From Sorority Girl to Soldier

Being the only American woman in the courtroom during the first day of Saddam Hussein's trial in Baghdad is a distinction only one person can claim.

Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Kristen King was physically in the actual courtroom operating a video camera capturing historic footage broadcast around the world that day.  "I felt like I was part of something so much bigger than myself and as a journalist," she said, looking back on the experience.  While other well-known women journalists like Christiane Amanpour and Laura Logan were there, they were required to remain behind bullet-proof glass.

Check the block for "adventure" as a reason for joining the Army Reserve.

The energetic King has enjoyed the best of both worlds as a student and as an Army Reserve broadcast journalist.  In 2008 she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication/Journalism from Louisiana State University in Shreveport, which she was able to fund in part with education benefits she got from the Army Reserve.

Check the block for "education benefits" as another reason for joining the Army Reserve.

King put her military training into practice during two deployments to Iraq.  From 2005-2006, she worked in Baghdad as a reporter for American Forces Network, which provides broadcast entertainment for service members overseas.  There she relied on her "southern hospitality" to engage her radio audience during her wildly popular show "The Country Convoy" broadcast throughout Iraq.

During the most recent deployment in 2009, King worked with the 10th Mountain Division in Baghdad, and the 34th Infantry Division in Basra.  As the assignment editor, she was responsible for tracking down stories and helping the military reporters connect with their subjects.  She was also the editor, writer and producer of "The Red Bull Report," a two-minute weekly news cast highlighting 34th I.D. people and activities.

The hands-on experience King has gained has been the most useful aspect of her Army Reserve career thus far.  "I've learned so much about journalism that I could never grasp just sitting in a classroom," she said.  "The situations I've been in and the extreme pressures I've been under prepared me for life after college."

While an undergraduate degree may likely give King an advantage when competing for full-time civilian employment, she realized it wasn't enough.  "I also wanted something extra to boost my resume," she said.  King hopes to parlay the real-world experience into a career as a DJ on a morning radio show.

She added, "My Army career set me up for a successful civilian career.  During my first deployment, my radio show received national attention from the CBS "Early Show" and NBC "Nightly News."  I'm still feeding off that exposure and have a possible job officer in Seattle stemming from those news stories."

Check the block for "experience" employers respect as a reason for joining the Army Reserve.

In case you get the impression King is focused entirely on herself, think again.  She is most proud of being able to give back.  "During my first deployment I got to travel outside the wire a lot, and would have people send me care packages with goodies for the kids -- pens, pencils, colors, nail polish, etc.," she said.  "I always felt best on those days I could go out into the communities and put a smile on the kids' faces."

As an Army Reserve Soldier, King values the gratitude of the American people and Iraqi citizens.  "I'm constantly thanked for my service and what I'm doing.  I don't think about it as anything special, but it means a lot to hear thanks from the peoople at home," she said.

When King joined the Army Reserve five years ago, her family and friends thought she was crazy.  "I was a sorority girl, and this was the last thing anyone expected," she said.  "They were worried, but supportive."

Family and friends also sustained King during her two deployments to Iraq.  "They were very scared about me going to Iraq, but I've got such a great support system.  They constantly wrote emails and sent packages, letting me know I was on their mind," she said.

King found the best part of deployments was spending time in a country she never would have traveled to on her own.  Additionally, meeting the local Iraqi citizens and playing with the children were highlights of her experience.

Reflecting on her time in Iraq, King learned some things about herself, including the fact that she is strong and independent.  She added, "I tackled a lot that I never thought possible...I can take care of myself, and that makes me happy."