Marine Corps Veteran | Community Member
Corporal | Maintenance Aviation Admin Clerk

#WomenWhoServeAndSupport | #CommunityWhoServeAndSupport | #FamiliesWhoServeAndSupport

Vicki celebrated her 20th birthday at Marine Corps boot camp—without cake. At the time, she could not have fully understood how profoundly those years would shape her life. Boot camp and the five years that followed became a season of self-discovery. It was there she learned who she was, tested her limits, and began to understand how she would engage with the world around her.

The Marine Corps instilled discipline and adaptability as second nature. She learned to focus on a goal while remaining flexible enough to adjust for success. She experienced the power of shared purpose and came to understand that every individual matters within a team. These lessons did not remain confined to her years in uniform—they became foundational principles guiding the decades that followed.

For many years, Vicki kept her service private. Some experiences were difficult, and silence felt like protection. It has only been within the last decade that she has fully embraced the strength her service gave her—the resilience, confidence, and unwavering belief that challenges are opportunities to grow. Rather than defining her by hardship, her service became a source of clarity and purpose.

Her father, also a Marine, set a high standard she aspired to meet. When she earned her second Expert Rifle qualification, proof that perseverance pays off, she eagerly shared the news with him. Shortly afterward, he mailed her his own badge with the second award designation. That moment became an unforgettable symbol of shared pride, connection, and the enduring bond between two Marines.

Service did not end with the Corps. She has dedicated the past 25 years to public sector work—30 years if including her time in the Marines. For her, service means working for the greater good: prioritizing community over profit and ensuring veterans and their families receive the support they deserve. She believes the success of her office stems from unwavering dedication to serving those who have served.

The sense of unity she experienced in the Corps lives on in her current work. She feels that same bond within her team—knowing they can rely on one another to accomplish shared goals. For her, this is not simply a job. It is a continuation of the promise she made years ago: to serve with integrity, honor, and a focus on the greater good.

Her message to others reflects lived conviction:

Quote:

"You can do it, and you do not have to do it alone.
 Semper Fidelis. Always Faithful.