I felt, and still feel, truly blessed to have been born the USA. However, the US military academies, at the time I graduated from high school, were not yet accepting women. I went on with my life, getting my nursing education and working. Roughly 10 years into my career I came upon an editorial i…
I felt, and still feel, truly blessed to have been born the USA. However, the US military academies, at the time I graduated from high school, were not yet accepting women. I went on with my life, getting my nursing education and working. Roughly 10 years into my career I came upon an editorial in the Association of Operating Room Nurses journal with a call for OR nurses to join the military. I answered that call with a patriotic heart… The age limit was increased to 30, I think, to specifically recruit these experienced nurses. I made it just under the wire, age-wise. When I interviewed for a reserve medical unit, just newly being formed, I was told that the only reason the Air Force would take me as a nurse officer was because of my specialty- but that unless I got my Bachelors degree (I had an Associate Degree) I could only be promoted to Captain. I immediately returned to school to get that done. As an AF Reservist I moved around the country serving in NM, 2 different bases in AZ, then retired from Barksdale AFB In Louisiana (although I lived in TX). During my time in AZ I was deployed to Europe during Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1991.
I feel blessed and honored to have taken the opportunity to serve my country 🇺🇸
I had always wanted to be in the military.
I felt, and still feel, truly blessed to have been born the USA. However, the US military academies, at the time I graduated from high school, were not yet accepting women. I went on with my life, getting my nursing education and working. Roughly 10 years into my career I came upon an editorial in the Association of Operating Room Nurses journal with a call for OR nurses to join the military. I answered that call with a patriotic heart… The age limit was increased to 30, I think, to specifically recruit these experienced nurses. I made it just under the wire, age-wise. When I interviewed for a reserve medical unit, just newly being formed, I was told that the only reason the Air Force would take me as a nurse officer was because of my specialty- but that unless I got my Bachelors degree (I had an Associate Degree) I could only be promoted to Captain. I immediately returned to school to get that done. As an AF Reservist I moved around the country serving in NM, 2 different bases in AZ, then retired from Barksdale AFB In Louisiana (although I lived in TX). During my time in AZ I was deployed to Europe during Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1991.
I feel blessed and honored to have taken the opportunity to serve my country 🇺🇸
Perhaps this country was also blessed with your life here. Thank you for sharing and your service.