From USU to National Guard: Ashley Boles’s experience as an aggie veteran

Ashley Boles is an Aggie with a unique college experience. After beginning her education at Utah State University, she took a hiatus to serve in the Army National Guard and is now back in school with a new experiences from her time serving. 

Boles grew up all over the Northwest United States in a military family. After earning an associate degree in 2015, Boles joined the ARNG in Montana in 2016.   

“My dad served in the Army when I was a kid,” Boles said. 

Part of her motivation was following in her dad’s footsteps. 

“It was also kind of a personal pride thing,” Boles said. “I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.” 

Boles initially joined as a mortuary affairs specialist and transitioned to a military police officer in 2017. She went on active duty as a military police officer in 2018. 

Emily Christofferson, one of Boles’s closest friends, met Boles in 2015 before she joined the Army. 

“She had dreams of becoming a police officer, and I had dreams of becoming an emergency medical technician,” Christofferson said. “We kind of banded together.” 

When Boles first told her she was joining the Army, Christofferson said she was worried but had no doubts about Boles capability. 

“It was definitely difficult at first. I was kind of scared out of my wits that something was going to happen,” Christofferson said. “But I knew that she was strong, and I knew that she could do it.”  

According to Christofferson, she and Boles’s friendship is one of mutual support.  

“One of my favorite things about Ashley is her resilience that she’s had throughout the years, her encouragement to me and what a great support she is,” Christofferson said. “No matter what has happened to her in her life and what has happened to me in my life, she’s always been there, and I know she always will be. That’s the whole aspect of being a part of a team.” 

While in service, Boles said she found fulfillment helping other soldiers learn and grow and discovered the importance of spending time with the right people. 

“I learned that you are the average of the six people you surround yourself with,” Boles said. “That’s something they really drilled into us.” 

Boles was medically discharged from the military in 2023 and is once again a student at USU, majoring in recreation management and hoping to go into sports management.  

Boles said her time in the military has been a useful contribution to her university experience. 

“I’ve got more real-life experience from having worked in law enforcement and being outside of home, and I’m a few years older than a lot of my classmates,” Boles said. “It’s easy to give advice to people based on previous experiences I’ve had.”  

Boles’s experiences allow her to share a unique point of view with classmates and professors. 

“I’m able to give them a different perspective than they would have otherwise in classrooms,” Boles said. “They get to hear a different side or something that they wouldn’t have thought of.” 

The growth Boles has experienced from her time serving in the military is evident to the people closest to her.  

“I think overall, she’s grown so much,” Christofferson said. “The experiences she’s received because of the military and the friendships and relationships she’s gotten, including her current husband, have just created a whole new and better Ashley, and I couldn’t have asked for a better friend.” 

After she graduates from USU, Boles said she hopes to work in hockey at a youth level — an activity she has found to be a good outlet since being discharged.  

“I love hockey, and I found a new sport and passion in hockey, so that’s become my replacement for my physical energy,” Boles said. ` 

She plays on two recreational league teams, a B league women’s team, and a D league team with her husband.