Nov/Dec 2018 Issue Vol. 2 Issue 10
WWIIÂ (WAAC) Army Veteran :
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Jean Mackenzie Bell
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On the cover: WWII (WAAC) Army Veteran
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Air Force Veteran
Anishka Farrington
I'm Anishka Jennifer Farrington. I'm 27 years old, and I'm from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I joined the Air Force in August 2008 active duty. After graduating from Basic Training and Technical School, I PCS'd to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana in November 2008 as a Knowledge Operations Manger. While assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base, I worked at the 2d Communications Squadron. I gained a wealth of knowledge from working at the Base Information Transfer Center and the Commander's Support Staff. In 2012, I was assigned to the 2d Maintenance Group Administrative Office. In 2012, I also enrolled in court reporting school as an online/part-time student. In April 2013, I received my Community College of the Air Force Degree in Information Management. In August 2014, I honorably separated from the Air Force as a Staff Sergeant and moved to Atlanta, Georgia to finish up court reporting school as a full-time student. In November 2016, I successfully graduated from court reporting school, being able to write on my steno machine at 225 words per minute in shorthand. My career goal is to become one of the best CART and Broadcast Captioners for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. I also want to be able to shine a light on the amazing, rewarding career in stenography. Stenography is my passion, and I'm so thankful to God that He blessed me with this amazing gift. I also thank God for my transition from active duty to civilian life. I'm truly blessed that I have this skill in stenography to share with the world. www.WomenVeteransMagagazine.org
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Army Veteran
Jean Carey Mackenzie Bell – WAACS Written by: Nancy Bell Kimsey (her daughter)
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WWII (WAAC) Army Veteran : Jean Carey Mackenzie Bell
In 1942, Jean Carey Mackenzie left her studies at Simmons University to enlist in the fledgling WAACS (Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps). She headed off by train to basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa as part of the 3rd WAAC Training Regiment, 6th Company. Her first letter home provides glimpses into her training: “I felt awfully silly saluting at first, but it’s starting to feel natural now,” the effects of vaccinations: “Several of the girls passed out and a great many of them also ran fevers and had chills. My left arm is just useless to me,” and uniforms: “I would say my hardest adjustment was to wearing girdle and stockings and hat. We wear hats all the time, except when we’re asleep!” She also noted that at a Saturday revue on the parade grounds, one of the guests of honor was Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby, first WAAC Director.
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Subsequent letters were filled with details of early morning KP and instruction in everything from map reading to chemical warfare. This was her description of a tear gas drill: “I wish you could have seen us, it would have been pitiful if it hadn’t been so funny. We all fell outside the barrack with our galoshes and raincoats on and marched off to the gas chamber with our gas masks slung across our shoulders...mud splashing on our legs...the raincoats are dragging down around our ankles and the hood is down over our eyebrows so you feel like a horse with blinders on.” Yet she still exclaimed about military life, “I love it! I’ve never had much trouble adjusting myself to new situations. It’s really a grand life and I wouldn’t go back for anything.” One day, a film crew arrived at the training base to create a WAAC recruiting film, and Jean was cast in the role of the drill sergeant. She played her role so convincingly that a female officer who viewed the film contacted her commander, stating, “I want that woman in my unit!” The unit turned out to be a recruiting station at the corner of Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles. Upon arrival in LA, she was issued a staff car in the downtown parking garage and immediately had to learn to navigate the crowded urban streets. She also learned Morse Code and many other skills during her time in the military, achieving the rank of Lieutenant. She was a mother of four and wife of Colonel Buron Gregory Bell, an Air Force pilot. In her late 70s, she joined over 30,000 other veterans for the candlelight dedication of the Women in Military Service to America Memorial in Washington, DC. She lived to the age of 93, sharing with future generations a legacy of enthusiasm, adventure, and service.
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Navy Veteran (AD):
GEORGETT KERR
Service Member | Breast Cancer Survivor I was born on January 28th, 1974, in Montego Bay Jamaica. I migrated to the US in 1990 along with my son, who was 3 months old at the time. I settled in New Jersey, where I went to high school and college. After I graduated college, I worked as a social worker and a kindergarten teacher. It was during this time in my life where I was searching for something challenging to do with my life, so within the space of 3 months I decided I was going to join to the Navy for that challenge and also to provide a better life for my son. I enlisted in the Navy November of 2002. I had no clue what to expect and I was apprehension as to whether or not I'd made the right decision leaving my son and enlisted at my age, but it was the best decision I made. My first duty station was in Bremerton WA, after that tour I went to a squadron located in Virginia Beach VA, then on to Norfolk VA, Great Lakes IL, and then back in Norfolk VA, and then to Yorktown VA which is where I'm currently stationed. Throughout my 15+ years in the Navy I've had ups and downs, but I wouldnt change a thing. On August 14, 2017 my whole life changed. I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Its been a difficult year but I'm grateful to have come out a stronger and better person. I've always been a strong person, I've always been a fighter so this adversity was nothing different. With the support of my Navy family and my civilian family, I've been able to fight this battle knowing I'm not alone. I take nothing for granted, and I wake up everyday with a grateful heart.
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Air Force Veteran
LaSonja Richardson
LaSonja Richardson is a native of Sedalia, MO and graduated from Smith Cotton High School. She entered the United States Air Force immediately following high school graduation where she served honorable for 30-years retiring at the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. She began her career as a dental assistant apprentice and culminated it as the superintendent of the 633d Dental Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. As Superintendent, she advised and assisted the commander in planning and directing the daily and long-range activities of four flights. She managed all activities for a 94-person squadron comprised of 27 dentists and 67 ancillary staff. The squadron provided a full-scope of cost effective dental healthcare to a population of 8,500 active duty personnel preparing wing personnel for deployment to augment global missions. Chief Richardson was responsible for operational effectiveness and utilization of delivery of $8.7M in quality dental treatment annually. She provided expertise and guidance to the enlisted competency-training program and administered the unit self-assessment program to ensure compliance with local and national standards. She prepared correspondence and data for Major Command and AF/SGD. Chief Richardson compiled and reviewed statistical reports, metrics, and operating instructions for 633 Dental Squadron, 633d Medical Group and 633d Air Base Wing requirements. She provided oversight and direction on squadron and group strategic planning and was a liaison to the 633d Air Base Wing and prepared the squadron for Joint Commission surveys and Health Services Inspections. She also wrote and reviewed Dental Operating Instructions, enlisted performance reports, unit manning documents and unit personnel management rosters and oversaw the squadron budget. In addition to her dental squadron responsibilities, she was also a certified CPR Instructor, Nationally certified EMT and a certified Air Force Smart Operations 21 Level I LEAN Facilitator. She retired from the Air Force December 2010. After a successful Air Force career, she founded her own editing company, Able & Willing Editing, in which she has assisted authors with writing and publishing various works of fiction, non-fiction, spiritual, self-help and educational works. She has also written and published her own work, Mentoring from the Heart, which chronicles her Air Force mentoring experiences. She founded her jewelry and floral company, Sarah’s Angels, in 2014. She designs and constructs one-of-a-kind creations at affordable prices. In 2011, she and her husband received the appointment to plant a church, Love Christian Center, in Douglasville, GA. They have taken the vision and carried out the plan God has placed in their hearts; the church is now active and growing. Her educational accomplishments include 1981 - Dental Assistant Technical School -Sheppard AFB, Texas 1984 - NCO Preparatory Course - Iraklion AS, Crete Greece 1986 - NCO Leadership School -Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota 1993 - NCO Academy - Peterson AFB, Colorado 1998 - Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Assisting Community College of the Air Force 1999 - Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration - University of Phoenix 2000 - SNCO Academy Correspondence Course 200 I - Additional Duty First Sergeant Course 2002 - Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Management – University of Phoenix 2003 - SNCO Academy (in residence) - Maxwell AFB, Alabama 2004 - Intermediate Executive Skills Group Superintendent Course - Sheppard AFB, Texas 2007 – Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course www.WomenVeteransMagazine.org
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Army Veteran
Jordon Miller
Without music, I have no identity. I have spend the last fifteen (15) years strategically gaining knowledge, practicing my craft, and developing the required skills to become a Songwriter/Producer in the music industry. I migrated to the United States from Jamaican after completing high school with the determination and courage to live my dream of creating art that will not only add value to the music lovers but inspire them. I am passionate about composing instrumentals and writing songs for myself, and other talented artist. I also mentor and develop creative young adults that are aspiring to enter the music industry. I taught myself how to compose and song write music, as well as learning the art of audio production, mixing and mastering. I joined the US Army in 2010 because I wanted to strengthen my leadership skills as well as be able to afford college. I fell in love with serving my country and being able develop as a young adult. Not a lot of young professionals can say that they have a served their country and stile able to go after their dreams and I get to do it every day. Music was meant for me and I for it, as every avenue that I approached in the Army, I succeeded and music was the cornerstone of that success. Most recently, I had an informal audition with the 40th Army Band in Colchester, Vermont and they saw my passion for music. So now not only do I get to serve my country, I get to live my dream as a musician (pending MOS re-class) and as a soldier in the 40th Army Band Lead Vocalist with the Vermont Army National Guard. My experiences are what made me such a well-rounded, diverse, multitalented young adult professional. And at the age of twenty-five (25), I truly know what it means to be a successful all because I chose to serve this great nation and develop the skills and tools that has made me an amazing team player and leader.
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Army Veteran Shalela Dowdy
I commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 2012 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where I majored in American Legal Studies ( pre Law). Upon graduating and commissioning I attended the Air Defense Artillery Basic Officer Leadership course during the fall of 2012 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. My first duty station was Fort Bliss, Texas where I had the opportunity to be a Fire Control Platoon Leader in Bravo 2-43 ADA. Additionally I was also the Support Platoon Leader and eventually transitioned to the Battery Executive Officer Position in January of 2014. In October 2014 I deployed to the country of Bahrain for 11.5 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While deployed I held the positions of Battery XO and Tactical Control Officer. After returning from deployment September 2015 I continued my duties as Battery XO and in August of 2016 I transitioned to my Battalion's S-3 to become the Training Officer. In November of 2016 I started the Air Defense Artillery Captains Career Course and am expected to graduated April of 2017.
Shalela Victoria Dowdy is a native of Mobile Alabama. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in American Legal Studies from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2012 and is currently working on a Masters of Arts degree in Leadership Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso. She is passionate about continuous growth both professionally and personally and aims to complete two additional Master Programs along with attend Law School. Additionally she is a Captain (CPT ) in the United States Army and has deployed to the Middle East (2014-2015) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom's Sentinel. She believes in leading by example and got to perfect that belief while growing up as the oldest of ten children on her mother's side. At the moment she is working towards establishing a non profit organization entitled F.I.E.R.C.E that focuses on inspiring and empowering women worldwide. Outside of her daily activities she is a freelance model and enjoys volunteering and coaching youth track and field athletes.
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Army Veteran Jodian Sanford MY name is Jodisn Sanford 25 years old. Born in Jamaica, Currently living in Savannah, Ga. I work as a Medical Assistant and I am pursuing a degree in Nursing.
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Army Veteran
Valerie Reed-Sweed
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continued -Valerie Reed-Sweed
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Army Veteran
Valerie Reed-Sweed
I was born a military brat on Fort Benning in Georgia and against my family wishes for me, joined the U. S. Army to follow in the footsteps of my siblings who were veterans of the U. S Marines and Army. I entered the military under the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in fall of 1988 and left for basic at Fort Jackson South Carolina in the summer of 1989. After the completion of Basic Training, I attending AIT at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio Texas where I completed my certification as a 91S Preventive Medicine Specialist. My first permanent duty station was at Fort Polk, Louisiana and my tenure was during the beginning of the Desert Storm War. Being a female Soldier presented it's own challenges as women were not seen as equal to their male counterparts. I learned to work harder to receive the recognition and respect. In the first year at my permanent duty station, I received an award for being a top Soldier from my command and soon after a promotion in rank. I eventually separated from the military with an honorable discharge but continued as a military spouse for the next 25 plus years. I can honestly say that the military has been a strong dominant fiber in the blueprint of my life since birth from being born a military brat, becoming a Soldier then a veteran and carrying out the duties as a military spouse. I was able to serve my country and then have the honor to provide supportive services to those who were serving by being an active participant in the military community as the Army Emergency Relief Officer under the Army Community Services Division. Learning to become a Soldier was a life changing experience that forced me to grow up, embrace challenges, conquer my fears and become a better person. Once I let go of fear and put my best foot forward, recognition for having high standards came easy. After having my three children, I decided to finish college after a 15-year break receiving a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science Cum Laude. I was accepted and started as a first year law student at Wake Forest Law School in Winston Salem North Carolina but withdrew after my first year due to my father's terminal illness and my spouse being sent to war after the 9-11 attack on our country. I did obtain a paralegal certification from Duke University and a Masters degree in Teaching from the University of Souther California (USC). I am currently working as a Federal employee and advocate for community development. I am so thankful for all of my accomplishments and know that being a Soldier helped set the foundation for me to build upon with higher standards and expectation for myself and for my children
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