Warriors of Camp Southern Ground

EGYPT BOURNE

Egypt is a Warrior Week alum. She grew up a military brat and joined the Army at 20. This is her story.

I was a military brat. I was born in North Carolina, then bounced around to Texas, and ultimately spent all my teenage years in South Korea.

I joined the Army when I was 20 and served for 3 years. I’ve always been an advocate for inclusive spaces. In my last year of service, I helped implement lactation rooms within my unit to support mothers who serve. I also received a 3-star General’s coin for excellence and proficiency in helping soldiers with HR functions.

I struggled to find a sense of belonging after the military. It was especially difficult still living in the same town, being the spouse of someone still on active duty, and constantly bumping into people I once knew. This time, I had to focus on getting to know myself and reintroduce others to the new version of me I was discovering. Then came the challenge of figuring out what was next. I took a much-needed break to rest and recover, but I also struggled with feeling like a failure for not immediately jumping into a new job. Eventually, I found my happy medium: going back to school for the degree I’ve always wanted. It keeps me occupied, helps me learn how to use the benefits I’ve earned as a veteran, and still allows me time with my family.

I struggled to find a sense of belonging after the military. It was especially difficult still living in the same town, being the spouse of someone still on active duty, and constantly bumping into people I once knew. This time, I had to focus on getting to know myself and reintroduce others to the new version of me I was discovering. Then came the challenge of figuring out what was next. I took a much-needed break to rest and recover, but I also struggled with feeling like a failure for not immediately jumping into a new job. Eventually, I found my happy medium: going back to school for the degree I’ve always wanted. It keeps me occupied, helps me learn how to use the benefits I’ve earned as a veteran, and still allows me time with my family.

Now I am content with where I am in all aspects. I found that giving myself more time and space to complete each task helps me to appreciate the struggle and the success. I’m enjoying every moment. Warrior Week helped me see the value in myself and how my skills can work well with others. It made me much more confident and open to sharing my story.

My warrior ethos that I came up with during warrior week is “Strength is born through persistence, not permission.” Meaning your strength comes from your resiliency and is not from others’ validation. Trusting yourself is key. Knowing that all the tough times you went through will give you things that will lead to your success story. The biggest one is, even though you are capable, it is more than okay to ask for help.