Ready For What's Next HOW CONFLICTS ARE AFFECTING MILITARY FAMILIES
Illustration by Harvest Buchanan
Q & A WITH PHILIP SAMOYLICH Ukrainian American senior How does your family feel about the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine? My mom has friends that live in Ukraine back where she used to live, but otherwise we don’t really know that many people that live in Ukraine because either everybody left or they moved to another country. Do you guys keep in contact with the people who are living in Ukraine? Yeah, it’s mostly just through things like Facebook or Instagram, or there's a Russian social media and WhatsApp. T H E W H I R LW I N D
While the rest of the world watched in horror as footage of Russian troops entering Ukraine spread through the news and social media, military families watched with a different kind of worry. Currently, the U.S. is not involved in the Ukrainian war, but the possibility remains. Should Russia attack a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the U.S., along with other membering countries, would likely get involved, putting American soldiers on foreign soils. Growing up with a parent in the military is already hard enough, and according to the American Psychological Association, this makes up approximately two million children in the U.S. Many children who grow up in this situation have to learn to cope with frequent parental absences, possible harm coming to their parents, and the aftermath of that parent coming home. Having a parent in the military can also, according to sophomore Ben Howell, change one's outlook on war. Howell’s father served in Iraq until 2007, his grandfather served in Vietnam, and his great-great-grandfather in World War I. Despite the long family history, Howell has no intentions of joining the military. “It’s not really something I’m particularly big on,” Howell said. “I’ve been around someone who went to war my entire life, so he’s giving me those ideas of ‘war isn’t that great.’” Howell said that growing up around people who have experienced war has made him more of a pacifist. “[I think] that peace should be pursued whenever possible,” Howell said. Senior Hunter Nelson, on the other hand, is following in his family's footsteps. Nelson’s mother and two of his grandparents served in the Military and Navy.
Have you thought about joining the military or helping in any way? No, I would not join the military just because it's not really my thing...Well, for most Americans, they can’t find Ukraine on a map until maybe just like a week ago. But for them, going to Ukraine is not their fight; they have no reason to go. But for my uncles, they feel much stronger becaue that's where they grew up, but in terms of going there and fighting, I dont think that's a very serious idea because Russians know Ukrainians, and Ukrainians know Russians. It's not a fight I think either countries really want. Do you feel especially close to the conflict given that you are Ukrainian? Absolutely. I mean, it’s terrible to see images of people that you know, who speak the language you speak. I mean, if you saw Americans getting killed, you
Nelson is following close behind, having recently joined the National Guard. “I knew I wanted to do military,” Nelson said. “My mom was in the Navy and both my grandparents.” There’s been a lot of debate whether or not the U.S. should get involved in the war in Ukraine. Nelson said that while he’d be nervous, he’d support the U.S. getting involved. “We’ve seen it before in Georgia, Crimea, and eastern Ukraine,” Nelson said. “They’re putting pressure on other countries, [and] it’s going to continue happening if we don’t do something.” However, some fear that getting involved might make the situation worse. “The U.S.’s role would be [to continue] what they're already doing,” senior Gabe LaChapelle said. “You fight them economically and you provide what weapons you can to Ukraine, but there's not much else you can do without causing something a lot worse that would probably end up with the destruction of Ukraine anyways.” According to Howell, his main concerns about the U.S. getting involved in the war in Ukraine is the possibility of a draft. “I’m more worried about if it goes on and if there's a draft that occurs,” Howell said, “the fact that highschoolers at West Albany could get drafted into a war.” While the U.S. does not have an active draft, it could still be reinstated during an emergency by an act of Congress. Men ages 18 to 25 are still required to register with the Selective Service, the agency responsible for running a draft should the need arise.
would feel very strongly attached to it. It’s very sad to see Russians kill Ukrainians, and Ukrainians fight Russians. It’s not just a tragedy, it’s like some part of you wants to help. It's kind of a deeper thing. Do you feel obligated in any way to help donate or offer shelter? Yeah, our parents have donated a lot to causes that they know, one of which was the posters out [in the commons]. They donated like $100 or something. It’s not an obligation; it’s more like your duty. You don’t have to do this, it’s more like your gonna do this. Why do you think they feel that way? Not just because they are Ukrainian, but because it is their heritage. They have deep ties to Ukraine, to their country. Is that people who don’t know a lot about the conflict might not know? Things like the 2014 Merredin
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coup that overthrew a pro-Russian president and put in a pro-United States president. The Pro-Russian parts of Ukraine that were upset about it broke away from Ukraine are Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk, all of which voted to join the Russian Federation. Crimea was accepted, however Doetsk and Luhansk were not. Anything you would like to add? It’s a lot of focusing on few things and not the whole picture... You miss the forest for the trees. I think with Ukrainians, there's a very strong sense of pride. A very strong sense of independence. They’ve always seen themselves as independent and have always had bad feelings toward Russia. Just as it's like big brother and little brother. There's a lot of acts of heroism and stuff like that. A lot of that stems off of national identity. Slava Ukrayini, or Glory to Ukraine.
