Leslee Moon
Personal development can often times derive from unlikely sources. In December 2001, I was had no idea that eight short months later I would begin a journey that would test and question all beliefs I once possessed. I choose to enlist in the United States Army as a Military Police Soldier for a variety of reasons. However, the most valuable benefits I attained were unintended results from difficult situations.
I found myself "boots on the ground", convoying to Baghdad, Iraq in April 2003. I was 19 years old. Not one thing could have prepared me for the next 12 months that lay ahead. My mind and body were pushed beyond limits and then pushed a little more. That is when I first realized that I had two choices, accept the situation and find the good in it, or become a casualty of my own negative thinking. I chose the former and have not stopped since.
Gratitude, thankfulness, and appreciation are all words used synonymously to express the most important way my life was enriched by service in the military. Once I redeployed to Fort Lewis, Washington I knew my views had changed, and for the better. I simply had a different outlook on life and could recognize the simple pleasures I had surrounding me. Everyday truly was a gift. I had seen just how easy it could all be taken away.
A sense of balance was required for me to adjust to my new way of thinking. I most certainly wanted to go, and do, and try everything before it was too late, but I also had to plan for the future in the meantime. Patience was a quality I lacked. When I had a notion, it was extremely difficult for me to delay action. Unfortunately for me, the Army operates on its own time schedule. I was convinced I could get more accomplished if I could only do things my way, and for a while I tried. When I finally made an effort to slow down and listen to others, I was able to learn more and gain an alternative perspective.
Being in the Army took me out of my comfort zone, something I think everyone should undergo. I was fortunate to meet many people from all walks of life. While this is beneficial to dealing with others' behavior and traditions, it poses a problem when personalities clash. Working with someone who under any other circumstance I would not have spent my time with taught me tolerance. I consciously searched to find the good in everyone I met. That encounter also taught me humility. For the first time I considered that everyone may not care for me, and that it was wrong for me to judge anyone else.
Many schools within the Army are available for professional development. I attended D.A.R.E Officer training, Traffic Accident Investigation, Warrior Leader Course and Career Counselor training. They are similar in that each was exceptionally demanding and all the requirements to succeed are outlined on the first day. It was common for me to become overwhelmed and often times discouraged. During WLC I attempted a different approach. I focused on what I had to do each day, making a list if I had to, and set short term goals based on priorities. That ability has continued to be useful and is applicable to all areas of my life.
Up until Traffic school, I was a "mild" procrastinator. We had an enormous amount of homework and to say it was intense would be an understatement. During one of our weekends off, I was presented with an activity that would have been an amazing time. Instead I spent countless hours working formulas and missed out. That seemingly minute transaction taught me to take care of responsibilities early to ensure the alleviation of stressful situations.
Commitment may seem like characteristic that all military members possess, and maybe we do, but its meaning varies. For me commitment is about honor and integrity. It was seeing the difference I could make to my Soldiers if I truly cared about their well-being. I suddenly wanted put in 100% effort instead of 50, even though no one would have known the difference. I became the kind of leader that I myself would want to follow. The commitment to my own values also became stronger. I was able to sort out just the kind of person I wanted to be, as a result of the adversity that I faced.
My personal growth is far from over, this I know for certain. As I finish up my last year of military service, I am overcome with bittersweet memories. It is a time of reflection as well as excitement for the future. I feel confident that I used every experience as a source of knowledge, preparing me for whatever challenges that I may face.
