The unpredictable life of a student in the Army
The summer of 2011 was one full of many starts and restarts for Sarah Howell. She said it started with her military officer telling her she was going to be deployed to Afghanistan last October, then going back and forth about deployment times, the latest instruction to postpone being given a mere three days after she canceled her registered classes and paid a contract for on-campus housing.
“It was tough, because I was really excited to go, and I really didn’t want to be at school, because I was looking forward to it,” Howell, 19, said. “But that is just how it was, so I wasn’t too mad.”
After a good while of scrambling to get classes, housing and other necessities in order, Howell, a member of the Army National Guard, said she is finally getting settled into her life on campus — just in time for her unit to inform her she will be deploying next semester.
She said it isn’t completely shocking; it is just part of life in an ever-changing environment.
“It makes it stressful, but it can also make it fun,” Howell said.
Even though she was not at all excited about coming back to school this semester, Howell, a sophomore majoring in parks and recreation, said she’s happy to be back at school, even though she’ll most likely be gone again soon.
While preparing for graduation from high school, in 2010, in her home town of Boise, Idaho, Howell said she joined the military in hopes it would aid her future plans to enroll in college.
“I saw commercials about the National Guard, and I heard that they helped with college,” Howell said. “I didn’t want to pay for school, and it made sense for me. I could serve my country. I felt I was healthy and could do it. I didn’t see any reason not to join. It just made sense to me.”
She said she narrowed colleges down to seven options and wanted to properly research each one before choosing which school to attend, in conjunction with her National Guard responsibilities.
“I didn’t want to go to (local schools), because I didn’t want to be too close to home. I visited all seven schools, and I liked Utah State the best,” Howell said.
She said she did her best to get involved on campus, becoming a member of the Service Club and Area Government with on-campus housing.
Howell serves as a chaplain’s assistant in her Army unit, which she said keeps her busy during her monthly drill commitments.
Though she has been briefly trained on her job, Howell said she is still learning the ropes in her position as chaplain’s assistant.
She said her main responsibility at her monthly drill meetings is attending to her unit’s personal, spiritual and supportive needs.
During her most recent drill weekend, she said she spent most of her time setting up appointments for her chaplain and made arrangements for Sunday worship, preparing speaking assignments, music and a bible study for those not interested in a full sermon.
After a brief staff meeting to discuss plans in the unit, she then has time to talk with people personally, arranging spiritual thoughts to share with them and inquiring if anyone needs or wants to meet with the chaplain for further support.
Though her responsibility is unique compared to others, she said she sees great value in her job.
“When looking at jobs in the Guard, I knew I wanted to do something that made me feel like I was doing something I could do well,” Howell said. “As a chaplain’s assistant I can help people when they are stressed or scared and be a support. I’ve really enjoyed it so far.”
Howell said she is still glad she made the choice to join the Army, though she has an unpredictable schedule.
“I really like it,” she said. “It’s been a great growing experience, it’s helped me pay for school, and I really feel like I’m becoming a better person. I’ve really learned a lot about myself.”
– steve.schwartzman@aggiemail.usu.edu