Tyler Samsel is Ready for His New Adventure

It’s almost time for Tyler Samsel to start his new adventure.

Tyler, who works on the delineator line in VisionCorps’ York office, producing and inspecting the reflective posts used by the Pennsylvania turnpike and the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT), is headed to the Middle East.

He will leave for his first deployment in January as a member of the Army National Guard. He will be stationed in Iraq for nine months working on a base in Erbil, performing tasks in finances.

“It’s like hands-on finance training,” said Tyler, a 23-year-old York countian who enlisted in the Army at age 17 after graduating from Red Lion High School. “We will work in a vault, like in a bank office, on the base.”

Tyler will be processing financial transactions including things like contracts and disbursements.

While his job sounds more like a bank teller he is also prepared for combat. His battalion of three finance companies based in Lebanon, 25 people, will be deploying. The soldiers train for a weekend each month and for two weeks during the summer. They practice shooting, simulation, land navigation, and convoy exercises.

“No civilian clothes are allowed on the base,” he said, “we will wear Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) every day.

“Our pre-deployment training includes everything all soldiers learn – shooting, land navigation, work on the gas and grenade range.

“We’re trained to be a soldier first and learn a job second,” he said. “Day to day I’ll be going into an office, but I could also go on a combat mission.”

In a few weeks, Tyler will leave from Fort Indiantown Gap, first going to Texas for some additional training, then to Germany, Kuwait and finally Iraq.

He’s not sure what he’ll be doing when he’s not working but he plans to try to relax in his free time, learn more about financial operations and talk to his family.

“My Mom is terrified but starting to get used to the idea,” said Tyler.

“I’m excited, but I’m starting to get nervous,” said Tyler, who hopes to start college after he finishes his military service. He will also be returning to work in the York office. “My military experience so far has been great, and this deployment will be a big milestone.”

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