Michael Cotts | Sergeant Major, 4th Engineer Support Regiment, Canadian Armed Forces | Served in Kuwait, Somalia, Bosnia and Afghanistan | Received the following medals for his service: Kuwait Campaign Medal, Bosnia Campaign Medals, Somalia Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Peacekeeping Medal, Canadian Forces Decoration
Michael Fuentespina | Chief Warrant Officer, Canadian Armed Forces Health Services Group Headquarters, Royal Canadian Air Force | Served in Norway, Germany, United Kingdom, France, United States, Afghanistan and Bosnia | Received the following medals for his service: NATO-FY (Former Yugoslavia); CPSM (Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal); CD (Canadian Decoration); QDJM (Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal); GCS (General Campaign Star – Afghanistan); and MMM (Member of the Order of Military Merit)
Fuentespina shares one of the more jarring and unsettling memories from his 2008 tour of duty, when he served as a member of the Counter-IED’s Advisory Response Team during the War in Afghanistan. Nine years after that tour ended, Fuentespina was officially diagnosed with PTSD.
Ronan Seltenreich | Scout Platoon Leader, U.S. First Battalion, 508th Infantry, United States Army | Served in Afghanistan | Received the following medals for his service: Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge
Seltenreich shares two pivotal moments from his deployment in war-torn Afghanistan — one in which he nearly lost his life; the other, in which he learns of his best friend’s death. After serving two tours of duty, Seltenreich returned home and began working through the emotional aftermath of military conflict.