Reflections on deployment to Afghanistan
My earliest thoughts when I first found out I was going to Afghanistan was mostly excitement and a little bit of apprehension. During pre-deployment training my apprehension grew a bit as I struggled with the weight of the equipment. At 5’2 and 115 lbs, I was carrying over half my body weight in gear. I was unsure if I was strong enough to overcome the physical demands of being a patrol medic. I was usually the only female on the patrol but did not want to be identified solely by my gender. First and foremost I wanted to be regarded as a competent and capable soldier and medic. I believe I achieved this and enjoyed the comeraderie that comes with being accepted as member of a team.