Firsthand Experiences

Meet Timothy Romrell
U.S. Army

Military Student

Deployed to Iraq from his home in Rigby, Idaho, not far from the wilds of Yellowstone National Park, SPC Romrell is using his time there wisely. “If you can get your schooling in while you’re deployed, when it’s time to return home, you will be so much better off than you were before you left,” he says.

A SPC in the National Guard, Tim balances his AIU Online schoolwork with 12-hour shifts helping with Howitzers in Bayji. His original duty in Iraq was to sit in the guns and load them for fire missions, but he was soon switched to relaying target locations to the guns. “I sit in a building waiting for someone to call in on the radio with a target location. I then put that location into a computer and send it over to the guns."

But, since there is little need for Howitzers back home in Idaho, Tim’s time in Iraq isn’t doing much for his career. “That’s why I decided to get a degree now, so I could have a better job and a better income when I get back home.” Before leaving for Iraq in June 2004, Tim worked at a stationery store manning giant die presses.

While many people marvel that soldiers in Iraq have the time and will to study when so far from home and with so many dangers surrounding them, for Tim, it is actually easier to get his Associate's degree while deployed than it would be when in Idaho. He has three kids with his wife of five years, Qandryel. Not only are the three kids—all under four years old—a handful, but, “When I’m home, Qandryel wants my undivided attention.” That's understandable.

Naturally, when looking for degree programs to do while in Iraq, Tim focused exclusively on online programs. “That was the only way I could do it from here. Now that I’ve done online, though, even if I had the choice of traditional school, I think I’d still pick online. It's faster and it seems you get one-on-one time with everyone in the class, including the teacher."

After researching numerous online programs, Tim eventually decided on AIU Online. “I liked AIU Online the best because it was willing to help me get things done fast and get me underway. The generosity of the staff was great, too.”

Now that he’s in the middle of his degree in Criminal Justice—“I’ve always liked police work and with this degree, I could work as a military police officer or even work in JAG or in the court system as a civilian”—Tim says he’s having little trouble balancing military and school responsibilities. “I haven't had any problems at all.” And he loves talking with students from all over the place. “I’ve made some friends. It's nice to have pen pals.”

Still, though, Tim can’t wait until he gets home. “I hope it is by Christmas, but you never know. I am really looking forward to being with my wife and kids again. I miss them so much."