This summer Elizabeth Yates won’t be hanging out with friends, working her serving job or deciding where to golf.
Yates, who shipped out for Basic Training in mid-March, will be completing her 18-week National Guard training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
“I always thought about the military, but I didn’t think I would ever do it,” said the 2022 high school graduate.
Yates attended community college for two years, the college choice her parents could afford.
Before shipping off Yates lived in her own apartment and served at a restaurant. The idea to join the National Guard started as a conversation with friends at work, which grew from an idea to doing research on it, she said. A main attraction for Yates are benefits, like the G.I. Bill, which would cover tuition at Colorado universities.
Yates plans to return to Colorado after training to attend Metro State University of Denver and join their Reserves Officers’ Training Corps, which offers additional scholarships.
Friends and family are supportive, although some friends were surprised to find out about the decision. Yates has inspired her friends to consider joining, she said.
“I think my generation in particular, I feel like a lot of us are driven,” Yates said. “Everybody is wanting to figure it out and be successful. I think everyone’s going out of their comfort zone a little bit to achieve that. That’s what I’m doing. It’s scary. It’s a big decision, but I think ultimately it’ll lead to a lot of good things and a lot of growth.”
Although personal growth is a big reason for Yates to join the National Guard, she is also proud to serve her country, she said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how I’ll grow and change throughout the process,” Yates said.
Yates’ military occupational speciality is military police. She goes to the gym daily and enjoys playing golf, and isn’t as worried about the physical aspect of Basic Training.
“I’m a little bit nervous, but I’m getting excited,” Yates said. “I think it’ll be a mental challenge. I think physically I’ll be okay, but mentally I think that’ll be the hardest part.”
Some of the scary aspects include not having her phone, not being able to communicate with the outside world and only writing letters, and even that depends on if the drill sergeant is strict, Yates said.
The summer will be hard. While many of her friends are back from college, she’ll be training.
“It’ll be hard not being here for that, but I think that the time will pass anyways,” Yates said. “I think that it’s for a greater purpose.”
