Andrew Karazi - Army

From 2020 to present, I've served in the US Army. I have always tried being the officer my enlisted soldiers could rely on and trust.

In 2022 I commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer out of the Army ROTC program at UC Irvine. My first assignment was assistant intelligence officer to the 746th CSSB but soon after I transferred to the 250th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion (EMIBn).

Eagle Partner 2024 — Armenia

Our group lined up together at Eagle Partner 2024
Eagle Partner 2024, Armenia.

I got to do some fun things in the Army. In 2024 I was screened and selected to be an Armenian language linguist to support the exercise Eagle Partner 2024 in Armenia between the US Army and Armenian Army. It was exciting, being a Cold War history buff and getting to crawl around Soviet-era equipment was a dream come true. But actually the rewarding part of the exercise was seeing my language interpretation being appreciated by the Armenian military partners and my American colleagues. It was tiring in a way I didn't expect. Interpreting instruction from Armenian to English, and vice versa, quickly turned into me leading mechanized patrols in armored vehicles... and then that happened daily.

Andrew holding a PKM in front of the truck used for patrol training
This is me holding a PKM in front of the truck I rode in for all of the patrol training. The PKM is my favorite GPMG so I thought it was fitting.
A view of the hills and patrol vehicle during a mid-patrol break
Enjoying the view, mid patrol break. They filmed the T-72 scene from the movie Kyanq u Kriv on this hill.
Armenian Army Mi-24 Hind gunship flying overhead
Armenian Army Mi-24 Hind gunship

I learned a lot during the packing up of the exercise as well. Working with the SAC C-17s, the USAF, and the Armenian Army General Staff's logistics office and helping coordinate between the three and the US Army assets on the ground to get them and US assets loaded on the correct planes and get them cleared for take off. It was quite a lot of learning on the spot and figuring out language but it was fun.

Interpreting an after-action review
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Andrew Karazi, assigned to 250th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion, translates an after-action review for U.S. and Armenian service members who were completing a training lane on day two of Exercise Eagle Partner 24 at Zar, Armenia, July 17, 2024. Eagle Partner serves to prepare the Armenian Armed Forces to participate in NATO peacekeeping operations and to build relationships between the U.S. and Armenia. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Alexcia Rupert) DVIDS source.
Distinguished Visitors Day
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Andrew Karazi, assigned to 250th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion, Air Force Maj. Gen. James Kriesel, the U.S. European Command director of exercises and assessment, and Space Force 2nd Lt. Benjamin Malian, assigned to 319th Combat Training Squadron, pose together after Karazi and Malian received a Certificate of Appreciation for their invaluable support as interpreters for exercise Eagle Partner 24 at Zar, Armenia, July 23, 2024. There were nine U.S. military service members of Armenian descent who served as interpreters during the Eagle Partner 24. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Alexcia Rupert) DVIDS source.
Bastion armored personnel carriers on the patrol lane
Bastion armored personnel carriers on the patrol lane
U.S. Army photo by Ashley Xie. View photo and caption on DVIDS.
Original DVIDS caption: Armenian Bastion armored personnel carrier vehicles, with 12th Peacekeeping Brigade, arrive at a training location during a patrol lane as part of the exercise Eagle Partner 24 at Zar, Armenia, on July 22, 2024. Eagle Partner 24 is a bilateral demonstration of interoperability, collaboration, and solidarity to promote peace. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ashley Xie)

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