Tonya Claussen Wyles (ΓΔ-Kansas), a captain in the U.S. Army
Reserves, was activated in
November 2001 to serve for a year in Fort Bragg, N.C. A resident of Ottawa,
Canada, Tonya
has been in the U.S. Army Reserves for 15 years.
"I started thinking about it in high school
and joined at the end of my freshman year at KU. I was just drawn
toward the military. I joined for my country. The funny thing is I knew so little about the military
that I was surprised when we got paid at basic training. I thought we had to be trained
soldiers before we were compensated."
"As a Reservist, there is always the chance to be called to
active duty. Since I am in psychological operations and military
intelligence, the chances were even higher.
After the events of Sept. 11, I got a call from the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School
(USAJFKSWCS). My orders are for a year, and could very easily turn into
two.
"Since thousands were called up, the government did not want to pay to move all of our families and household goods for such a short period of time.
My orders stipulated, 'transportation of dependents and household goods is not authorized.'
"Fortunately, my husband and I do not have children yet; that would make
being away from home so much harder. We
were married in June 2000. Serving in the Canadian military, he
was sent on an unaccompanied tour right after we were married. We had just moved into our house and were getting settled when I got my orders.
Out of two years of marriage, we have only lived together four
months. It will be nice when our time together is more than just visits.
Sorority, Military Similarities
"I love my country and I believe that being in the military inherently lends itself to service,
sacrifice and support. There is camaraderie in the military, just like in a sorority. I met my best friends and my husband through the military. Both places are great for meeting friends for life, due to the shared experiences.
Support from Sisters
"At KU, Alpha Phi sisters were very supportive. My big sister was in Navy ROTC so I wasn’t the first to be involved in military activities.
"When I was called to active duty, I contacted the North Carolina alumnae chapter.
They have been great. They keep me updated on all events, but so far my work schedule has not allowed me to attend any.
My friends from KU also continue to e-mail me and have been very supportive
since Sept. 11.
"Obviously, my life has changed a lot since Sept. 11. Often it may be hard to acknowledge that we are in a state of war – given the nature of this war. In our culture and society, we often fail to grasp the seriousness of war, because we are mostly shielded from its discomforts, allowing us to enjoy our comforts, our
protections and our great freedoms. I, for one, am honored to serve my country, especially now."
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