Voices of Service: Meet Talitha, a U.S. Army Soldier Stationed in South Korea

Welcome to the USO’s Voices of Service Q&A Series. Through this series, we aim to give service members and military family members a platform to share their personal stories through Q&A interviews. By shining a light on their individual experiences, you can better understand and empathize with the people who serve and get to know them on a personal level.

Meet Talitha, a soldier in the U.S. Army deployed to South Korea. Talitha, like other service members in South Korea, is just miles away from Demilitarized Military Zone (DMZ), which is a buffer border between North and South Korea. Service members stationed here are faced with a high-pressure and tense deployment and environment, and Talitha was recently given a chance to reflect on her service during her deployment.

1. Why did you decide to join the military?

To advance myself personally and professionally.

2. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Being able to serve and provide care to service members and their families.

3. What have been some of the biggest challenges of your current duty station/deployment?

Being away from my family and partner.

4. As the holidays approach, what do you miss most about home?

Honestly, the food

5. What are some ways you recharge and take care of your well-being while stationed/deployed far from home?

Meditation, exploration and mindfulness