From Baghdad to Badgerland, new Soldier enlists in Wisconsin National Guard

By Sgt. Michelle Gonzalez

112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

One of the newest Wisconsin Army National Guard enlistees already has served overseas with one of its units.

Abbab Taj Mousa - affectionately known as "Cowboy" - recited the oath of allegiance during a June 3 ceremony at the Military Entrance Processing Station in downtown Milwaukee. But the Baghdad native worked as an interpreter with members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 332nd Rear Operations Center during the unit's 2007 deployment to Iraq.

After obtaining a visa from the U.S. Embassy, Mousa came to the United States in August 2009 to be with family.

"Wisconsin was the first place I came to in America," Mousa said. "I chose to enlist in Wisconsin because of the friends I already have in the Wisconsin Guard."

Becoming a Wisconsin Guardsman took nearly three months. "The process was frustrating at times because I'm not yet a citizen," Mousa said. "The interpreter job I was hoping for was closed, so I had to explore other options. Once I get my citizenship, I plan to go to officer candidate school."

Mousa is scheduled to leave for basic training in Fort Jackson, S.C. in November. After learning the basic Soldiering skills, he will continue on to become an automated logistical specialist where he will handle the distribution of nearly every type of supply. He will then join the ranks of Company A, 257th Brigade Support Battalion in Whitewater.