Teacher turned soldier: Owain Mulligan's unexpected journey to Iraq

In 2005, Owain Mulligan, who had previously been working as a teacher in north London, found himself at a crossroads in life. Born in London in 1982, he grew up in both the UK and Germany alongside his sister, Carey Mulligan, who later became an actress. Following a short stint in education, where he struggled with his role as a teacher in a challenging school environment, he sought out the thrills of the Territorial Army. His weekends were spent training and engaging in physical activities, such as bayonetting straw-filled dummies. These moments provided him with an escape from the stresses of his teaching career. However, the reality of his situation changed dramatically when he received orders for deployment to Iraq. By December 2005, the British government had escalated military involvement in Iraq. This was not a time of stability; the country was embroiled in chaos, on the brink of civil war. Mulligan's deployment marked a stark contrast to his previous life, highlighting the unpredictable nature of military service. For him, the transition from educator to soldier was not just a job change—it was a complete overhaul of his identity, thrusting him into the thick of a conflict that would shape his experiences and perspectives significantly.