My 8 Year Anniversary

8 years ago today, July 15th 2001, I signed over the responsibility of my life to the Army. I remember like it was yesterday sitting down in front of my recruiter (which after some time served realized was so full of shit it wasn't even funny), taking one last look at my mom (I was only 17, she had to approve of my enlistment), and signing my name as a now declared adult.

I signed only a few weeks after I graduated high school. My goal was to enlist as a military police officer and in turn get top of the line training and financial help with my college in order to one day be a DEA agent.

I was on a delayed program and wouldn't enter basic training and AIT (advanced individual training) until February 2002. In between the time I signed on the dotted line and my actual training, September 11th happened. I was so scared that I was going to be sent to war. I was still an untrained civilian only knowing that I belonged to the US government. Yet the scared girl turned into a determined pissed up soldier and when I stepped off that bus at Fort Leonardwood I was ready for whatever they could dish out at me.

Many soldiers I went to basic with had signed after Sept. 11th and that was their motivation. I remember the drill sergeants making comments about how they couldn't get troops signed and trained fast enough. The country had been so motivated to support and fight.

I graduated from basic and AIT at the end of June 2002 and reported to the head quarters of my assigned unit. My MP Company had been deployed to the defense language institute (DLI) in Monterey, CA. Being fresh out of training and in a active duty life style, I wanted to join them. I begged to go. I got the same answer over and over. They are due to come home next month, it would be a waste of time and paperwork to send you now. They didn't actually make it back until October 2002.

By then I had somewhat fitted back into the civilian lifestyle and had reconnected with my friends. I was happy being home and just in time for an upset. Orders had come down in December 2002 that we were being deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In February 2003 we found ourselves in Fort Lewis training and certifying and by May 2003 my platoon was in the heart of Iraq.

We finally made it home the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and after a short visit home for the holiday, spent another month in Fort Lewis turning in equipment and signing more paperwork.

Since then, the Army has given me the opportunity working with the Nevada Counterdrug Taskforce teaching young kids the dangers of drugs and eventually led me to my current occupation. I absolutely love my career and wake up every day feeling blessed.

So yes the Army challenged me in ways I never thought I possible and I didn't always like it BUT I am very very thankful for my journey.