In what ways has the Army Reserve been influential to you in your current endeavors?
With the Army Reserve you’re having to learn to balance. Before I won Miss USA, I worked at the Department of Commerce, while serving as a commander for my unit. After winning the Miss USA pageant, I still understood how to balance being Miss USA and still being able to get in my car and drive to my unit, do my drill time and do my annual training.
The Army Reserve taught me how to balance, plan, multi-task, and prioritize. Not to mention, being in the Army can be somewhat intimidating depending on who is in the room with you. With that said, getting on camera and being on television didn’t feel that intimidating. It was scary, but I think I’ve been in scarier situations
The Army Reserve family is more than the traditional husband, wife and kids. Why do you feel it would be important to highlight a family dynamic that supports soldiers in the manner you have been supported?
I think a soldier’s happiness is based on what he or she is dealing with at their unit and also what they are dealing with at home. A very, very important part of a soldier’s life is their family dynamic. I think what made me and my family happy, although both of my parents were active duty Army, was having a family dynamic in which everyone was happy and involved.
To have the family involved with what’s going on in the soldier’s unit, such as family days and other family focused activities, gets the families involved with what the Soldiers have to deal with on a day to day. It also helps builds relationships with other families that have to deal with the same exact thing. It contributes to the happiness of the soldier, the happiness of the family and helps them stick together and rely on one another.
Both of your parents were service members, did you always know you wanted to follow in their footsteps or is that something you decided later into adulthood?
I planned on going to school and joining the Army afterwards, but that changed when my father and I walked into my university. I signed up for an ROTC scholarship on the spot. My plan was always to join, but I did join a lot earlier than planned. I considered serving to be somewhat of a family tradition because my sister and brother both serve. All of us decided to dedicate our lives and do what we can to serve our country, Army only obviously, but I definitely knew it was something I was going to do. Probably one of the best decisions that I’ve made in my life.
Have you considered focusing on a family of your own in the future?
I don’t think I have a choice. I plan on adding a family and having them learn how to be in a family structure with someone that is serving in the Armed Forces. I definitely plan to have a family who are just as involved in the military as I believe any military family should be. Having learned to balance my current endeavors is definitely preparation for the responsibility of having a family.
