpreters
I’ve been provided with interpreters
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13:19
through the National Center on Deafness,
NCOD, here at CSUN.
NCOD, here at CSUN.
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13:23
And I really have to thank them,
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13:24
because it's hard to find interpreters
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13:26
who are willing to wake up
at 4:30 in the morning,
at 4:30 in the morning,
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13:29
or sometimes even 3:30 in the morning.
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13:31
That's the officer who emailed me back,
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13:33
saying I think you can have
a few classes with us.
a few classes with us.
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13:36
That's Lieutenant Mendoza.
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1759
13:38
That’s my interpreter there,
before class starts.
before class starts.
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13:41
This is a picture from last fall,
when we were new to training.
when we were new to training.
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13:45
This is Lieutenant Colonel Phelps,
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13:48
this being his name sign.
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1762
13:50
He's the commanding officer
of the entire Bruin Battalion.
of the entire Bruin Battalion.
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13:54
Every time I see him walk by,
it’s rather inspiring.
it’s rather inspiring.
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13:58
I mean, the way he presents himself,
you can see he’s the epitome of a soldier.
you can see he’s the epitome of a soldier.
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14:04
Plus, he doesn't view me as a deaf person.
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14:06
He looks at my skills
and capabilities instead.
and capabilities instead.
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14:09
He’s really pushed for me,
and I respect him for all that.
and I respect him for all that.
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14:12
That’s me during one of the exercises.
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1856
14:14
This is that Chinook helicopter
I almost didn’t get on.
I almost didn’t get on.
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2775
14:17
Every cadet has a mentor.
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2139
14:20
My mentor is Cinatl.
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850202
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14:23
He’s a really sharp soldier.
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853359
1866
14:25
He teaches me all the finer points
and how to execute them ideally.
and how to execute them ideally.
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14:29
This top picture is when
a group of us went to Las Vegas
a group of us went to Las Vegas
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859774
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14:33
to compete in a test,
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1325
14:34
to see if we could match the German
troops' physical training standards.
troops' physical training standards.
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3899
14:38
It involved swimming, timed sprints,
marksmanship and numerous fitness events.
marksmanship and numerous fitness events.
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3975
14:42
I passed them
and satisfied the requirements
and satisfied the requirements
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872724
2136
14:44
to be awarded the gold German Armed Forces
Proficiency Badge right here.
Proficiency Badge right here.
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874884
4216
14:50
This is one of the sergeants,
Sergeant Richardson.
Sergeant Richardson.
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14:53
I love this guy. He doesn't take baloney
from any of us cadets.
from any of us cadets.
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14:59
Here I am one morning,
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889505
1617
15:01
when we trekked seven and a half miles
with a 40-pound rucksack
with a 40-pound rucksack
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3318
15:04
in less than two hours.
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894488
1539
15:06
Here are a few of my fellow cadets.
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15:10
I've been with them long enough
that I’ve developed name signs for them.
that I’ve developed name signs for them.
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900021
4655
15:15
On the right, here, is Trinidad.
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15:17
I gave him this name sign
because he's always very sarcastic.
because he's always very sarcastic.
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907322
3438
15:20
He's a veteran, having served
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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910784
3315
15:24
The female is Frigo,
whose nickname is "Refrigerator,"
whose nickname is "Refrigerator,"
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914123
3068
15:27
hence her name sign.
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1221
15:28
We’re always competing
intellectually in class.
intellectually in class.
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2427
15:30
The cadet on the end is Jarvy.
He's a top athlete.
He's a top athlete.
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4120
15:35
I've given him this sign
because of the scar he has here.
because of the scar he has here.
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15:38
Do you know who this is?
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15:40
This is the Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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3394
15:43
He is the highest-ranking military officer
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933459
2196
15:45
and principal military advisor
to President Obama
to President Obama
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2935
15:48
and Secretary of Defense Gates.
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1899
15:50
He gave a talk at UCLA to a full house.
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940968
2604
15:53
Afterwards, I lined up to shake his hand.
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943596
2002
15:55
Having done so, I greeted him,
“It’s a great pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s a great pleasure to meet you.”
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15:58
I signed and my interpreter voiced for me.
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948833
2046
16:00
Admiral Mullen turned to the interpreter
and said, “It’s nice to meet you,”
and said, “It’s nice to meet you,”
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950903
3553
16:04
addressing the interpreter,
who refrained to clarify.
who refrained to clarify.
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954480
2598
16:07
He seemed a little confused
and just quickly moved on
and just quickly moved on
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957102
2495
16:09
to shake hands
with the rest of the soldiers.
with the rest of the soldiers.
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959621
2110
16:11
So I’m not sure whether he really knew
that I'm deaf or not.
that I'm deaf or not.
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2871
16:14
So everything’s been moving along,
gung-ho, full speed ahead,
gung-ho, full speed ahead,
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4091
16:18
until two weeks ago,
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968765
3605
16:22
when something occurred.
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972816
1435
16:25
Well, the ROTC has four levels.
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975149
2819
16:27
I’m currently doing the first two levels,
which finishes up this May.
which finishes up this May.
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977992
4484
16:32
The third level will begin in the fall.
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982500
1901
16:34
But in order to move up,
you need to pass a medical exam.
you need to pass a medical exam.
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16:38
Obviously, I’m deaf,
so I’d fail a hearing test.
so I’d fail a hearing test.
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988139
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16:44
So we sat down,
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2039
16:46
and I was told that if I wanted
to continue to the third level,
to continue to the third level,
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4113
16:50
I couldn’t do any
of the PT workouts in the morning,
of the PT workouts in the morning,
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3762
16:54
nor the Friday lab field trainings,
nor the army base trainings.
nor the army base trainings.
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1004457
5014
16:59
My uniform, I would have to
give back as well.
give back as well.
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1009495
2392
17:02
I could take the classes,
audit them, and that’s all.
audit them, and that’s all.
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1012800
2747
17:06
It really hit me. It was a huge blow.
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2904
17:13
Many of the officers
and cadets have empathized
and cadets have empathized
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1023037
3176
17:16
with this sudden shock of disappointment,
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1026237
2329
17:18
and are wondering
why this has to be the case.
why this has to be the case.
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1028590
2513
17:21
Colonel Phelps has tried
to speak with the higher-ups
to speak with the higher-ups
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2992
17:24
in the chain of command
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1034603
1325
17:25
and explain to them
that I’m one of the top cadets,
that I’m one of the top cadets,
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1035952
2592
17:28
having passed all the events
and receiving high marks on my exams.
and receiving high marks on my exams.
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3360
17:31
But their response is unwavering:
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1041952
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17:33
policy is policy, and if you’re deaf,
you’re disqualified.
you’re disqualified.
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2966
17:37
I know that the cadre has tried
to find various ways.
to find various ways.
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4220
17:41
They found out that
there's a deaf cadet at The Citadel,
there's a deaf cadet at The Citadel,
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1051961
3599
17:46
a military college in South Carolina.
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1056555
2230
17:49
That particular cadet will be completing
his fourth year there
his fourth year there
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1059770
3226
17:53
and graduating this May.
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1063020
1167
17:54
Yet, he's in the same
predicament that I'm in --
predicament that I'm in --
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1064211
2270
17:56
unable to join the army because he’s deaf.
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1066505
2213
18:00
Yet, all of my fellow cadets
and the officers have told me
and the officers have told me
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1070505
2753
18:03
not to give up; the policy must change.
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2140
18:06
I was advised to talk with my congressman.
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1076040
2050
18:08
And I've brought this issue
to Henry Waxman,
to Henry Waxman,
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1078114
3233
18:11
the district congressman here in LA,
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1081371
2051
18:13
to get the ball rolling
with his advocacy for my cause.
with his advocacy for my cause.
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2644
18:16
However, I need your help
and support to lobby.
and support to lobby.
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1086114
2380
18:18
All of us, you know?
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1088518
1213
18:20
If you remember back in US history,
African-Americans were told
African-Americans were told
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3147
18:23
they couldn’t join the military,
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1093473
1544
18:25
and now they serve.
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1095041
1151
18:26
Women as well were banned,
but now they've been allowed.
but now they've been allowed.
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2623
18:28
The military has and is changing.
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1098863
1641
18:30
Today is our time. Now it’s our turn.
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2375
18:32
Hooah!
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18:34
(Applause)
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Translated by Camille Martínez
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Keith Nolan - TeacherKeith Nolan doesn't believe his deafness should be a barrier to serving his country -- and is making the case for increasing the role of citizens with disabilities in the military.
Why you should listen
Keith Nolan was told that he couldn’t enlist in the army because he was deaf -- but he didn’t take no for an answer. After he finally convinced a commander to let him audit ROTC classes, he proved himself a top student and earned his uniform. Although a standard military hearing test prevents him from enlisting, his continued fight has inspired many would-be soldiers with disabilities -- and a vigorous online campaign on his behalf.
Keith Nolan | Speaker | TED.com