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V E T E R A N S Did you serve during wartime or peacetime? I served during both peacetime
and wartime. I was deployed to combat zones in Kuwait and also Djibouti, Africa.
DANA PAPE
What inspired you to join the military? As
the daughter of a Vietnam veteran who served 32 years in the Army National Guard, I always admired my dad’s organization, structure, and attention to detail. Midway through my third semester of college, I found myself asking my father a lot of questions about his time in the service and realized I craved more excitement and an overwhelming desire toward something extraordinary. Shortly thereafter, I walked into the recruiting office and made the best decision of my life! What is the best part of being in the armed services? The special bond you
BRANCH OF ARMED SERVICES: Air Force YEARS SERVED: 1991-2015
share with your fellow service members, the travel, and the opportunity to serve in some of the most unique and rewarding jobs. I was the first woman in my unit to earn my “jump wings” and complete both water survival and combat survival schools. And, as an aerospace physiologist, I instructed over 6,000 pilots on the physiological effects of flight on the human body by training them in the altitude chamber and, what was at that time, the only human centrifuge used for aircrew training. What other “job” encourages you to jump out of planes, eat bugs, and repeatedly expose your body to 9G’s?! What were your greatest challenges? I
loved my time in the service! So, actually, the biggest challenge has been transitioning from military to civilian life. What would you like U.S. citizens to know about our military personnel? We
are grateful for their support! Joining the military and raising your right hand to recite the oath is a commitment that we do not take lightly. Military life impacts not only the service member, but the immediate family members as well. In fact, my husband, Chris, founded “Macho Spouse,” an interactive online resource and educational video library offering life lessons, advice, and support for men who have wives serving in the military. What advice would you give to a female who is considering joining the military?
The same advice I would give a male—bring a positive attitude, initiative, mutual respect, and a sense of humor! Whether you serve for four years or more than twenty years, the military provides a lasting foundation that will help you both personally and professionally.
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34 LKN
| NOVEMBER 2018