Amber Morris was 17 years old and a senior at Chippewa Hills High School in Remus, MI struggling with what to do with her life. Then, Army recruiters came to her school, and she knew she wanted the structure of the military and felt it would be a good resume builder.
“I just wasn’t sure what to do,” she explains, “There were benefits that paid for college, which was definitely one of the reasons in addition to the structure the military provided.”
She eventually signed up to serve her country in the Army National Guard (a part-time, state-based military force that serves as the primary combat reserve of the US Army).
She went through boot camp in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, became a truck driver supporting rocket launcher missions and returned to Michigan to live in Mt. Clemens. For 12-1/2 years, she did her monthly requirement for the 1 -182 Army National Guard working out of Detroit’s Olympia Armory providing support for the launchers. She would transport the rockets from the Detroit Armory and bring their supplies to Grayling. She says, “we were the first up and the first down” of those working during the Grayling weekends.
In October 2015, she was sent to Dubai for 10 months working in the encampment fueling generators and vehicles. Morris says, “It was a great time to go. I was single and had no kids… but it was very hot and humid!” She was surprised that that the society was not as strict toward women as is perceived. She found that women were doing a lot more things by themselves – shopping, eating by themselves and, in general, they were very confident. Tourists were left alone too.
Morris left the Army National Guard at the end of her contract in July 2022; she then signed up with the Air National Guard to train to be an airplane mechanic.
In 2020, she moved to Ortonville after she “fell in love with the community” and joined the local VFW.
Asked if she would encourage others to join the military? She says, “It can be a pain, but do it. It’s a great opportunity to learn about many things and meet your educational needs. I have no regrets.” And she adds, “I would tell my daughter to join the Air Force.”
Thank you, Amber, for serving our country! The Ortonville community is very proud of you, your daughter and the sacrifices you make for us!
J
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