One year ago today, I set foot in Ukraine. Wow. One year. Isn’t it amazing how fast a year flies by? It’s one reason why I didn’t sweat the two-year service commitment so much. And now that I’ve been counting up to the one-year mark, I guess it’s time to start counting down to my COS (close of service) in 2019. I remember how exhilarating and new life felt a year ago embarking on such a remarkable journey. Gathering in Washington DC, the excitement and optimism and was palpable among our group of 75 recruits, as well as a bit of shock.
Getting to this point wasn’t easy. It all started with the application, which included a personal essay plus statements from two references. There was also a background check, requiring a trip to the police station to get fingerprints. It felt weird but good to be at ease in a police station for once.
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