When I began my Army career 10 years ago, I had no way of knowing the adventures and challenges that awaited me. I started out as an enlisted soldier, a Private First Class, and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. From there, my training brought me to Fort Sam Houston, TX, where I completed both the Healthcare Specialist (combat medic) and Licensed Practical Nurse courses.

Always being one to search out new challenges, I applied and was accepted to participate in the AMEDD Enlisted Commissioning Program. This program allowed me to go back to school and finish my BSN. Upon graduating from the University of South Alabama, I attended BOLC (Basic Officer Leadership Course) at Fort Sam Houston and was then stationed at Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, GA.

Since becoming an officer, I have been afforded several opportunities for quality training, including enroute care training (flying with patients), critical care nursing specialty training, and clinical nurse officer-in-charge or OIC training (Head Nurse training). Currently, I am assigned as a Brigade Nurse Counselor, traveling to universities in Louisiana, MIssissippi, and Alabama to assist and guide those ROTC Cadets who are pursuing a BSN. I was also recently selected to return back to school to earn my MSN as a Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Where will this next adventure take me? Who knows....but I continue to be open to learning experiences at every step of this journey!