A Journey from Carpenter to Public Affairs NCO

One in a series highlighting service members assigned to the Exchange.

Who he is: Master Sgt. Caleb Barrieau, Public Affairs Ops NCO for the Exchange’s Europe/Southwest Asia/Africa Region

Years of experience: MSG Barrieau joined the Army on Sept. 11, 2001—23 years ago today. He has been with the Exchange since February.

Signing up on Sept. 11: The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon happened while Barrieau was in the process of completing his initial enlistment contract, but his Army service is more than a coincidence.

“Sept. 11 was the day that my recruiter had put on the calendar for the Military Entrance Processing Station [MEPS] enlistment confirmation day, when the contracts had finally been typed up,” he says. “Back then, it was a little bit more cumbersome to do contracts, so it took some time.

“On the floor that day, there were quite a few people at the Maine state MEPS station. We were all in a room waiting for the contracts to be ready and standing by to be called back. You couldn’t scroll on your phone back then, so we were watching one of those huge projector-screen TVs with the coverage of the planes hitting the World Trade Center come on, it was on every single channel. We started watching this all go down, when the reporters started talking about terrorism and war.

“We watched for the next three hours. Nothing was happening with the contracts. Finally, the MEPS director comes in, steps in front of the full room and says, ‘All right, this is the one and only time you’ll ever hear this. You can leave and bow out of your contracts if you want to. What you’re seeing on TV means we are going to war. You’re signing up to go to war.’ They gave us all the option to leave or go through with our contracts that day.

“Only a handful of us stayed. I wasn’t joining for school or money, at the time I was joining to serve my Nation in the best way that I knew I could. I felt very blessed to have a purpose to serve my Nation in a greater capacity.”

Now-MSG Caleb Barrieau’s basic training portrait, Fort Knox.

A familiar face: “I ended up going to Iraq in 2004, and when I got back in 2005, I did some recruiting for the Army National Guard. When I brought my first recruit into the MEPS station, that old MEPS director was still there. When I brought in that recruit the director did a double-take: ‘Are you one of the five or so people who stayed on 9/11?’”

Broadcast news: Barrieau’s interest in media and communication dates to well before his military years. “Even in high school, I was very deep into it,” he says. “My brother, who is seven years older than me, spurred me into the video world. He was going to college at the University of Southern Maine, and he was in charge of the college television station. He brought me in to show me around when I was in junior high, and it just sparked something in me.”

Barrieau took video technology classes during his last two years at Westbrook High School in Portland, Maine, where he was already doing work for Fox News and ABC News’ Maine affiliates. He also volunteered as an instructor for a youth TV program that gave kids an opportunity to learn broadcasting.

When he signed up for the Army, MSG Barrieau had recently turned 18 and was still in school. That was another part of his 9/11 story.

“I went back to high school after signing my contract, went home, did my homework,” he said. “I had to work for Fox News, editing the nightly news that night. I was editing the Associated Press ticker tape that was coming off a feed for the nightly news, and there was a lot of stuff on that feed that was not PG. We had to edit out a lot of stuff for our audience because there was a lot of straight-up horrific images coming from the towers on the feed.”

Literally getting a call to serve: After high school, Barrieau went to the local tech college for mass communication and video technology. “I was in one of my college communications courses when I got the call that I was being activated to go to Iraq. The teacher kind of yelled at me: ‘Why are you taking a phone call during class?’ I said, ‘One sec …’ I took the call and she said, ‘What was so important?’ I said, ‘I’m going to Iraq.’ I packed up my bags and left. The whole class was stunned.”

Iraq turned out to also be part of his 9/11 story, in more ways than one.

“I raised a flag on Al-Faw Palace in Baghdad on the anniversary on Sept. 11, 2010,” he says. “I’ve been in some crazy places on Sept. 11.”

On Sept. 11, 2010, now-MSG Caleb Barrieau raised a U.S. flag at Al-Faw Palace in Iraq.

Memories of Exchange support: In addition to Iraq, MSG Barrieau has deployed to Haiti, Africa and Kosovo, where he came to deeply appreciate the Exchange’s vital role in supporting service members. “The Exchange always brought a piece of home to us in the field,” Barrieau says. “I remember buying a blanket and snacks. Those small comforts reminded me of home and highlighted how crucial the Exchange is to our well-being.”

His admiration for the Exchange’s mission was further solidified through his experiences as a Soldier. “During my deployments, having access to basic necessities and a few treats made a significant difference,” he says. “It was a morale booster and a reminder of the support system we have.”

Before the Exchange: Barrieau began serving in the Maine Army National Guard as an engineer specializing in carpentry and masonry. In 2007, he transitioned to active duty, furthering his career by reclassifying in 2009 to become a public affairs broadcaster, aligning his role with his passion for communication and media.

In addition to his deployments, Barrieau’s career has included assignments at Fort Liberty, Fort Meade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Fort Shafter and the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany. He also spent a year in San Antonio for a fellowship with USAA’s Corporate Communications team.

Each assignment has enriched his understanding of the military community and the Exchange’s impact. “The opportunity to come back to Germany excited my wife and kids, and the familiarity with the Exchange relieved some of the anxiety I might have felt. It’s like a homecoming for me,” he said.

What he does for the Exchange: In his current role, Barrieau is eager to continue the Exchange’s legacy of serving those who serve and have served. “I’ve enjoyed learning about the intricacies and attention to detail each of the directorates place on improving the Quality of Life for our service members and their families,” he says. “I look forward to sharing all the great things the Exchange does for our military personnel and their family members, and the creative ways they do it.”

Picturing another way to serve: “I still do video but my newfound passion is photography. For the past 14 years, I’ve run a small side business, Barrieau Photography. I also volunteer with a nonprofit organization called Portraits for Patriots, where we provide head shots for service members transitioning out of the military, for LinkedIn and other sites.”

Family Serving Family: To Barrieau, “Family Serving Family” is about the deep connection between Exchange associates and the military community. “To me, ‘Family Serving Family’ speaks to the pride and care we have in going above and beyond for those closest to us,” he said. “Exchange associates are tied into the military community, and their investment in service mirrors our own commitment.”

Barrieau believes that his journey from a young Soldier to becoming a regional Public Affairs NCO exemplifies the power of dedication and service. “It’s a testament to the meaningful role the Exchange plays in the lives of service members and their families,” he says. “I’m committed to this mission, which highlights the enduring bond between the Army and the Exchange.”