Personal Narrative: My Journey To Recruiting

Four or Five years ago if you were to tell me that I would be confidently applying to the University of Miami I would have laughed. Through high school I did not give much effort and like most of my peers, thought that furthering my education was my only option. Nearing the end of my senior year I started realizing that no noteworthy university would even consider accepting someone like me. As the days ticked away, I applied to a nearby college with an incredibly high acceptance rate and found myself opening an acceptance letter a few weeks later.

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?

I have been accepted to AFS-USA's international exchange program to Norway. I will be spending my sophomore year living with a host family and going to school at a local upper secondary school. I am awaiting the information regarding where I will be located in Norway, as well as my paperwork for a Norwegian visa. As long as the final stages of my application go through, I will depart this August and return the following July.

First I just want to point out the obvious and say that you have an enormous heart. It must be so hard for you meeting these inmates and seeing their potential and most times seeing them revert to their old ways. I think that has to be the most painful part of it all. I know your supervisor once told you “our mission can’t be affected by individual successes or failures.”- Alice Layton. Which is what kept you going. It’s true, but it doesn’t take the sad disappointing feelings away. It’s amazing what you do, but it’s also very hard emotionally. For that I salute you. I love how invested you truly are. That fact that they feel comfortable enough to speak to you about the crimes they have committed is insane. That just goes to show how committed you are to helping them better themselves. In addition to

This was my first deployment to Iraq and second overall deployment with Bravo Company, 1-501 Parachute Infantry Regiment. I was only in one direct fire engagement during my first deployment. So when we were notified of your company being selected to change areas of operation to one of the hottest spots in all of Iraq I was not sure what to expect. I had only been a Squad Leader for 6 months and I was not exactly sure how my young squad would handle the realities of war. We were stationed in Alaska and the army chose us to attend a Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) rotation in Fort Polk, Louisiana that prepared us for the adverse conditions of Iraq. During JRTC we conducted multiple raids while being paired with a team from 20th Special

The Junior Cadet Corps is a middle school organization founded on integrity, leadership, and respect. The junior cadet corps, unlike JROTC in high school, did not garner the highest respect from peers at my middle school. JCC was often viewed as an escape for students from the physical demand of athletics. Unfortunately, many of the students within the class were students who were at high risk of gang exposure and suffered from low income status. Very few took the class with the mentality of being challenged. I was thirteen when I joined the class and I immediately wanted to leave; I was a shy girl with no voice being yelled at and told to do push ups. However, I chose to remain in the class.

Hi, my name is Hannah Lancaster and I am a freshman at the Career and Technical High School and prior to going to the Career and Technical High School I had listed ROTC as one of my electives I would like to join but sadly it never made it onto my schedule. I was wondering if I could start out going to ROTC sophomore of my High School career and if so if I have to take any extra courses for missing my MS1

No one is more professional than I. I am a noncommissioned officer, a leader of Soldiers. As a noncommissioned officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as “The Backbone of the Army”. For over 200 years the Army has served the people of the United States with citizens who have volunteered to serve. Throughout the years one thing has remained the same, the Army has grown, changed and adapted to meet the needs as an ever-changing world.

Vacation is a period of recreation, one spent away from home. My family and I take our vacations in the summer when school ends because I do not like missing work that I will have to make up in school. I adore ending school in June and then contemplating where I am going to spend my summer vacation. Every year, my parents take my siblings and I to Disney World in Florida, but this year we decided to travel somewhere divergent. We all decided to stay in Florida and go to a captivating area called Port Saint Lucie. We stayed at a location called Club Med, which includes a resort and many activities for people of all ages to do like volleyball, tennis; you name it. Club Med was a magnificent experience for my family since we all appreciate outdoor

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

Growing up as an Army brat. We had to learn a lot of values growing up. Even though my father and I didn't have a strong connection. He was still able to provide for his family. Our family showed a different type of morals. Like never show your true emotions. My brother and I had to learn that. I didn't really know what that meant till I was much older. And? It stuck with me till this day. By showing emotion would show people that you were soft. My mother would show comfort to you if you were struggling but she knew the balance of reasoning. Since growing up and moving out of the house and following the family tradition. By joining the service made my father's and myself relationship stronger. One day my father approached me and asked

Being the youngest person in a work environment can be difficult. To many, age dictates a level experience, both professional and personal, that can only be obtained over the duration of many years. For this reason, young professionals are usually relegated to junior positions. Of the adversities that I have faced in my four years as a musician in the United States Army, age was one of the most difficult to overcome.

The next week was PRT training where we learned about life on the PRT, how to work with the military, how to interact with our Iraqi interlocutors and life in general on a FOB (Forward Operating Base), where I was headed or at the Embassy. There were basic intros into many of the players in Iraq providing assistance, USAID, Department of State efforts, and some of the many projects being undertaken.

Over the 47-month experience, that is West Point. The Academy attempts to instill many valuable attributes and qualities into every Cadet. However, at the end of the 47-month experience, West Point believes that all of its graduates have instilled in them the proper values and knowledge to be able to accomplish all eight of the West Point Leader Development system outcomes. While my time at west point is not yet complete, I believe that I am well on my way to develop all eight outcomes. So far, the outcomes that I have developed the most at West Point are live honorably and build trust, and seeking balance and resilience.