Personal Narrative: Joining The Military

I have been serving in the Army for 18 years. I did four years in the Marines. I am currently working in Fort Drum as a Sergeant Major. My job is Infantry.

It’s the day I have to move to the army's campsite. I grab my bag and swing them on my shoulder, it weighs a ton it feels like my shoulder’s gonna break. Sophie was peeking through my room door, as I was about to stand up she ran to the living room curled up into a ball making loud thud and sobbing noises. Outside of the house, I hug my mom as tight as I could, I don’t want to move any single inch of my bone. I want to stay like this forever. I felt a drop of water behind my shoulder and I know that it was her tears. I don’t want to leave them but I have to. It was time to let go but she didn’t want to, I grab her arm and slightly push them back.

Growing up as the son of a career Naval Officer, I have experienced a background that varies greatly from that of an applicant who has grown up in a strictly civilian family. The constant relocation, the exciting places I have lived, and the countless great, unique people I have met, have all contributed that that he unique childhood I have enjoyed. While at times my identity as a military child has made life challenging and difficult, I strongly believe that it has made me a stronger, more adaptable person because I have been molded by past experiences and I don't think that my application would be complete without this information.

I went pre-med before getting deployed and as an intern I've seen a lot of horrible things. But when it's your friend... Someone you serve with... It stays with you forever.

March 2006, I made the best decision in my life, and that was to join the U.S. Navy. I left for the boot camp two months later. I have no idea what is going to be in stores for me when I hit boot camp. What I can tell was that my hands felt clammy and I was very nervous and anxious at the same time. I knew the moment that I arrive to Great Lakes, Illinois, and my life would change forever. I knew physically that I would change but how about mentally?

Growing up as a military child and living all over the world, I was afforded many

After much thought and discussion with a mentor in my community, I walked up to my parents when they were relaxing in the living rooms and blurted “I am enlisting in the Marine Corps”. It came out rushed and my dad’s first response was “no you are not”, and of course I replied, “Yes I am”. A big argument broke out after that and it took a few weeks for the waters to settle. My parents really wanted me to go to college, and I really wanted to join the military. Oak Park tends to produce a lot of college-bound graduates, and for those who do not go to college, they become Marines. A deal was settled, my dad knew of NROTC, and he convinced me that it was in my best interest to become an officer. After a lot of stubbornness on my end, I agreed

On the early morning of April 19th, my husband left to gather with the militia. I being worried could not go back to sleep and awaited by the window from time to time. The children were still asleep and out of the corner of my eyes, I see at least a couple hundred of lobsterbacks. I was frightened and crouched making sure I wasn’t seen. Oh how my heart beated, and I am ashamed to remind myself that the militia fired. Perhaps out of fear, but they fired. Immediately there was movement until my eyes could see, running, shooting, bloodshed. As soon as I saw the Regulars marching, and the house being so near to all the commotion I ran to the children and hoped they wouldn’t burn the house down. I was prepared, nervous for the life of my husband

Coming from humble beginnings in Taylor, Michigan a medium sized town of 60,000 thirty minutes from the heart of Detroit and living just near Detroit Metropolitan International airport. I was came to be fascinated by anything related to the world of aviation hearing the powerful roar as the engines spooled up and seeing such a massive object like a jumbo jet tumbling down the runway it always amazed me to see such a thing take to the sky. Seeing the airplanes coming in and coming out made me think to myself where the people onboard have been the places they’re coming from, where they are going, all the interesting and far off places that I didn’t know if I’d ever see my lifetime. This inspired me when I was 18 years old to join the United States Air Force and get paid to fix and work on these massive machines.

I gave up more than I got to become a member of the United States Air Force (USAF). Have you considered what you give up to be a part of your community? Time? Hairstyles? Clothing? Individuality? It was a sense of duty that compelled me. More than that, it was a drive to find my purpose and to be a part of something larger and more than myself. The first step to becoming a part of this community was to go through the literal hurdles of military basic training. Not everyone makes it. You have to become one team, one flight, to graduate.

I am back this year to cover one of the biggest talking points, if not the biggest talking point of the year - The draft.

United States Army Recruiting has gone through numerous challenges in war time. Even during the peace time, recruiting command engages on real time mission day after day, month after month. I can clearly say that the command was in war of accomplishing mission of providing strength of all volunteer Army well before the 911. It takes a gut, total commitment, and winner's attitude for accomplishing mission regardless of the situation. I am really glad that I am in the honored profession called Army Recruiting that gave me so much of what I am supposed to be and better person period.

Have you ever dreamt of having a huge mansion, an expensive car or a career that you love doing everyday of your life? So have I, I have wanted to fly since I was very little, but the only way to get into the Air Force is do very well in school. In eighth grade your grades don't count towards your college applications, but as soon as you hit ninth grade, that all changes. Television has been proven to negatively affect students, it lowers reading scores, it tears apart speech, and downright destroys athleticism, all of which are important skills to success in a college application and life.

Several months, I have been tossing the idea about joining the Navy. My family was aware about Navy was possibility option. Recently, I have contacted a Navy Recruiter, and I have not told my family about me talking to a recruiter. My family is important aspect of my life, so the conversation needs to happen sooner than later. When I bring up the Navy conversation, my intention would ease my family in acceptance of their daughter leaving the state. Joining the Navy would impact me and my family, and the impact on my family would tribute to the difficult conversation. In following joining the Navy would impact me and my family, and the impact on my family would tribute to the difficult conversation. Underlie feeling have huge impact on person’s attributions and judgement. A difficult conversation affects the identity of a person. Therefore, intention by the conversation was important.

“The army teaches boys to think like men.” - Elvis Presley. currently go to a school near Mankato, Minnesota and very interested in going to the military after high school. My mother and father taught me to respect the military highly and when I was younger my mom brought me to the River Hills Mall in Mankato. We went to the Marine and Armed Forces recruiting centers to get autographs from everyone in a uniform so I’ve always admired the military since a young age.