Page 22 - San Diego Woman interactive pdf

Women of Distinction

Cal State University at San Marcos Because of the increase in violence,
majoring in communications but most of the mainstream media
stayed as a Marine reservist during stopped coming to Iraq, so they
this time. I worked producing a TV relied on our imagery.
show and segments for the local It was up to Amy and the other
Oceanside community television military photographers and videog-
station channel, KOCT, while com- raphers to go out and get the footage
pleting my degree.” and the photos. “It was tough. We
Amy’s plans quickly changed had to go out with the troops on foot
after the tragic events of Sept. 11. patrols and vehicle patrols to get
“9/11 completely changed the trajec- the footage. We wanted to capture
tory for me. I got mobilized within a the troops in action and share the
year and sent to Afghanistan. I was courage it took to go out on a mis-
disappointed at the time, but, then I sion every day, despite the imminent
realized this is the best education I dangers.
could ever get. And being at the heart Amy remembers to be grateful
of what was going on there in those for all the good things she has and
Amy served as a thought, wow, this just landed in my early days was just an amazing ex- that she came home safe because
U.S. Marine Com- lap. It was a really great experience,
bat Correspondent and I learned a lot very quickly.” perience. It was the early days of our many fellow Marines weren’t as
from 1993 to 2010 involvement when they hadn't seen lucky. Many fellow service members
and deployed to Once her mission there was a lot of Americans yet. It was just were severely injured or killed. “I’m
Fallujah, Iraq, in completed, she landed back in Cal- this interesting place that wasn't as so grateful to have survived and live
2006. She would ifornia at Camp Pendleton. “I spent dangerous as it would later become. to share their stories whenever and
often embed with several years working here at the At that time, the journalists were able wherever I can.”
combat troops base TV station, the base newspaper, to even go out to some restaurants, Amy returned to Iraq in 2008
while on foot and organizing community relations even in the city. I got to work with a for another tour but the situation had
patrol to document events. I was working with all of the lot of top journalists in the industry drastically improved and she was able
their operations. San Diego media outlets and getting who were coming to Afghanistan to to report on the progress made in the
Here she is with to know and learn how they operat-
two women she ed. It was a great experience for me interview our senior military leaders. short amount of time. She returned
encountered while It was the type of education that home to Oceanside and completed
other Marines and I loved working in the fast-paced money couldn’t buy.” her master’s degree at University of
conducted a search environment. I was called upon Amy ended up completing here San Diego in 2009 while continuing
of the house. Many to prepare commanders, and our bachelor’s degree in 2005. “Short- her television hosting and producing
of Amy's photos other military leaders for on-camera ly after finishing my degree, I got responsibilities at KOCT.
would later be interviews and directing them on mobilized again to go to Iraq. It was Amidst two extremely danger-
turned into an how to succinctly tell whatever story in 2006, at the height of the Iraq war, ous deployments in the war zone, she
exhibit at local they were called upon to report. I got mobilized to go with a Camp still managed to not only graduate
libraries and other Sometimes the topics were tough and Pendleton unit to Anbar Province, college, but go on to obtain her
venues. involved casualties, other times they one of the most dangerous places on master’s degree. This makes us feel
were feel good news stories.” Earth. We were in places like Fallujah foolish for complaining about the
Other assignments included and Ramadi where the casualties small inconveniences that sometimes
planning and organizing com- were at their highest.” derail us.
munity relations such as parades, Amy’s job was to cover com- Amy’s grandparents were both
organizing flyovers and the Marines’ bat operations and submit photos alive to see all that Amy had accom-
participation in presenting the U.S. and video so that the media could plished in the military and needless
flag at football games at Qualcomm use them to help tell their stories. to say they couldn’t have been more
Stadium or other types of communi- thrilled. “I was the only one in my
ty events. family to join the military, so they
Amy left active duty after eight were very proud of me.”
years so she could complete her In 2010, the opportunity to
college degree. “I stayed in the area switch from the Marines to the Navy
and earned my bachelor's degree at came up allowing her to go from
her enlisted status to becoming an
officer. Amy jumped at the opportu-
Amy on the ground at the Syrian-Iraqi border - Amy served two nity and joined the Navy Reserve as
tours in Anbar Province, Iraq, in 2006 and 2008, and forged a public affairs officer. “I applied to
many lifelong friendships with fellow service members and the program and got accepted, and it
contractors while deployed. "There were so many lessons learned was really a great move because I’ve
during those years. I'll never forget the blood, sweat and tears
shed during those difficult times," Amy recalls. Her book project met so many new people. The Navy
to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 will highlight the has so many wonderful opportuni-
sacrifices made by those who had ties to North San Diego County ties to serve and I’ve expanded my
and how the surrounding communities have provided unwaver- network with additional training and
ing support to service members through the years. deployments.
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