See how Jodie and her parents Buddy and Deb made the decision to join, how they kept in touch during training and how the Army has changed the whole family—for the better.

t age 25, Jodie Wood had a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, a solid job and two proud parents who always taught her to follow her heart.

Yet Jodie wasn't satisfied with her career choice. She wanted more out of life, to serve her country and to do something that mattered. Jodie had considered the Army in high school and felt like now was finally the right time. So she did a lot of research. Then she talked to her parents.

“It was really a total shock when it set in because she had a college education and the Army was probably the farthest thing
from my mind.”

— Buddy

Deb was just as surprised—and
concerned. "We didn't want her
to be in a dangerous situation,"
she says. "But the climate of
the world right now is very
tough. There are a lot of
decisions that young people
have to make now that they didn't
have to make when I was a young person. And you worry about that. Every parent worries about that."