WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – At just 17 years old, Sgt. John Nordquist enlisted in the Army, ready to serve right after graduation. He headed to boot camp at Ft. Jackson, following in the footsteps of several family members already in the Army.

“I didn’t think it was that hard because I worked out constantly before I went to basic training, so physical fitness-wise, I thought it was a cakewalk,” Nordquist said of basic training.

He decided he wanted to be a chaplain’s assistant because he wanted to help soldiers. 

“I chose that because I wanted to help soldiers.”

That’s when his pace of training picked up.

“I thought my job training was harder physically because they wanted to break that stereotype that chaplain assistants are lazy in the Army.”

His training included learning about different religions and how to set up memorial services in the field or in a chapel. He learned he’d be the one to carry a weapon if put in a combat scenario since the chaplain is non-combative. But he wouldn’t get the chance to serve in that role in his deployment.

“I was deployed as an extra body, so I was used for anything and everything,” he said. “I just did what I could to help them, like if they’re doing manual labor.”

He served in Kuwait, Iraq and Syria. He continued training while overseas and was promoted while deployed.

“The civilians in Syria were very happy to see us … roll through because we were getting rid of ISIS in that fight,” Nordquist said. “Even though there was a lot of damage from artillery strikes to get rid of ISIS members, they were very happy to see us because they were getting liberated.”

His mission to help soldiers would become a reality as he gained the trust of fellow soldiers.

“I felt a greater sense of brotherhood in my unit after that point, and I felt like they could really rely on me, and I could really rely on them,” Nordquist said.

He put his chaplain’s assistant training to work as someone who was there to listen and provide guidance when he could.

“They just wanted to vent or talk about their problems.”

When he returned to the United States, he worked in recruiting. But the injuries from the hard labor during his deployment persisted.

“I just put it off, going to the doctor. It was a big stigma. You don’t go to sick call or go see a doctor.”

What he initially thought were minor injuries turned into serious back and hip issues.

“It hurt to walk, hurt to stand, hurt to sit down,” he said. “I had to have surgery on both my hips before I was even 23.”

He realized his goal of serving 20 years like his father would not be possible. He was medically discharged.

“I had a lot of depression issues at that point and dealing with some PTSD,” Nordquist said. “I kind of struggled a lot at that point, and, luckily, the VA really helped me. The behavioral health department really helped me a lot through that.”

The support of his fiancée in getting him to appointments and helping him through difficult times was also key.

Using the VA’s Chapter 31 program on Veteran Readiness and Employment, he’s now working on his bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“Then, I’m going to get my masters in social work with an emphasis on mental health and trauma, and I want to be a therapist in the VA to give back to that program that helped me so much.”

When not working on his degree, Norquist works with Midwest Battle Buddies, a nonprofit that provides service dogs to veterans at no cost. His passion is to give veterans the attention they deserve.

“The government puts a lot of time and effort in their training when they’re in. I think we should put that much effort into them when they’re out.”

Nordquist says he’d sign up again “in a heartbeat,” knowing it would put him on a path to help soldiers.

“I still have that passion to help soldiers, and now, I’m gearing it towards veterans when they get out.”