NPR Series: Stop-Lossing Capt. Rawlings https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91476007 <strong>Capt. Nate Rawlings invites you to post your questions for him in the comment section of his latest essay.</strong> The Princeton alum had expected to spend the year applying for film school, but instead he was stop-lossed, caught up in the Pentagon policy of extending tours of duty. He's be answering listener questions and writing essays about his experience over the past seven months. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Sun, 04 May 2025 10:33:36 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Stop-Lossing Capt. Rawlings https://www.npr.org/series/91476007/stop-lossing-capt-rawlings How 'Battlestar' Brought Me Home From Iraq One of the troops' favorite pastimes in the combat zone is watching the science fiction show <em>Battlestar Galactica</em>, says Capt. Nate Rawlings. As he prepares to leave the Army, watching the finale helps it all seem real. Wed, 20 May 2009 11:41:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2009/05/20/104342997/how-battlestar-brought-me-home-from-iraq https://www.npr.org/2009/05/20/104342997/how-battlestar-brought-me-home-from-iraq

One of the troops' favorite pastimes in the combat zone is watching the science fiction show Battlestar Galactica, says Capt. Nate Rawlings. As he prepares to leave the Army, watching the finale helps it all seem real.

]]> Nate Rawlings Planning For Life After Iraq Army Capt. Nate Rawlings will be returning to civilian life at the end of March after two years in Iraq. After earlier thoughts of becoming a filmmaker, he now hopes to get into journalism school. He talks about how combat experiences affect his perspective on life. Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/03/03/101379360/planning-for-life-after-iraq https://www.npr.org/2009/03/03/101379360/planning-for-life-after-iraq Army Capt. Nate Rawlings will be returning to civilian life at the end of March after two years in Iraq. After earlier thoughts of becoming a filmmaker, he now hopes to get into journalism school. He talks about how combat experiences affect his perspective on life.

]]> Looking Forward To The New Year In Iraq Army Capt. Nate Rawlings has been sharing his experiences in Iraq with NPR over the last year. Madeleine Brand speaks with Rawlings about how he celebrated the new year in Baghdad and what 2009 may bring for United States soldiers in Iraq. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2009/01/01/98934132/looking-forward-to-the-new-year-in-iraq https://www.npr.org/2009/01/01/98934132/looking-forward-to-the-new-year-in-iraq Army Capt. Nate Rawlings has been sharing his experiences in Iraq with NPR over the last year. Madeleine Brand speaks with Rawlings about how he celebrated the new year in Baghdad and what 2009 may bring for United States soldiers in Iraq.

]]> Essay: Troops In Iraq Face Economic Battle At Home Just as Capt. Nate Rawlings decides he's ready to leave the Army for journalism, he watches the newspapers and radio shows he adores go under. Some of his fellow soldiers are planning to stay in the military, he says, rather than try to find a job in such a severe recession. Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:16:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2008/12/30/98811696/essay-troops-in-iraq-face-economic-battle-at-home https://www.npr.org/2008/12/30/98811696/essay-troops-in-iraq-face-economic-battle-at-home Just as Capt. Nate Rawlings decides he's ready to leave the Army for journalism, he watches the newspapers and radio shows he adores go under. Some of his fellow soldiers are planning to stay in the military, he says, rather than try to find a job in such a severe recession.

]]> Nate Rawlings Essay: Happy Holidays From The Combat Zone The deployed service member has few guaranteed certainties, except that he will miss every important event during a calendar year. Capt. Nate Rawlings, who will spend Christmas in Iraq, reflects on mass-produced turkey dinners and new traditions — including a crash landing on a moving ship. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:17:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2008/12/04/97761992/essay-happy-holidays-from-the-combat-zone https://www.npr.org/2008/12/04/97761992/essay-happy-holidays-from-the-combat-zone The deployed service member has few guaranteed certainties, except that he will miss every important event during a calendar year. Capt. Nate Rawlings, who will spend Christmas in Iraq, reflects on mass-produced turkey dinners and new traditions — including a crash landing on a moving ship.

]]> Nate Rawlings Making Sense Of The Election From Baghdad While his family was at home watching the U.S. election results, Capt. Nate Rawlings was watching CNN on a military base in Iraq. He discusses his experience and his soldiers' reactions to Barack Obama's victory. Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2008/11/07/96702465/making-sense-of-the-election-from-baghdad https://www.npr.org/2008/11/07/96702465/making-sense-of-the-election-from-baghdad While his family was at home watching the U.S. election results, Capt. Nate Rawlings was watching CNN on a military base in Iraq. He discusses his experience and his soldiers' reactions to Barack Obama's victory.

]]> Nate Rawlings Making Iraqi Friends And Connecting With Family In his latest installment of answers to listener questions, Capt. Nate Rawlings explains what it's like to get to know the residents in the cities he patrols. He also explores what soldiers can do if, upon returning home, their children don't remember who they are. Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:51:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2008/11/06/96711119/making-iraqi-friends-and-connecting-with-family https://www.npr.org/2008/11/06/96711119/making-iraqi-friends-and-connecting-with-family In his latest installment of answers to listener questions, Capt. Nate Rawlings explains what it's like to get to know the residents in the cities he patrols. He also explores what soldiers can do if, upon returning home, their children don't remember who they are.

]]> Nate Rawlings Essay: Soldier Inspires Voters On U.S. Base In Iraq Sgt. Asa Rubman, a paralegal, set up a voting drive in the dining room at his military base in Baghdad. Over the course of five days, nearly 600 soldiers, airmen and contractors cast absentee ballots — many for the first time. Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:01:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2008/10/24/96065680/essay-soldier-inspires-voters-on-u-s-base-in-iraq https://www.npr.org/2008/10/24/96065680/essay-soldier-inspires-voters-on-u-s-base-in-iraq

Sgt. Asa Rubman, a paralegal, set up a voting drive in the dining room at his military base in Baghdad. Over the course of five days, nearly 600 soldiers, airmen and contractors cast absentee ballots — many for the first time.

]]> Nate Rawlings Observing The Presidential Candidates From Iraq From a cell phone on a rooftop in Baghdad, Capt. Nate Rawlings stresses the importance of voting and offers his take on the presidential candidates' Iraq policies. Rawlings also explains how he copes with soldiers who would rather be partying. Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:51:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2008/09/22/94885285/observing-the-presidential-candidates-from-iraq https://www.npr.org/2008/09/22/94885285/observing-the-presidential-candidates-from-iraq From a cell phone on a rooftop in Baghdad, Capt. Nate Rawlings stresses the importance of voting and offers his take on the presidential candidates' Iraq policies. Rawlings also explains how he copes with soldiers who would rather be partying.

]]> Essay: Sick And Chugging Gatorade In Iraq Feeling under the weather is never enjoyable, but being sick in a combat zone is wretchedly miserable. Stuck with bronchitis, Capt. Nate Rawlings is reminded of why sometimes, when you can't be sure of the outcome, all you can look forward to is the end. Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:35:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2008/09/17/94690936/essay-sick-and-chugging-gatorade-in-iraq https://www.npr.org/2008/09/17/94690936/essay-sick-and-chugging-gatorade-in-iraq

Feeling under the weather is never enjoyable, but being sick in a combat zone is wretchedly miserable. Stuck with bronchitis, Capt. Nate Rawlings is reminded of why sometimes, when you can't be sure of the outcome, all you can look forward to is the end.

]]> Nate Rawlings