WEBVTT 00:00.009 --> 00:02.120 Army . Civilians are an integral part 00:02.120 --> 00:04.120 of the army team in war and peace . 00:04.120 --> 00:06.342 Civilians have served the United States 00:06.342 --> 00:08.510 army since the American Revolution in 00:08.520 --> 00:10.742 the 18 hundreds , with the invention of 00:10.742 --> 00:12.798 the telegraph , civilians served the 00:12.798 --> 00:14.964 army as telegraph operators . A highly 00:14.964 --> 00:16.909 technical job . At the time , this 00:16.909 --> 00:19.131 allowed the army to communicate quickly 00:19.131 --> 00:21.242 over long distances . Civilians bring 00:21.242 --> 00:23.549 expertise to improve the readiness of 00:23.559 --> 00:26.059 the force . Army civilians take an oath 00:26.069 --> 00:28.340 of office to support and defend the 00:28.350 --> 00:31.420 constitution . Civilians serve in over 00:31.430 --> 00:35.279 540 career fields providing every 00:35.290 --> 00:37.139 capability from administration , 00:37.150 --> 00:39.509 medical research and development to 00:39.540 --> 00:42.419 transport and logistics . Behind every 00:42.430 --> 00:44.430 successful army mission . There are 00:44.430 --> 00:46.652 countless dedicated individuals working 00:46.652 --> 00:48.709 tirelessly behind the scenes from 00:48.720 --> 00:50.942 logistics and administration , research 00:50.942 --> 00:52.942 and technology . Those hard working 00:52.942 --> 00:54.776 individuals play a vital role in 00:54.776 --> 00:56.776 supporting our soldiers and keeping 00:56.776 --> 00:58.942 them equipped and prepared to meet any 00:58.942 --> 01:00.998 challenge . After my time in the air 01:00.998 --> 01:03.180 force , I was certain about continuing 01:03.189 --> 01:06.300 my service to our great nation becoming 01:06.309 --> 01:08.889 an army . Civilian has enabled me to 01:08.900 --> 01:10.849 remain part of a dedicated team of 01:10.860 --> 01:13.120 military professionals and leaders 01:13.230 --> 01:16.080 personally , for me being an army 01:16.089 --> 01:19.029 civilian isn't just a matter of pride . 01:19.379 --> 01:22.050 It's very rewarding . One of the most 01:22.059 --> 01:24.690 rewarding aspects is that I contribute 01:24.699 --> 01:27.160 to the ongoing strength of this force . 01:27.699 --> 01:30.120 Um , originally I was an overseas 01:30.129 --> 01:32.480 family member hire , uh , when we 01:32.489 --> 01:35.279 returned stateside . Um , I was like , 01:35.290 --> 01:37.519 forget this and I went to law school . 01:37.809 --> 01:39.976 Um , years later , um I was in private 01:39.976 --> 01:42.879 practice in Kosovo . Um , and the day 01:42.889 --> 01:45.160 of the , uh , countrywide riots , uh , 01:45.169 --> 01:47.058 they were riding right outside my 01:47.058 --> 01:49.239 office window , they were yelling , 01:49.250 --> 01:50.917 flipping vehicles and burning 01:50.917 --> 01:53.083 absolutely anything they could torch . 01:53.750 --> 01:56.180 It was terrifying . Um , a few days 01:56.190 --> 01:58.569 later , um , at the American checkpoint , 01:58.580 --> 02:01.300 there was a sergeant , um , on top of a 02:01.309 --> 02:04.720 tank waving a flag . Um , he was young , 02:04.730 --> 02:07.760 maybe 20 he looked a lot sturdier than 02:07.769 --> 02:09.880 the French soldiers . I had been told 02:09.880 --> 02:11.936 who would evacuate me if , if things 02:11.936 --> 02:15.419 got worse . Um , and a staff sergeant , 02:15.429 --> 02:17.262 um , checked my ID and passed me 02:17.262 --> 02:19.949 through . I never knew their names . Um , 02:19.960 --> 02:22.380 I moved shortly after the riots and the 02:22.389 --> 02:25.110 next chance I had , um , I decided I 02:25.119 --> 02:27.008 was going to volunteer as a legal 02:27.008 --> 02:29.440 assistant attorney . It was my way of 02:29.449 --> 02:32.289 getting back to those soldiers . Being 02:32.300 --> 02:35.679 in the military gave me strength . I 02:35.690 --> 02:38.330 was able to overcome a lot of things 02:38.339 --> 02:42.139 that I faced , including , um , my own 02:42.149 --> 02:46.020 doubt in myself and my abilities . Um , 02:49.419 --> 02:51.530 coming from the community that I came 02:51.530 --> 02:52.530 from , 02:55.250 --> 02:57.417 we didn't always get the encouragement 02:57.417 --> 03:00.289 we needed . And when I joined the 03:00.300 --> 03:04.020 military , um , when I was able 03:04.029 --> 03:06.251 to , you know , succeed at getting that 03:06.251 --> 03:09.199 great score in , in my PT test 03:09.889 --> 03:13.669 or uh becoming marksman or getting 03:13.679 --> 03:17.000 sharpshooter on the range and even 03:17.009 --> 03:20.669 being able to help my buddy , you know , 03:20.679 --> 03:23.919 to do the same and seeing their success . 03:24.259 --> 03:26.481 Um All of those things were things that 03:26.481 --> 03:30.119 I kind of missed in my community . And 03:30.130 --> 03:33.399 so the community of the military um 03:33.410 --> 03:35.577 helped me to see that I was able to do 03:35.577 --> 03:38.279 those things as I was transitioning out , 03:38.559 --> 03:40.949 I knew I took pride in serving my 03:40.960 --> 03:43.220 nation and I felt that I wasn't ready 03:43.229 --> 03:45.451 to give it up . So I wanted to continue 03:45.451 --> 03:48.699 to bring a level of expertise and a 03:48.710 --> 03:51.770 skill to continue to serve my nation to 03:51.779 --> 03:54.001 continue working in personal recovery . 03:54.001 --> 03:55.820 And what I did , I enjoy the 03:55.830 --> 03:58.330 camaraderie , I enjoy the work ethic of 03:58.339 --> 04:00.899 working with service members and I 04:00.910 --> 04:03.243 really believe in the mission that I do . 04:03.243 --> 04:05.279 So I decided to come back as a dod 04:05.289 --> 04:07.622 civilian for the Department of the Army . 04:07.622 --> 04:10.350 I am an army civilian , I'm an army , 04:10.360 --> 04:13.100 civilian , army , civilian , civilian , 04:13.110 --> 04:15.800 civilian , civilian , an army civilian . 04:15.960 --> 04:17.960 I will always support the mission . 04:17.960 --> 04:20.500 Thank you to all that have kept , 04:20.510 --> 04:23.519 continue to serve in the dod civilian 04:23.529 --> 04:24.309 sector .