At a young age, my parents instilled in me the importance of leaving a place better than you found it. My choice to join the US Army and my follow-on career choices, to include the U.S. Army Reserve, all relate to my desire to do good in the world.

Maybe my parents shouldn’t have been so surprised, while studying Investigative Journalism at the University of Missouri, I joined Army ROTC. The military's emphasis on leadership, readiness and action resonated with my desire to make a real difference.

Making a real difference means something different for everyone. For me, making a difference took a global perspective. Throughout my life, have been fortunate to travel to over 40 countries, learning new cultures, establishing valuable partnerships with foreign military leadership and defending freedom across the globe.

Throughout my military career, I realized I can also make a difference by transforming systems, investing in people, and leading by example.  The Army and now civilian career, supports and motivates me to leave people, projects, processes, and organizations better than when I joined them.

During nine years of active-duty service, I operated as an intelligence officer focused on the Pacific and Central Command. My first Army assignment, as a Military Intelligence Officer, I dove into the mission with zeal, sought advice from good leaders, and solved problems facing the unit. I also earned the respect and acceptance from my team members. Since this experience, I have been dedicated to support those that come after me and serve as a mentor for younger officers.

One of my other early assignments, I was chosen for a position in Afghanistan, working with military allies, foreign partners, and supporting agencies to provision military strategy to stabilize the country against insurgency. I learned how wars can be avoided, battles won, and change is possible.

This experience prompted me to apply for special operations Civil Affairs because this allowed me to apply those lessons and have a larger impact. CA officers serve as liaisons with partner governments to engage at the local and national level across the globe. Our teams are regularly the only U.S. military in the area and have the autonomy to make decisions that directly impact the outcome of the mission. I completed the challenging selection and training pipeline, which included language, negotiations, cultural awareness and unconventional warfare training prior to heading to my first assignment. I selected an Africa unit, there I trained and led teams to build stability in regions managing economic uncertainty and security concerns due to violent extremism.

Being a CA Officer, focusing on Africa, including a rotation in Ghana, only solidified my passion for service. Challenged at first as an “oburoni,” or foreigner, my team and I eventually earned Ghanaian military leaders’ respect and set the stage for a valuable partnership between our countries. The continued success of subsequent teams as well increased stability in the areas in which we focused is incredibly gratifying to witness.

Experiences throughout my life helped me develop communication skills, the ability to achieve results rapidly, and a passion for servant leadership. Recognizing business is at the forefront of global progress, I have seen how influence can span borders, political divides and affects policy and human behavior. Building on this foundation, I transitioned to the Army Reserve. As an ARE CA officer with Special Operations Command South, I was able to complete my degree in international business at INSEAD University. Army Reserve and the SOCOM ARE, allowed me the flexibility to complete my graduate degree, studying in Singapore and France.

With the Army Reserve, I can continue finding balance in life. International travel remains an important part of my life and provides the opportunity to gain leadership experience and find community away from my support system. Through my experiences I have learned to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations and that I can achieve anything with patience and the proper mindset. Through the Army Reserve, I have the ability to broaden my focus. This past year, I was able to combine two passions as a volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club. I have fond memories from my childhood at the Boys & Girls Club. Many of the skills and traits I value today began there, and I am still in touch with mentors and teammates. I love giving back as an adult and most recently taught courses in yoga and meditation to after-school classes in North Carolina. 

These connections, combined with my choice to serve with SOCOM ARE, positions me for an impactful international civilian and military career where I can tackle complex challenges and champion positive change on a global scale.

For more information on the SOCOM Army Reserve unit, contact a Reserve Officer Career Counselor or, check out https://www.socom.mil/ArmyReserveElement/Pages/default.aspx.