SSG Victoria Ryan, U.S. Army (1973-1988)

There Is A Right Way . . . There Is A Wrong Way . . . And There Is The Army Way! These were words spoken loudly and forcefully from the time I, as a recruit, exited the bus at Fort McClellan, Alabama, my basic training station, on numerous occasions until my graduation to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) several months later. Other applicable words included This Is Not The Army . . . This is Basic Training. And, all I could think was, “thank goodness.”

I was older than my recruited counterparts in 1973, at the age of 23, and when most others were 18 and fresh out of high school, I’d had five years of civilian work experience under my belt. But, I was just as naive and inexperienced as each of them.

There are so many pieces of advice I’d pass on, and many are adages that could also pertain to life in general. The one piece of advice, from my own experience, is to stay in shape! Exercise and / or work out every chance you get. You will repeatedly be tested for endurance and stamina. As a woman soldier, this matters more than you can imagine.

Once upon a time, in the early years of my service, there were two sets of physical training criteria, one for men and one for women. As you may have already guessed, the women’s standards were less stringent than those of the men’s. As the saying goes, the only constant is change itself.

That change resulted in the women’s criteria merging with the men’s and a single standard was established for all, based on age. This became a strenuous, uphill battle for yours truly. For years I was able to slip through the test requirements by the skin of my teeth after the criteria changed. I never heeded my own advice to pursue and maintain any physical fitness routine and I paid the price every six months, enduring pain for days in the aftermath of the test.

At one point, my endurance failed me, despite exerting every muscle to meet the minimum stringent expectations. The result of this failure was mandatory remedial physical training (PT). On designated days, at o’dark thirty, several others who were in the same boat, gathered in order to perform a myriad of exercises and embark on a lengthy run. I continuously brought up the rear.

However, the additional physical training paid off. I not only passed the next test, but my score was higher than it had ever been. Lesson learned and rewards reaped.

Although it has been 37 years since I left my active duty days behind, the physical training and daily exercise routine have remained a steadfast, ingrained aspect of my daily life. Over the ensuing years, I have entered road races (5k and 10k), and been an inline skater of approximately 24 miles per day for over 14 years (combined with a running routine). Although now in my early 70s, I am a fixture at the local fitness center most mornings, spending an hour on the treadmill and additional time on the weight machines, coupled with another minimum hour of outdoor walking when the weather permits.

Being healthy and staying healthy should always be your hallmark, a never-ending goal. It will take you far in the military and life thereafter.

Read the Military Memories of our Runner-Ups.