1LT Lauren Cross, U.S. Army

I come from Senatobia, Mississippi. I am a deeply rooted southern girl but have never been one to stay in one place for very long. I grew up an Air Force/FedEx kid so moving often was a part of life, and for the most part I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have five siblings as well as a large assortment of nephews and nieces. I adore being a part of a large family! I married my husband last year and he is in the process of becoming an Army Officer as well. My father, as well as a large chunk of my immediate family, are or were Air Force. A question I here most often is, “Then why did you go Army?” Well, that is a large question to answer. I have been active duty for 2 years, commissioned into the Army Nurse Corps through ROTC. I grew up mostly in the south, but I spent five years living in the Philippines. That experience, as well as all the travel and experiences I was able to enjoy within that, shaped who I am drastically and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being a part of a larger world than what I can simply lay my eyes on right now has imprinted me in a way I never thought something could.

Many things shaped my decision to join the military: Family, friends, possible future experiences, what I wanted to accomplish in life, God… the list could go on. In high school I applied for ROTC scholarship from every branch of the military and received multiple opportunities. Air Force and Army were neck-and –neck at the time. So why did I choose Army? I chose Army because I think a part of me wanted to be different from my family, forge my own path. However, I think the main reason was because God called me into the Army. Many doors were opened and shut while I was blindly searching, trying to figure out what to do with my life (like most high school and college students do). It just so happened all the doors opening were with the Army, I could not deny what God was telling me. I have not looked back and enjoy what I do! There were also many trials throughout my college experience that almost took away my opportunity to become and Army Nurse. However, with how everything worked out, I am most definitely meant to be where I am and I am proud at all I worked through to get here.

I am an Army Nurse Corp Officer. I work on an ICU-Step Down unit that mainly works with cardiac (heart) issues. I also work some in the education department as a Basic Life Support instructor. As well as the many other odd jobs the Army throws my way periodically.

This is a tough one. I have a few so I will summarize into one. I am a nurse. As such, I come into contact with many different people: active duty, dependents, retirees, reserve, guard, etc. It does not happen every day, but when I get to see people when they are well, or when a breakthrough happens, that reminds me of why I am here and proud of what I do. I especially love it when I see their spirits lifted because they realize themselves that they are healing.

I serve for many different reasons, all very important to me. I serve for my country: I love my country. I want to serve and defend and protect who she is. I serve to defend the flag and the history it represents. I serve to defend the people within my country, of all backgrounds and stories, we all live in this free country and I wish to serve them all. I serve for my family: my family, throughout the years have been part of the military, sacrificing many things to that end. I want to be a part of that legacy. I also serve for my future children: I want them to grow up in the free United State of America. I want them to grow up knowing they can and should defend their rights and beliefs, as well as defend the rights and beliefs of those oppressed. I serve for my husband: because I love him dearly. To help maintain a free country that is still home of the brave, that is a must. I serve my God, my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, first and foremost. He has called me into this life and He leads me on.

I want to my family, especially my future children and grandchildren, to know that they can do anything. I want them to know that if you work hard, and pray unceasingly, their lives will work out perfectly. Maybe not necessarily how they planned, but they will realize it could not have been better. I want to be remembered as someone who did not waiver on their morals and beliefs, as someone who fought for those who couldn’t fight for themselves, as someone who gave with asking for anything in return, I want to be remembered as someone who loved her country and everyone in it. But I also want people to know that I loved all people, throughout the world to the ends of the earth; that I am a woman in the Army who loves her God.