Serve your country. Raise a family.

Carmen has always believed that she could do anything and be anything in America as long as she was part of the military. So when it came time for her to decide about transitioning out of Active Duty, Carmen was torn. Leave behind her military life - the adventures, the pride, the camaraderie - and choose a civilian life. Or continue her life in the military.

Carmen chose both and joined the Navy Reserve.

“The Navy Reserve worked out perfectly for me because it’s sort of like a part-time job in the respect that I still got to put on the uniform, I still felt like I was part of the Navy but didn’t have the full-time commitment. I was still able to devote that time to my family,” says Carmen.

As a mother of two young boys, Carmen’s first obligation is to them. Like most moms, she didn’t want to miss the little things like their first spelling bee or teaching them how to ride a bike. But Carmen also felt a strong sense of duty to her country. She loves belonging to something bigger than herself, serving others around the world and making a difference. And being part of the Reserve has given her the flexibility to balance both commitments.

“The Reserve is definitely another family to me. To go somewhere where everybody speaks the same language, understands that you have a life outside the military, can be sympathetic to that, work around your needs, but still respect you and work with you to get the mission done is…I don’t know any other organization like that.”