For the past three weeks I have had the pleasure of being a part of the organization known as the Wounded Warrior Program as a patient. While I have not been injured in battle, I sustained what they call a Non-Battle Injury while stationed at my FOB in Afghanistan. While running I injured my right knee, and was sent out of the country as it is not safe to be there in my current condition. I was transferred to the country of Qatar, where I have been for three weeks awaiting my MRI to...read more

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Deployment. That one word that so many soldiers fear and look forward to all at the same time. There is the group that has had at least one if not multiple deployments to Iraq and/or Afghanistan, the ones who have deployed elsewhere like Desert Storm, Somalia, Kuwait, even North Africa. And then there are the rest of us, a suprisingly large number of soldiers who have not been deployed at all, anywhere, with about 2 or 3 years of service, PFCs and SPCs looking to make our way into the ranks...read more

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The past few weeks have been absolute chaos, but the good kind, if that's possible. See, one of the great things about being a combat medic is that there are endless learning opportunities available to those that would like them. I recently had the privilege of attending a NREMT-B Recertification class at one of the local Reserve/National Guard training sites in my area. As a 68W, the first few weeks of training are solely to prepare you for taking your test to become a Nationally...read more

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As hard as it is for me to believe, today is already my two year anniversary of joining the Army. Two years ago today I left my local MEPS station and got on a plane for Fort Leonard Wood Missouri, and what I was sure was going to be pure torture. It was only a 4 1/2 hour plane ride with one layover but it seemed so much longer, partially because it was my first plane trip anywhere. We eventually landed at the St. Louis Airport, where I half expected drill sergeants to run at me from every...read more

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I'm sure by now if you are in any way involved with the Army be it an officer, NCO, enlisted, future soldier, cadet, warrant officer, whatever you may be you know what LDRSHIP stands for. The Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage. We also all know what a leader is, both good and bad. I would like to give my perspective as a PFC to anyone who would like to listen. As I said last week, I had drill this weekend and was sure I was going...read more

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Being a medic can be one of the most demanding and rewarding jobs all at once. The official term for my primary MOS is Healthcare Specialist, but to everyone in the military we are simply combat medics or medics or even just Doc. I don't pretend to know all the aspects of the job, I have only been in the Army for two years and haven't even been deployed yet. However if there is one thing I have learned it's that being a medic even stateside can get very demanding. If there is...read more

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So the Army Strong Story continues with yet another solider's story, but this time it seems to be my turn. My name is PFC Sara Small, and I am with the 443rd MP Co. I am not just a Military Police Officer though, my primary MOS is 68W, or Combat Medic. This basically means that every battle assembly I pull double duty, sometimes going out on training missions as a medic, and other times as an MP. It is exhausting yet exhilirating, stressful, yet so much fun that it is all worth it....read more

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