I joined the Navy on 10 February 1992. I was sent to Great Lakes, Ill. for Boot Camp and had the first female company commander in the history of said military base. She was a tyrant, but my Chief was pretty cool. After "Boot", I was sent to San Diego for Hospital Corps "A" School. I had a great time here soaking up the sun, playing beach volleyball and generally raising hell in Tijuana. After completing Hospital Corps school, I was assigned to the Optometry department in Groton, Conn. for 3 months and after completing Emergency Medical Technician training I was transferred to the Emergency Department where remained until my tour there was over. While at Groton, I had applied for Radiology Technician school and was accepted.

I left Groton for Oakland, CA to be trained as a Radiology Technician. After Oakland, I was stationed at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan for 3 years and earned my Associate's degree there through the University of Maryland. It was here that I discovered that the Bill of Rights does not apply to military members. It was a tough lesson...enough said. I spent my days SCUBA diving, playing beach volleyball, camping on a beautiful tropical island, throwing crazy parties, and sharing some of the best times of my life with amazing people.

After Okinawa, I spent 2 years at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor in Washington State where I really made my naval career take off. I was a volunteer fire fighter for the city, was named Sailor of the Year at my command, and established and presided over the Junior Enlisted Association for the hospital. After Oak Harbor, I spent the next two years serving at Branch Medical Clinic Capodichino, Italy in the Radiology department and being a part of our ambulance crew. I finished my BS in Psychology degree there through the University of Maryland and applied for Officer Candidate School. I was selected my first time up for naval flight training.

Officer Candidate School was a joy and I managed to have fun while I was there. You have to look for the positives, even in the harshest of environments and situations. I enjoyed being mentored by Marine Corps Drill Instructors. After OCS I went to Aviation Pre-Flight Indoctrination and then on to primary flight training at VT-10.

Unfortunately, I was hit with meningitis while I was in primary flight training and then physically disqualified from the flight program as a result of the illness. I had a very lengthy recovery period, which totally sucked to endure. My naval career was on the chopping block with over 400 other junior officers at that point in time. In December of 2003, I was notified of my selection into the Supply Corps, which was my first redesignation choice. Had it not been for my selection, I would have been forced into the civilian world in May of 2004. I thank my lucky stars that I was be able to continue this journey and finish what I have begun.

I attended the Basic Qualifying Course for Supply Corps students in Athens, GA from December 2003 through May 2004. it was at the BQC that I received orders to my first ship - the USS JUNEAU LPD 10, which is home-ported in Sasebo, Japan. While there, I was the Food Service Officer, Disbursing Officer, Sales Officer, Public Affairs Officer, and A-SUPPO. I learned a lot on the ship, especially about leadership as an officer.

My next duty station was at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA where I assumed the duties as the base Supply Officer. Little did I know before I arrive the funding for the billet was killed by CNIC. So, my three-year tour turned into a one-year tour. I was able to knock out over half of my MBA through the University of Phoenix while at Monterey and I will complete the degree in May 2008. I was able to pick new orders to Souda Bay, Crete where I assumed the duties at the OIC of FISC SOUDA BAY. Talk about luck!

Had it not been for the Navy, I never would have been able to see the countries and cities that most people only read about in books or see in pictures, I never would have earned my AA, BS, and MBA degrees in three different countries, I never would have met some of the most interesting people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, nor would I be the person that I am today.