Over five years ago a Virginia Army National Guard recruiter was passing time in my high school Journalism class. He was planning on doing a presentation upstairs in another class room, but had a few minutes to kill and wanted to stop by and say hi to my teacher. A week later, he dropped off some paperwork for my teacher, told her there was a position in the Guard for a broadcast journalist, and that he thought I would be perfect for it. So my teacher and I sat down and talked about it, decided it would be a great opportunity for me and I called that recruiter. And then, after a month of making sure I really, really, really wanted to join the military, I went to Baltimore and signed myself away to the Army for six years. That signing took place five years ago yesterday.
When I think back on who I was then, I get confused. I can no longer remember not understanding military jargon, or the rank structure of the Army, or what the word Hooah means. I can’t remember not knowing what acronyms like MOS, AIT, CO, APFT, BAH and POV mean. I suppose Army is a language I’ve become fluent in.
I’m shocked and amazed at what the Army has given me in these five years. I’ve gained a husband, a different outlook on life, a major amount of patience, a sense of purpose, and I even got to spend a free year in Europe because of the Army.
It’s funny, because at some point in my military career, I thought of being a Soldier as something I just did on weekends. I hate to admit it, but in the beginning, it was just something slightly out of the ordinary that I dedicated one weekend a month to. But now, after being deployed, after seeing a place like Kosovo, after living and breathing Army for 18 months straight, the Army is much more than just something I do on weekends. Being a Soldier is part of me now, part of my identity. I can’t define myself anymore without throwing in the word Soldier.
I know in the beginning, when I left for Basic Training, I was determined that I wouldn’t change. But that was crap. Because I have. A lot. And you know what? I’m totally okay with that. In fact, I’m glad for the change.
Okay. That’s enough cheesiness for one day, yes?
I am a Terra. I'm 24. I have two gray hairs on top of my head caused by an 18 month deployment to Kosovo. I like popcorn. I live in Richmond, Virginia, AKA, the coolest city ever.