4 minute read
Cover Story: Student Veteran
ENMU Student Veteran Invests in her Community
By Desiree Cooper
Penny Ortega (Current Student) has a sense of adventure. The non-traditional student joined the U.S. Air Force in 1999 and was honorably discharged in 2011.
“It had been my lifelong dream to join. I wanted adventure far away from Portales, my hometown,” said Penny. “Being a part of the one percent that serves their country is a great honor. I am very proud of my military service and would absolutely do it again. The military afforded me the great opportunity to see the world. Being from Portales, the world is really small.”
Photo by Amy Waltner
Penny traveled to places she had never heard of, saw the pyramids of Egypt, experienced different cultures and has met friends all over the world. She spent much of her time overseas after working with the security of nuclear missiles at FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. As a military police specialist, the Air Force stationed Penny in South Korea and Spain for three years each and was in a combat deployment to Iraq in 2008. She also spent six years in Colorado.
Penny said that being away from family was a challenge while serving, because “birthdays and holidays come and go and the memories are usually shared over the phone or Skype.”
The Air Force helped her make a difference in war-torn poor countries by doing community service-type events that broke language barriers.
She explained that, “serving alongside some of the bravest people I have ever met was the best experience. The friends I met during my time in the Air Force are still good friends and are like family. You go through so much and spend a lot of time with your fellow service members you have a bond that cannot be broken.”
Penny’s team in Baghdad, Iraq 2008, at Sadaam Hussein’s parade field, The Crossed Swords.
She lost two friends while in the service: Staff Sergeant John Self and Sgt. Daniel Quintana.
“Losing them shows how fragile life can be. However, losing my friends to their personal war at home is even more difficult,” she explained. “Today, an average of 22 veterans take their lives daily. We have lost more to veteran suicide than we have to combat. Losing a friend, mentor, or troop to their own personal demons is just horrible.”
Penny delivering clothes and toys to Iraqi children.
At ENMU, Penny served for a year as president of ENMU’s Student Veteran Organization (SVO), which provides an outlet for student veterans and gives them a place for comfort. The graduation average is low for student veterans. The SVO hopes to bring that number up.
“It is very different being a student veteran and the SVO is safe haven to the students. We want to be that listening ear for our student veterans who may be going through hard times. If we can stop one of those 22, then we have succeeded as an organization.”
Penny on top of the Al Rasheed Hotel, which was in the green zone in Baghdad, Iraq.
Penny is majoring in elementary education and chose to attend ENMU because of the Education department. She has always had an interest in education. She describes being a non-traditional student as “unique” since she is older than most of her classmates. She has found that they are interested in her experiences.
Ortega first attended Eastern right out of high school but was not emotionally ready for the responsibilities of college life. She now finds herself more involved with campus organizations and more focused on her education.
Penny and her team in Kosovo, 2006.
She explained that the most challenging aspect of attending ENMU as a non-traditional student has been working a full-time job while being a full-time student.
As a veteran, Ortega qualifies for the program Troops for Teachers that will place her in school districts in need of teachers. She plans to teach at the junior high level.
“The education department at ENMU is rigorous, but it is preparing me for the difficult roles ahead. I also feel my military background will provide a unique experience for my students. I cannot wait to have my own classroom, using the tools I was taught to begin to teach the future leaders of America.”
