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[00:00.38] Todd: So Meg, I thought we would talk a little bit about the military.

[00:03.13] Now, you were actually in the military.

[00:04.88] Meg: Yes. I was actually in the Army National Guard.

[00:08.38] So I enlisted when I was 17.

[00:12.38] In America, in the National Guard, each state can have kind of different rules, or different requirements.

[00:21.38] And so, in Indiana, you can enlist when you are 17 with parental permission. So I did that.

[00:28.13] Todd: Wow. Seventeen is really young age.

[00:30.38] Meg: Yeah. And it sort of happened really quick.

[00:33.13] I mean, I was a junior in high school and I got a call from a recruiter.

[00:37.38] And at first, I was really against it but then in Indiana, if you enlist and you serve your time, they'll pay your college tuition if you go to a state college.

[00:48.13] So Indiana has Purdue, and I was interested in going to Purdue anyway, so it seemed like a good idea.

[00:53.63] Todd: That's fantastic. So how long were you in the service?

[00:56.38] Meg: I was in for six years all together.

[00:59.63] That was the minimum commitment.

[01:01.38] So I could have done more but I was ready to, maybe try some other things after that time.

[01:06.38] Todd: Did it go by fast?

[01:07.63] Meg: Looking back, it definitely did.

[01:10.63] I think, there are different stages that went by slow or fast.

[01:15.13] Like when I was in actual basic training, when you're in it, it was super slow.

[01:20.88] Like you're counting on the hours every day because you're just desperate to finish and get out and get back to your family.

[01:27.88] And I was, you know, 17, so it's a little different.

[01:28.88] But now looking back, like, I can't believe it was a full six years, and now it's so many years past that already.

[01:36.13] So yeah, I guess, it did go by fast overall.

[01:38.13] Todd: Yeah, that's great. So what was it like being a woman in the military?

[01:41.38] Meg: It was – well, I served in a unit – I was a medic.

[01:47.13] And so, my unit, a medical unit, naturally has more women.

[01:52.63] The ratio is closer to 50-50 men and women, which isn't – at least that time wasn't – I don't have the current statistics, but it isn't that kind of ratio for the Army as a whole or the military as a whole.

[02:05.63] And so, for me there was – I was with a lot of other women also when I was serving.

[02:11.38] But for me personally, there were definitely challenges especially when I was first in basic training like I definitely felt personal pressure to try to keep up with the guys.

[02:26.38] With everything whether it's, you know, physically being able to lift and carry these heavy boxes and whatever.

[02:33.88] You know, you have the same requirements that you have to do. And you never want to be the weak link.

[02:39.88] And I think some other women, maybe suffered a little more because they couldn't keep up quite as well.

[02:46.38] And so that can be a little difficult. But maybe I'm naturally a bit more suited for those kinds of things.

[02:58.13] So I did okay but I definitely wanted to and tried hard to keep up with the physical aspect which isn't as easy sometimes for women.

[03:10.38] Todd: Well, that's interesting. So you do look pretty fit, so you must have been really fit back in the day.

[03:13.88] Meg: Yeah, I think. Yeah, especially basic training because you're never like not running.

[03:19.88] Anytime you're walking somewhere, you're just running, running, running, like they make you run everywhere.

[03:26.13] And you get like 5 minutes to eat breakfast and lunch, and dinner. Every time, you have to eat it so fast.

[03:31.13] And then you're doing all this physical training, and then going through obstacle courses, and carrying heavy packs and carrying your weapon round.

[03:37.88] Yeah. So that was probably the most fit I've ever been.

[03:43.88] I'm definitely not that now.

[03:45.38] Todd: Right. So if you had a daughter, would you recommend that she goes in the military, or would you recommend other women to join the military?

[03:51.63] Meg: I would not recommend it. I guess, I don't go around telling everyone, "Oh, you should just join the military."

[03:58.88] But I think if someone – if there is a woman who is interested in it or thinking about it, I would definitely – for me, I mean, it worked out great.

[04:08.88] There are a lot of like leadership and personal character qualities that I was really able to develop during my time that have continued to benefit me now.

[04:20.38] And so, for a woman who is interested, I would definitely say, "Go for it."

[04:25.13] Todd: Awesome. Thanks. Thanks, Meg.

[04:27.38] Meg: Yeah.