Reserved for the Reserves

Silently walking down the halls is a girl confused on what to do for her future. After stumbling upon a recruiting table, she hears about the benefits of the Army and is slowly drawn to the idea of having some kind of fate.

Ready to wear a full on camouflage uniform to serve the country stands a doubt-filled girl, soon starting her long journey. Planning to do just that is junior Alejandra Montoya, already enlisted in the Army Reserves.

“At first I had doubts because I didn’t want to leave my family behind since I’m really attached to them, but then I changed my mind,” Montoya said. “I realized that this is a big step for me and I want to give myself a better future so I knew it was the right decision.”

She will also be absent in witnessing the birth of a new cousin, though she remains excited to learn a new set of skills she never would have thought was possible.

“I’m really excited to use weapons because we can learn to throw grenades and shoot guns,” Montoya said. “But I’m not prepared to exercise since I’m really out of shape.”

Basic training consists of the red, white and blue phases. All together, these phases build strength with stimulating obstacle courses both mentally and physically. Gradually molding the civilian into a soldier throughout a 9-week training course prepares future militants to work together to survive in certain difficult situations.

“When she puts her mind to anything, she is determined to get it done,” Montoya’s best friend Catherine Cruz said. “Since she gets good grades, she makes me want to get good grades too.”

Montoya will be shipped off to various locations two or three days a month after job training next summer to act as a second hand man to the Army. After four years in the military, Montoya plans to further her education attending Texas Christian University.

“My journey in the Army is just beginning,” Montoya said.