After finishing basic training I became RA - Regular Army, and attended Military Police School at Fort McClellan. The drill Sgts. all called me "Granny", because having attended and graduated college prior to my enlistment made me older than most recruits. This did not prevent me from having to do lots of extra push ups - one little orb roll in the presence of a drill Sgt.! Running in formation with mostly men for 5 miles a day brought out my pride and competitiveness. While the few other women in my platoon would eventually fall back during these runs and have to be carried by the lagging men in the rear of the formation, I never fell out. I might of been a Granny, but I was stubborn and determined.
Following all training the Army shipped me out to Wurzburg, Germany. After a few months as a MP, I won the job of Military Police Investigator. This was great - I got extra pay to live off post and wear civilian clothes. All I had to do was investigate mostly minor military crimes, and work an occasionally undercover drug sting - I was always the token fake girlfriend.
After two years I was transferred to West Point Military Academy, New York. Stayed an investigator until my discharge in 1978.
All in all the military was a great experience for me. For everything they sacrifice, all of our service people, past and present deserve our respect and support.
