BAGHDAD, Iraq – With Thanksgiving come and gone, it was a good opportunity for everyone to be thankful for what they have. All Americans can be thankful to the men and women on active duty in the armed forces. Here Credit Union Times takes a look at two NCUA professionals called up to fulfill their duties as reservists. NCUA Corporate Examiner Thomas Evans, a.k.a. Lieutenant Colonel Evans, is currently serving as an Army reservist in Baghdad on a minimum one-year tour, which just began in September. "Now that I am here, I more fully understand the huge challenges over here. But, remember this place was under the rule of a tyrant for 40 years. The Iraqis have lived in fear and oppression for most if not all their lives," he said. "This will take time and we are making daily progress." Evans added that, "The Iraqis that are stepping up to be in the Army and Police are the real heroes. They and their families are threatened, murdered, tortured, kidnapped, etc., but they keep lining up. The Iraqi [colonel] we work with most had his home attacked, his brother wounded and daughter killed last week. He had to send his family to another country for safety." Evans serves as officer in charge of current operations for the J6 (Command, Control, Communications and Computers) for the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq. He explained his group is charged with training, advising, mentoring and equipping the Iraqi Army and Police Force (approximately 275,000 personnel at over 1,300 locations). They are providing radios, telephones, computers and Internet for all the many police and military bases and units. "To say the least, this is a huge job," he said. Evans coordinates these activities and is responsible for the many contracts we have with various supporting vendors, including MCI who is providing a private cellular voice and data network for the military bases in Iraq. Evans' orders are actually for 545 days, but it is all subject to need. Either way he will miss the birth of his first grandchild expected to come in January. He does get 15 days of leave that he plans to take in March. Being a soldier was what Evans wanted to do ever since he was a kid. In 1983, he enlisted in the Army and served 10 years on active duty including two in the Republic of Korea. He left active duty in 1993 and became a reservist. Evans said being in the Army has provided numerous opportunities and experiences for him, like leadership, civilian education, and military education (He currently attends the Army War College via distance learning). "I enjoy public service, both at NCUA and in the military." Evans explained. "I really enjoyed working with credit union officials, management and employees. They are the best and brightest America has to offer and they are there for the benefit of their members, not necessarily themselves." He added that NCUA permitted him to graduate this month with his fellow Management Development Program members, for which he was unable to complete all the requirements due to his promotion to corporate examiners and his deployment. He will finish up when he returns, Evans said. "What a great organization NCUA is!" Evans said. "All of my NCUA bosses have supported me 100% in all my Army Reserve duties." Evans has a wife, Suki, and 14-year-old son in New Jersey, and two grown daughters. [email protected]