Mountainside's Jeff Healy: 21 Years in the Guard, One Iraq Deployment

Jeff Healy has lived in Mountainside since 2002. He works as a credit analyst, volunteers as a Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts, and carries the experience of 21 years in the Army National Guard, retiring as a major in 2012. His military journey included a deployment to Iraq in January 2010—a deployment that tested his leadership, his commitment to family, and his connection to the community he calls home.

Union County Life is covering this veteran's service and reflection as part of our ongoing America's 250th Anniversary remembrance of the people who have served and shaped Union County communities.

Healy comes from a military family. His grandfather served during World War II, and his father was an Army Guard officer. "I always had a military tradition in the family," he said. He joined ROTC at 17, attended Fordham University, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant after college. His original training was as an engineer officer.

In late 2009, Healy mobilized with a Connecticut-based Army National Guard unit and underwent pre-deployment training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The mission that awaited him in Iraq turned out to be different from what his unit expected. "We got a completely different mission than what we thought," he said. "But because we had good folks around us, we were able to adapt and execute."

As operations officer for a 15-to-20-person advisory team, Healy helped oversee the Iraqi Main Supply Depot, with the mission focused on logistics, transportation, and supply chain management. It was work that demanded leadership, problem-solving, and the ability to respond to unexpected challenges in a complex environment.

But the greatest challenge of his deployment was personal. At the time, Healy had six children at home, ranging in age from just over a year old to teenagers. "The biggest challenge was really being separated from my family. I missed a lot of the first things you get to see with your kids," he said. The sacrifice of time with family is something military families know well—moments that cannot be recovered, milestones experienced from a distance.

In February 2010, while still deployed, Healy participated in the Fallen Soldier Half Marathon at Camp Taji—a way to honor those lost in service. When he returned home, his family and community welcomed him back with open arms. "My wife had put together a party on the front lawn. The whole neighborhood came out," he said. "Everybody in town really reached out and made me feel really welcome coming back."

That homecoming experience, Healy said, reminded him of something essential about community. The welcome his Mountainside neighbors extended became part of his story as much as the deployment itself.

Healy said his military experience continues to shape how he thinks about his civilian work. "The military teaches you to identify what's a fact and what's an assumption. That's a lot of what we do analyzing companies as well," he said. The discipline and clarity of thinking forged in the Guard inform his professional approach.

He remains active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and draws a direct connection between his Guard experience and his Scoutmaster role. "It's a wonderful development opportunity. You see them grow from kids who are afraid of everything to leading 30 people on a weekend camping trip," he said. Service to young people became another form of leadership, another way to give back.

Of military service overall, Healy offered this reflection: "It's a challenge, but it's going to be one of the best things you can do in your life."

Find more Mountainside news, veteran profiles, and community stories on Union County Life.

Photo Credit: Jeff Healy

FAQ

Q: Who is Jeff Healy from Mountainside?
A: Jeff Healy is a Mountainside resident who has lived in the community since 2002. He is a 21-year Army National Guard veteran who retired as a major in 2012. He currently works as a credit analyst and volunteers as a Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts.

Q: Where did Jeff Healy deploy during his military service?
A: Healy deployed to Iraq in January 2010 as part of a Connecticut-based Army National Guard unit. He served as operations officer for an advisory team overseeing the Iraqi Main Supply Depot.

Q: What was Healy's role in Iraq?
A: Healy was operations officer for a 15-to-20-person advisory team responsible for overseeing the Iraqi Main Supply Depot. His mission focused on logistics, transportation, and supply chain management.

Q: What was the biggest challenge of Healy's Iraq deployment?
A: Healy said the biggest challenge was separation from his family. He had six children at home at the time, ranging from infants to teenagers, and missed important milestones during his deployment.

Q: How did Healy's military experience shape his civilian life?
A: Healy said the military taught him to distinguish fact from assumption—a skill he applies to his work as a credit analyst evaluating companies. His military background also informed his approach to leadership as a Scoutmaster.

Q: Does Healy remain involved in the veteran community?
A: Yes. Healy remains active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and channels his commitment to service through volunteering as a Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts.

Q: What does Healy say about military service?
A: Healy reflects: "It's a challenge, but it's going to be one of the best things you can do in your life."