In July, Keith Jennings will return to his full-time job at Indianapolis Fire Station 34. His 14-month absence from the station was not spent idly. In April 2024, Jennings deployed to Al-Asad Airbase in the heart of Iraq, serving in the Army Reserves. While his journey and time spent in Iraq were unplanned, Jennings says the deployment was God’s plan for his life.
Living amid smog-hazed skies, his time in Iraq brought clarity to his life’s purpose. Jennings said his focus now is to move through life with intentional purpose. He hopes to show more compassion for others. He wants to have a relationship with his sons that includes mentorship and a voice of reason. He wants to relax, enjoy each sunrise and take time for introspective thought.
Jennings credits his wife, Ashley, for bringing purpose into his life. He says he was “aimlessly going through life” when he met her at age 25. Jennings was serving as a greeter at Emmanuel Church when Ashley spotted him. Jennings says, “She found me.” He was not looking for a relationship, but he is forever grateful she pursued finding out who he was. Today they are happily married and have three sons: Quentin, 12; Jackson, 10; and Greyson, 6. The hardest part of his deployment was being away from his family. And Applebee’s, he said with a smile.
Jennings never expected to deploy. When his Fort Harrison medical unit disbanded and transferred to the north side of Chicago, he was assigned to an engineering unit as operations sergeant. He was behind the scenes, he says, logistically taking care of things. In Iraq, he was the fourth person in charge, and during his deployment, he was promoted to sergeant first class (SFC).
Jennings said the trip across the world opened his eyes to the reality of the world. “We take everything for granted here.” While he said that on base he felt mostly safe, he did experience one attack on Aug. 5. Drones and rockets attacked the base. Seven were injured in the attack. He realized then, “My safety is now in jeopardy.” Jennings credits his faith in God for getting him through his time in Iraq. He said his faith showed him the reality of things and helped him evaluate his priorities in life outside of the military. Experiencing that sense of fear brought about the awareness of waking up each day with purpose, with his family and with his career.
Jennings’ initial deployment was slated for April 2025. As the unit started preparing for a transition with the inbound unit, he and his unit were asked to volunteer to stay on and help with the transition. After discussing it with Ashley, Jennings signed up to stay 45 additional days. As a parent, this decision was hard to make. He was eager to get back home to his family, but he felt a sense of duty to ensure the staff transition went well. He and Ashley surprised the boys on his return to Franklin. He arrived a day earlier than expected, and tears and smiles surrounded Jennings instantly.
Jennings is looking forward to a family beach vacation in Alabama before returning to the fire department on July 9. Currently, he is on military leave and will return to drilling with the Army, serving as NCOIC one weekend each month and two weeks this summer as part of the rear detachment unit in Franklin. His goal is to become a commissioned medical officer in the years to come.
In the meantime, he wants to fill his own cup by spending quality time with family and friends, relaxing, taking in those smog-free sunrises, serving his church and creating an intentional life.
