My brother joined the Army Reserve as a Rifleman and I wanted to be one too. But I ended up being a Combat Medic as it complemented my nursing degree.

I work in an Emergency Department so being able to draw from my civilian knowledge as a nurse and apply the skills I’ve learnt to the Army seemed like a great idea, even if the scenarios might be very different. And vice-versa, I knew that I’d be able to transfer things I’d learn from the Army to my civilian job. It would be a win-win.

If I was deployed in a combat situation, I would be the first person to attend to someone injured on the battlefield that wasn’t able to treat themselves. For example, I’d put a tourniquet on an injured leg before getting the patient out of the danger zone and back to safety where he/she can receive further treatment.

I might also be called on to support communities in need, like when I was deployed as part of the bushfire relief. I was grateful to contribute my time to assist those that had their property and land damaged. It was great to help in a way that would relieve some of the emotional toll of their losses.

I was lucky enough to be able to help at the Soar and Roar, an event that gave Special Olympics Australia athletes and others with intellectual disabilities the chance to experience the thrill of driving in a luxury car. It was great seeing how happy they were.

You can do a little or a lot in the Army, depending on your schedule. I like that I can switch to Reserve work for a change of pace and different lifestyle, so I don’t get bored, and my work morale stays high.

My goal is to become a Nursing Officer with the opportunity to deploy in Australia or overseas in peacekeeping or humanitarian aid related missions. I would love to have the privilege of representing my country while providing effective service, letting me give something back.