Featuring Our Local Hero!

My co-worker, colleague, and friend Tasha Roberts currently serves in the Army National Guard and has been a member since January 2022. We are so proud of her accomplishments and to work beside someone serving our country that I decided to feature her story for this Memorial Day Weekend. Here is Specialist Tasha Roberts from Maryville, Tennessee.

Joining the military has always been a goal of mine as I come from a long family line of military members. I had 2 children by the time I graduated high school so I instantly got into the workforce but being able to commit to a career that kept you away from home was something I was unable to do at that time. I signed the dotted line and was sworn in January of 2022 after many months of discussions and decisions with family and recruiters. I decided joining the Tennessee Army National Guard as a private was the best branch for my current lifestyle. Shortly after, Basic Training was on the "to-do" list and lasted a total of 12 weeks at Fort Leonardwood in Missouri. Going through the Army basic training was not a ride in the park, especially after 30. Immediately after graduation, I headed to AIT school to specialize in my MOS of 25U which is a Signal Support Systems Specialist at Fort Gordon, GA. It was a long tough road but I do not regret it one bit. After graduation, I was able to join my home base unit at TYS (McGhee Tyson Airport). I have been cross-trained in so many areas and devoted my time and efforts to where I was promoted from an E1 private to an E4 Specialist and currently working on Sergeant status in the 2 short but long years since joining! My unit I work out of is the Medivac unit who dispatches Black Hawks for rescues. Mainly the rescues are lost or hurt hikers in the National Parks. In my role, I work as 15P working in Flight OPS communicating with each Black Hawk on location and real-time information. I am extremely appreciative of being able to have the opportunity to be a part of a "bigger picture"! I do plan to exceed my growth in the military and continue my training towards becoming an aviation mechanic (15N), as that is the ultimate goal! I want to thank all of my supporters and encourage each of you to not give up on your dreams regardless of your age!