My life took a turn in November 1994 when I started receiving flyers in the mail from the U.S. Navy to join and obtain an amazing career and receive GI Bill college incentives, etc. At first, I threw them out, but they kept coming so I actually sat down and read through the flyer and begin to ponder in my heart if this was something that I wanted to consider for myself and my future. Up to this point, I had not even thought of the military as a career choice because I had been raised in an Army town and most of the guys that I had dated up to that point had been Army and I was definitely not interested in joining the Army. But the Navy might be different…
I decided to discuss with my best friend to see what her experience was like as a woman in the Coast Guard. She said that basic training was the hardest thing she had ever done physically and mentally but the reward of accomplishing something so demanding was the most rewarding feeling that she had ever experienced. Nothing could compare to it, she said. She told me, “You don’t really look Navy… you look more Air Force to me.” So, I began to ponder in my heart a career in the Air Force. I decided to go talk to a recruiter to get some information so that I could see what would be expected. Up to that point I had worked mostly retail and customer service jobs. I wanted to learn more about computers since I had taken a couple of classes at the community college and found that I had a nature ability with computers. My instructor said I was a natural and that I should pursue a career in computers. I thought that if the Air Force did not offer a career in computers, then I could at least earn the GI Bill and go to school to get a computer degree after serving my country.
I contacted an Air Force recruiter and asked if I could get some information on the Air Force. He wanted me to take an exam to see if I qualified for the Air Force. I took the test and he said that no one had ever scored that high on the test since he’d been there. He really was excited to get me in as quickly as possible because my birthday was in a few months and the Air Force had an age deadline. There were a few issues with me qualifying. I had passed the exam but now I had to deal with my age and my weight. I was a few months away from my 28th birthday and my weight was right on the border line of being too fat for the Air Force. My recruiter wanted me to lose at least 10 lbs. so I would not have to worry about being on a weight program. I was able to lose the 10 lbs. and I joined and took the oath to my country the day before my 28th birthday. So, I woke up on my birthday in Basic Military Training for the United States Air Force. It was a rude awakening… and an experience that I will never forget nor take for granted. My friend was right, it was the hardest thing that I had ever done in my life but the reward of accomplishing something so hard was so great and amazing, it is hard to put into words, but I will do the best I can to tell my experiences during this amazing time in my life. I learned so much about myself and others as well as some life lessons that have served me well over the years.
“For I know the PLANS I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11
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