Fort Living Room

Kenneth Lugo asked to be a recruiter, even though it came with a reputation of being a thankless job that required long hours.

Suddenly, instead of using a firearm, he was taught how to use a laptop. Pushing keys became much more important than pulling triggers.

It was a huge adjustment for him and his peers, with some of them changing from driving armored fighting tanks to compact cars. Instead of killing techniques, they were taught interpersonal skills.

At times, he found himself worrying that his post-traumatic stress disorder would get in the way of his learning. Flashbacks from his time in Iraq could creep into his mind at any time, and it was never fun.

In this memoir, he shares how he dealt with PTSD, how he embarked on a new military career, and the challenges a military recruiter must overcome as they encourage people to fight for their country.