Stacey Lang - Army Reserve Soldier
On May 8, 2007, I will be celebrating my 11th year in the Army Reserves. It is hard for me to believe that it has been 11 years since I changed my life forever! I still think about my first encounter with the recruiter. I was a senior in high school who cared more about my social life and having fun than I did about my future. I have to admit, I may have not thought about joining if SSG Hutchings didn't 'hound' me for awhile. She was a female Soldier in the Army, and I was really impressed. I was very intrigued about how, as a female, I would stand up to Army standards that are the highest in the world. I might add that I was a 90 lb weakling. She promised me a career in the dental field (which was my dream), travel, excitement, and money for school. After being told by everyone in high school that there was no way that I could survive boot camp, it became my goal to join and succeed. My family supported me 100%. My father was a Marine reservist who was a little disappointed that I didn't join the Marines, but still happy for me. At least he had two sons that he could try to work on becoming a Marine! My mother was supportive, she got herself through it by telling me that I am a female reservist in the dental field, I'll never be put in harms way...little did she know that in 7 years her daughter would be deployed.
When I arrived at basic training, my small shell that I had lived in for the last 17 years was crushed. After the initial shock of the Drill Sergeants was over, I started to realize that I was pretty good at following directions. The Drill Sergeants decided to make me the platoon leader for 60 females. They picked the youngest person of the group. For the 2 weeks that I was the platoon leader, I had convinced myself that I had made the wrong decision. No one listened to a word I said and I had no friends. Very opposite of my 'civilian' life that I missed more than anything. Eventually, I was replaced (to my relief!) and I blended into the masses. I would still get in trouble for smiling though. The instructors would make me do push ups every time I was caught smiling. I entered basic training being able to do 3 push ups in 2 minutes. I graduated doing 63 in 2 minutes - I like to smile!
I felt as if I made the right decision when I was graduating from basic training. The sense of pride and honor that had been instilled in me and my fellow graduates was something that I had never felt before. To this day when I think about it, I get chills. I was a different person when I came home after all of my training. I felt as if my old friends couldn't understand what I had just been through and the meaning of being an American. I don't think I truly understood the meaning of being an American was until I was deployed to Kosovo for a year in 2003.
Before Kosovo, I was activated to Ft. Snelling, MN when the invasion of Iraq was announced in January of 2003. I was sent to help with dental examinations on 27,000 Soldiers deploying to Iraq. I was so honored to do my small part in making sure that these Soldiers were in healthy, fighting shape. For the next 10 months, I was wondering when my number would be called to serve my country. When I received the call, I was a little nervous but excited as well. I knew that Kosovo was not as dangerous as Iraq, but I would be carrying an M16 rifle around with 30 live rounds attached to it everywhere I would go, even to bed.
When I arrived in Kosovo, I finally realized the reason I joined the Army: to help others who are less fortunate. I was in charge of running the dental clinic on Camp Bondsteel for American Soldiers, civilian contractors and 42 different nations of Soldiers. Needless to say, I was a very busy person. I enjoyed the dental clinic, but my real passion was the humanitarian aid missions. We would go out into different war torn communities, refugee camps and orphanages and provide medical and dental care. Seeing what genocide and horror these people had been through made me realize why everyone should be proud to be an American, especially an American Soldier. To see what our country has done to help the people of Kosovo and others throughout the world is a real eye opener. I began going out on humanitarian aids almost every weekend. I organized school and orphanage visits to teach children the importance of dental health. I recruited family and friends back home to send over clothes and toys for the children. The smile on a child's face that receives a pair of boots in February after having only sandals to wear was worth the year I spent away from friends and family. The only thing better was the appreciation shown by the parents, not only for the material items, but for saving their lives and their country.
When I returned home from my deployment, I felt as if I contributed a lot to aid in the help of those less fortunate. I decided that I wanted to continue to help others. I did so in the form of becoming an Army Instructor. I became certified to teach Soldiers and I also started teaching dental assisting at a local college. I decided to go to school to become a dental hygienist and teach others in the community and around the world the importance of oral health. When I graduate in May of 2008, I plan to go back to school and work on my Masters in education.
I am currently in school full time at Youngstown State University. I travel once or twice a month with the Army to teach the Combat Lifesavers Course all over the country. I teach basic life saving medical skills to non medical personnel in the Army that may need to save a friend on the front lines.
My decision to join the Army has truly changed my life for the better. If I never enlisted, I would have never been to see the world with my own eyes. I now know that I never have to settle for mediocre. I will always be pushing myself to do more. Once I attain a goal I have set for myself, I set a new one. I hope that I can live up to the public's standards of an American Soldier. Even more, I hope that I can live up to my own personal standards, which are extremely high. I feel that I can help make a difference in today's Army and the community, no matter how big or small it may be.
