Soldier by Day, Bartender by Night, American for Life

Sgt. Leif Frydenlund-Clark embodies all the characteristics of a soldier that reminds us why we support our troops.
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Robinson: First let me say thank you for squeezing in some time for me during your day. I've never interviewed someone during a workout before and I have no questions prepared, so I'm kinda flying by the seat of my pants here.

Frydenlund-Clark: Sure. I usually take thirty to sixty second breaks in between reps, so you can think of questions while I'm lifting and ask me when I switch machines. Just so you know, we've had plenty of instruction on what we can and can't say.

We just don't want to give out too much information on what we do because there are enemies out there that want to know certain information from us; we don't want to volunteer certain information that would make it easier for them to mark us as a target.

R: So, it's not as if you're hiding anything, it's more like a protective wall.

FC: Right.

R: Alright. Could you please state your name, rank, and position?

FC: My name is Sgt. Leif Frydenlund-Clark, E-5, of the 371st Chemical Company. I'm a signal systems support specialist.

R: What does that mean?

FC: That means I'm the com guy. Anything communications-related, radio, satellite, computer networking, bands, you know.

R: I didn't know that. That's really interesting. So in the movies, you're the guy who wears the radio pack on his back.

FC: No. I'm the guy who issues radios to the guys who wear them on their backs. I'm also the NCO of the Commo section as well as Squad Leader.

R: Impressive. As is your body, if I may say. Why do you work out?

FC: I like it, probably because I happen to be good at it. I'd like to add some longevity to my life and a good physique builds confidence.

R: You're a member of the Army Reserves, right?

FC: That's right.

R: How often do you leave town for drill?

FC: Once a month. Usually three days, sometimes more. You know, weekend duty, and then every once in a while I'll get orders to go to schooling to get rank or to get more advanced technical training. To get rank E5 and above, you have to get schooling. Everyone has training and then once a year we get AT or annual training.

R: Can you talk about some of your activities? Is it like in the commercials, jumping through tires, crawling through mud, and helping people over climbing walls?

FC: We pretty much just do our job, we train and maintain. Sometimes we spend time out in the field, but I haven't seen an obstacle course since basic training.

R: When you're at drill, how much of the day is spent doing something army-related? How much down time do you get?

FC: When I'm at drill, normally it's a pretty full day. When I have free time I use it to help others out with their tasks. But there's really not a lot of personal time.

R: I remember the last time you came back from drill, you were dead dog tired.

FC: Yeah. That has to do with my scedule, you know working [my civilian job] until two, three in the morning and then getting up at six in the morning.

R: Do you ever have late nights and early mornings when you're at drill? Is your schedule for the next couple of days set or does it change up every time you go?

FC: Yeah, we try to work and get out of there and leave by 5 P.M., sometimes it's a little earlier but we never go over because then they'd have to feed us again. The only food they're authorized to serve us out there at MREs, box lunches, and hot lunches. In the interest of national security, I can't tell you where and what we eat off the field. Winks. The only time we're not done by five is if we go somewhere else for training. Then we could easily spend the night.

R: Mmm, a sleepover. Do you talk to your girlfriend Jessi everyday when you're at drill?

FC: Yeah, pretty much. I mean I talk to her every day anyway.

R: What does she think about what you do?

FC: I really don't know. You should ask her, but she's probably proud of me.

R: Pretty much everyone is. How does your mom feel about it?

FC: She's proud of me.

R: Of course she'd be proud of you no matter what you did.

FC: Yeah. I know she's definitely proud of my rank and all the work I've put in to earn it. Still, there's always the possibility... of something happening, you know?

R: Yeah. Is it sort of like living two lives? You've got your friends, family, and job here and then you go off for a few days and do something completely different. Or do you really feel that they intertwine?

FC: They really connect. It is a big difference, what I do as a civilian and what I do in the Army. The whole getting up at five in the morning thing really isn't me, but I'm a pretty flexible guy.

R: So Leif and Sgt. Frydenlund-Clark are essentially the same person?

FC: Oh yeah, they're definitely the same person. I hold the Army values true as a soldier as well as a civilian.

R: The group that you're with, your unit, you always stay together? Do you see the same guys every time you're at drill?

FC: Yeah, that doesn't change much. Sometimes someone will have orders elsewhere and won't get there, but for the most part it's like the same people all the time. It's like going to class.

R: What do they do for a living?

FC: Well, one works for the fire department. A couple are cops. And a couple are COs (correction officers).

R: SInce you have extensive training that would be so beneficial to you in a job like a firefighter, why do you choose to bartend?

FC: Because I'm going to school. Working for the fire department, stuff like that, is pretty much full time and you can't find time for school with that. Those are more like careers, and I'm not there yet.

R: As far as a career goes, do you think you'd choose something like that? Would you like to have some of the same careers that other in your unit have?

FC: Nah, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna do something with my business degree.

R: Where did that desire come from?

FC: I have a lot of hobbies, things that interest me. I like sports, I love music, and so many other things. Working in a business environment, I can choose to work in any number of those areas.

R: Sounds like a good deal to me. Why do you keep changing the pins and changing machines so often?

FC: I'm doing pyramid weight-training. Today I'm working with ten reps of 160, eight reps of 180, six reps of 210, and back down again.

R: If you can't tell, I don't weight-train very much. What are the benefits of a pyramid versus other kinds of reps?

FC: You're mainly gaining muscle mass doing pyramid triaining, as opposed to high reps and lower weight, which builds endurance and is gonna give you some kind of definition and tone. Here, you try. FC sets bench press pin to 60 pounds.

R: Extending arms, Yeah, I got this. No problem.

FC: Here, I'm gonna set it at 90. If you can do 90 pounds, I'd be impressed, for a girl.

R: Breathes deep. Pushes. Nope. Pushes. No freaking way. Now I'm gonna stick with what I happen to be good at, sitting down and running my mouth. What did you think when the President declared war in Iraq?

FC: I thought it was a good idea.

R: Why?

FC: Well, just because we gotta help in the Middle East. Of course it's not our job, but we can help. They do have terrorists that are making life a living hell over there, and it may not be our job, but why not help?

R: So basically what you're saying is you're down with the War on Terror and you're willing to pay any price to be a part of that war?

FC: Not any price, no.

R: What prices would you pay?

FC: Obviously since I'm in the Armed Forces, I'm willing to give my life for it. I mean, if you're not willing to do that, you probably shouldn't be in the armed forces.

R: Do you think you'd feel even more passionately about the war if it were on our homefront versus in another country, or is this war on our homefront?

FC: I wouldn't say it's on our homefront, but it could definitely come here. Like I said, we gotta be out there to keep an eye out for what's going on and help out with what they've got going on for our own protection.

R: Why just the Middle East? Why not the whole world? There are terrorists everywhere.

FC: I guess I just trust the government and believe that's the biggest area of conflict. There's more turmoil in the Middle East. If we needed to be in Eastern Russia or Asia, then okay.

R: Do you trust your government on major issues?

FC: Not necessarily. Not completely. But...

R: But you feel that they're telling the truth? Or do you have enough evidence for yourself?

FC: Well, of course it's real.

R: Do you think that a need will arise now or sometime during your career in the Army Reserves for you to go overseas?

FC: Yeah. It's defintely a possibility, and if I have to go, I'll do it. I mean, I'm not itching to get out there, but I wouldn't be reluctant.

R: Especially since that's what you signed up for.

FC: When I signed up in October 2003, that's when we were talking about going to war with Iraq. You know, after Afghanistan.

R: Why did you sign up?

FC: I signed up for a couple reasons. I believe every male should put his time in, some way or another. So, it has to do with patriotism. I also felt I needed structure in my life.

R: Were any of your family members HOOAH?

FC: Pretty much all the males in the family have served in the army, navy, or air force.

R: How have you changed since then?

FC: I've gained maturity as well as the ability to step back and see the big picture to be able to determine what's petty and what's not.

R: How would you feel if this country enacted a bill that required mandatory civil service for two years?

FC: In an ideal society we wouldn't have to enact such a bill, but I believe all young males should serve his country. I also believe everyone has a choice, so no, I wouldn't like that.

R: Do you know anyone who had to go?

FC: Yeah. You do, too. Mark Santos. Actually, he's going to Afghanistan. But I knew a girl who had to deploy with her unit who wasn't actually assigned to my unit but she drilled with us. I've got friends who have been to Iraq, actually almost everyone in my unit's been already. I just got to my unit right after they returned from deployment.

R: Mark Santos joined the army not very long ago at all.

FC: No. I went to his graduation in Fort Benning a few months ago.

R: What's different about his unit or what he signed up to do? Why is he going now? Because he signed up to be active duty instead of Reserves?

FC: No, he did sign up to be in the Reserves, but he's also an MP, I think. But that doesn't say anything. But there are people out there who are National Guard who are getting deployed, too. Basically, somehow I haven't gone out there. My unit hasn't been deployed since 2003.

R: So someone of your rank and your position should definitely have been out there?

FC: Yeah. No rank, no position is immune to getting deployed, except for non-deployable units such as training units.

R: Okay, one last question. Do you come to the weight room often and flex your pecs in the mirror?

FC: Off the record?

R: Off the record.

FC: Yeah.