02/01/2025
Miss February 🤘🏻🤘🏻
INTRODUCING "MISS FEBRUARY" IN THE NEW 2025 PIN-UPS FOR VETS CALENDAR.....13 YEAR ARMY VETERAN, ARELY, HAS AN INTERESTING STORY TO SHARE: " I am an Army Combat Veteran with 13 years of service as a construction equipment mechanic. I was 10 years-old when I met a beautiful woman in her Army fatigues at the grocery store. We had just moved to the US from Honduras and I didn't speak English. I wanted to ask her so many questions, but she just looked at me and smiled as she walked away. She had no idea how much of an impact that made to me. Fast-forward 12 years later, an Army recruiter kept calling my brother about helping him through the process, but my brother had changed his mind. So when the recruiter called back, I happened to pick up the phone and told him that my brother wasn't interested, and Istarted to ask questions about what the Army does and the benefits. Somehow I ended up making an appointment for me to go to the recruiting station. I felt like everything was a blur from the moment I signed up until I got to Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC. It was completely out of my comfort zone and wasn't sure if I had made the right choice. My family was still in shock and didn't really believe that I was going to the Army, until they saw me off at the hotel and getting on "THE BUS". I remember every night in Basic Training asking myself, why I had joined. I didn't really have an answer, but something in me kept pushing me harder everyday. Initially, you can say that I joined out of rebellion against my family and their premeditated life plan for me to become their version of an American Dream. I wanted to be my own version of The American Dream, not what my family had aligned for me to be and remembering the beautiful woman in her Army fatigues at the grocery store. Little did I know that my reason was going to change in the most amazing and rewarding ways!
I was a 91L; a construction equipment mechanic with airborne qualifications. I was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC with the 27th EN CO/ 618th "The Nasty". We deployed to FOB Lagman, Afghanistan from 2010-2011, assisting 2SCR from Vilseck, Germany and Romanian Special Forces as a route clearance engineer unit. During our deployment, we completed several route clearances at Bagram,
Kandahar, and other providences. While in country, I had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem and perform for the Hispanic Heritage Month. Once we returned back to the US, I was tasked to sing at various events, leading me to audition for the US Army Indiana Ceremonial Unit, earning my first performance at The Indy 500 Festival. Thereafter, I had the honor to perform for
The Indy 500 for a few years, NASCAR, RedBull AirRace, Indianapolis Colts, Pacers, Purdue University, Indianapolis Indians, Lucas Oil Raceway and so many more. My most memorable moment in the Army was performing at the Indy 500 and NASCAR in front of millions on the track. Being on stage singing the National Anthem or God Bless America gave me chills every time. Having the sense of pride and honor to serve this beautiful country is so rewarding, that I would do it all over again if I had the chance. Now that I am no longer actively serving the Army, I want to have the chance to give back to my brothers and sisters in arms. Ever since I left the Army, I am having a difficult time finding my identity away from being a soldier. Also being in a male dominant field, I felt the need to suppress my femininity in order to be taken seriously. I neglected myself in ways that caused me to become self-conscious. Being able to correlate beauty, brains and bravery in a calendar full of amazing women that are selflessly wanting to give back is such an honor. I hope that our stories will encourage other military women to tell theirs and feel confident to show their beauty through such an
extraordinary and giving organization. Thank you to Gina and her team for being so selfless and making us feel so beautiful and loved through this journey. I will forever be grateful for this!" ORDER YOUR 2025 PIN-UPS FOR VETS CALENDAR HERE THAT FEATURES 13 OUTSTANDING FEMALE VETERANS WITH A COMBINED 117 YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE : https://pinupsforvets.mybigcommerce.com/2025-pin-ups-for-vets-calendar/
