Yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of Operation Enduring Freedom. When this war started I never imagined that I would one day be fighting in it. I was only sixteen at the time. It’s funny the paths life takes. Each seemingly small choice accumulates forming a clear line to the present day. Although I would not have thought I would join the military and fight in a war back then, now I could not imagine my life any differently. I thought it was important to take a moment to...read more

• 2 Comments

This past week I embedded with the unmanned aerial systems crew at Forward Operating Base Sharana. It was a unique experience because I had the fortune to write several stories on their training back in the rear. I wanted to visit them while deployed and see how their experiences differed from being in garrison. What I found it is that they, like many military jobs, have extremely exciting experiences and extremely boring ones. A UAS Shadow is a...read more

• 1 Comment

Since I arrived in Afghanistan, I have been counting the days until I could go on R and R. For those not familiar with the term it means rest and relaxation and amounts to what is a two week vacation from the stress of being deployed. The Army flies you anywhere you want to go and you get 15 days from the time you touch down to enjoy the comforts of home. The journey home can be stressful and full of long flights on cramped airplanes. In total I spent approximately four days...read more

• 1 Comment

During a mission to Spera, one of my friends and I shot video of the events taking place there. Spera is in a remote and mountainous area of Afghanistan. Despite that, it is also very beautiful. When we landed we had to wade across a small river and walk up a huge hill. It was very steep and by the time I got to the top I was thanking my lucky stars that I've been working out over the past couple of weeks. The view at the top was very worth it, however. I got a little camera happy...read more

• 4 Comments

Earlier this month I went to the promotion board. I was told in the beginning of April that they were sending me and as a result I immediately started studying. I went to soldiers who had gone to the board previously and questioned them on what sorts of questions were asked. I found a lot of the questions they asked were things every soldier should know but many don't. One of the most important things a soldier must know before they go up for the board is the Noncommissioned Officers...read more

• 2 Comments

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Forward Operating Base Goode near Gardez City in Paktya Province. Based on feedback I received on my post about living conditions on FOB Salerno, I decided to share a few of my observations of the base. Forward Operating Base Goode is divided into two sections, and I've stayed in both. The first time I visited Goode I stayed in the base of a tower in what's called a Kualt. It literally looks like a medieval mud castle. An old Afghan...read more

• 3 Comments

One of my favorite things about the military is how active people are in sports. They aren't content to just sit inside and watch tv or read a book. A lot of the people I work with find ways to be outside playing basketball, soccer, or volleyball even while in a war zone. Since joining the military I have been much more active in sports than I was in college. Several times I've walked by a basketball court and got pulled into a game and lost myself in the sport I love for a while. It...read more

• 4 Comments

Every year I, like so many others in the world, make a New Years resolution. It usually involves exercising more and eating less and I usually end up breaking that resolution within three months. This year is different, however. I told myself I wouldn't make a New Year's resolution. Instead I made a deployment resolution. I'm not unique in that goal. Many of my fellow Soldiers have made similar plans. Some are saving money to get a house or a car when they get home....read more

• 3 Comments

As a Public Affairs Specialist I have the opportunity to cover a wide range of subjects. Since becoming, essentially an Army journalist, I have ridden in a blackhawk, chinook, and a xenon. I have taken photos of mortars being fired and I was privileged to be invited to a women's shura in Jaji Maidan and Women's International Day in Khowst City here in Afghanistan. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to add one more cool thing to my resume. On Tuesday I attended canine...read more

• 2 Comments

During my trip to an International Women's Day event a few weeks ago, I had the chance to shoot some video in an MRAP. It is surprisingly difficult to take video in there. For starters the windows are very narrow and have dust on the outside so any video I shot was had a thin film of dirt over it. However, I adapted and here is the video I made. Riding in an MRAP is very bumpy. It was my first convoy since I reached Afghanistan so I eager to see what it was like. The music is...read more

• 2 Comments