I'm fortunate to share that staying in the Army was truly the best direction for my life. I'm very grateful to still be serving.  My career hasn't been as traditional.  I know I've been very lucky. But I share this because perhaps readers that are thinking about coming into the Army will seek out the benefits and opportunities that are there.  I initially entered the Army as a PFC in the National Guard as a broadcast journalist. My bachelor's degree is in Broadcast Journalism. I received 12 credits from my Advance Individual Training at the Defense Information School where all branches of the services send troops for training in broadcast and print journalism. The training I received in Army was much better than what I got at my college.

I then enter ROTC and received my commission as a Military Police officer....totally switching gears... I was a, MP platoon leader at Ft Stewart and then ran the Special Reaction Team.  I went to several SWAT training courses (civilian and military) to include personal protection detail training;  Did some really unique missions involving drug interdiction, high risk arrests, and entries.  After 9/11 we became the incident response team for the post...and we were busy.

9/11 didn't only change our mission focus, it also brought stop loss....I was planning on getting out and working for a government agency when all Military Police officers were stop lost in 2002, the same time frame as my eligibility to get out.  OH WELL...I went on to the advance course. 

Took an asignment for command at Ft McPherson...in Atlanta, Ga.  Yea that wasn't fun....NOT.  Got in really awesome shape...rant the 10-miler a few times, did some body building....and decided I wanted to teach at West Point...in the Department of Physical Education... I got accepted. Incredible. What an honor!! teaching what I love...fitness...to the best and brightest kids in America. Amazing. I can't think of anything better than touching the lives of incredible future officers, destined for amazing adventure.  Oh- did I mention that I went to University of Georgia for a year to get my Masters in Exercise Science before heading to West Point....in the Advance Civil Schooling program.  When an officer is in ACS- all you do is go to school on the Army's dime....AND get paid.

After West Point, I deployed with in the best division in the Army- 10th Mountain Division. If you ever get the chance to serve with 10th MTN....Do it! Yes Fort Drum is cold.  I'm from the south and I made.  It is a SQUARED AWAY Division.  I'm so proud to have served at Fort Drum with the 10th MTN Division.  

And now, after the best year of my life at the Command and Staff College at Ft Leavenworth (it seriously hasn't been bad); I'm heading, back where I started, to Ft Stewart, Ga. We'll see if my career remain as remarkable, BUT I do have to say I'm pleased that upon retirement I'll enjoy 36 months of free PHd education with the 9/11 GI Bill.

Join the Army. The growth and experiences you will gain is found in no other profession.