One phone call could change Cess Mercado’s life forever.
A fire specialist on campus, Mercado is a reservist in the U.S. Army and one of several UC Davis staff members who could be activated in a possible war against Iraq.
“I’ve had quite a few friends already called up,” said Mercado, a medic in the Army’s 352nd Combat Support Hospital based in Oakland. “A lot of them are eager. Instead of hearing talk about it, they’re going over there.”
A sergeant, Mercado acknowledged that he could be gone for a long time. Nine days after the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the Pentagon began to mobilize reservists, hitting a peak of 168,000 reservists as of late last month. So far, four UC Davis employees have been activated.
“I’d estimate the chances are greater than 50 percent. Parts of my group have already been called up,” he said.
If so, he would supervise about other 30 people in what could described as a “M.A.S.H.” medical unit that treats combat casualties. While some reservists are activated and stay in the U.S. to help with support and logistics,
Mercado’s unit would be set up near the front lines.
“My job is to keep my guys’ skill levels up-to-date,” said Mercado. “Training other people is what I do best.”
A 2002 UC Davis graduate (with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science), Mercado was a student firefighter for three years before taking a full-time firefighter position in June 2002. UC Davis recruits student firefighters to work four 14- or 24-hour shifts per month. Regular firefighters like Mercado work 48-hour shifts up to five times month and sleep in dorms in the fire/police building on campus. There’s always work to be done, from cleaning the fire trucks and equipment to testing the emergency systems, he said.
“You just do your thing day in and day out.”
Federal law protects reservists against being denied certain employment benefits because their military activities interfere with their jobs.
Dennis Shimek, associate vice chancellor for human resources, said the UC system goes beyond the federal mandates in protecting the jobs, salaries and benefits of reservists. In June 2002, the university adopted a new policy for employees called to active duty during the Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle campaigns. Now, employees who enlist or who are called for duty will be compensated for the difference between their university base pay and their military pay and allowances for one year.
Mercado’s reservist duty requires him to train two days a month in Oakland and then up to three weeks each summer. He’s signed up in the Army through 2005.
He and his wife, Kara, live in Dixon where Cess grew up. Kara says she is enthusiastic about being a “military family.” Yet these days, her heart pounds a little faster every time the phone rings.
“It’s nerve-wracking right now,” Kara said. “I need to accept he might have to go. When we first met, I realized it was always a possibility. But not quite like now.”
Kara, however, understands that her husband — as a medic — will play a special role in any conflict. “I’m blessed,” she said. “I’m with a great guy who knows how to help people.”
Already Mercado’s impressed his colleagues with hard work and leadership skills, especially for someone who’s only 24 years old.
Fire Captain Tony Rossetto said the department would surely miss the reservist if the Army activated him, but it’s not something they spend time thinking about. “Nothing’s happened yet, and we have so many day-to-day things to take care of. I hope he doesn’t go. But if he does, I know he’s capable of handling it all.”
“He’s a hard worker and natural leader.”
Mercado said he plans a long future at UC Davis. “It’s great to be here, and we have a lot of camaraderie, just like in the Army.”