An Interview With Barbara Myrick
Military Veteran | Army, E5
How long did you serve?
10 years.
What was the biggest reason that led you to join the military?
I wanted a change of lifestyle from the environment in which I was I grew up. I’m a Newark, NJ native. Growing up I saw a lot of poverty and hopelessness. I wanted a change in my life so one day I decided to join the military.
What was the biggest lesson you learned in the military?
Teamwork & Unity! I learned a lot from different people that I worked with from enlisted to commanders. They showed me how to look at things from a different perspective and how to move as a unit.
What is your perspective of patriotism?
Freedom isn’t free and I think people in this country don’t appreciate the military as much as they should, I feel that they don’t realize the sacrifice. Service members serve so that the civilian public can protest and vote freely. Some countries don’t have that privilege at all. As Americans, we are truly blessed to be living here. Patriotism is about honoring the red white and blue even we have different perspectives.
What was your experience transitioning from active duty to civilian life?
It was difficult, but for good reason. I transitioned out because I was with my third child and wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I knew that transition meant the loss of income and healthcare. So I have to buckle down and figure this out. So I end up starting a daycare, and later on into I moved into construction.
What was your MOS/Job Title in the Military and What do you do now, post active duty?
President of B&M Construction in Colorado Springs, CO
What advice would you give to others transition into civilian life?
To plan it! Don’t leave emotionally because you’re angry about command, again have a plan make sure that you thought things through because it just doesn’t affect you when you leave. It affects your family. It affects the lifestyle that they become accustomed to and sometimes soldiers just leave and then they don’t plan and they can’t figure it out Think about it. If you plan it out, the more likelihood for success.
What are things that people should consider before they decide to serve their country?
It’s a sacrifice and it’s just not about you. Serving will affect your personnel relationships and you’re going to have to make adjustments, there will be distance while you serve. Take into consideration that some spouses aren’t made for the military. You will travel, meet different people. Most importantly you must learn to work well as one unit.
