Women Who Serve feature
EVENTUALLY , THE PAPERS WERE SIGNED AND BEFORE SHE KNEW IT , Becky was being picked up to begin her basic training in Orlando , Florida . As we chat about her experiences leading up to basic training , Becky ’ s eyes light up with a smile and a hint of amusement , as she describes how well that trip to Orlando prepared her for the journey to come . “ I left home at the crack of dawn to head to Pittsburg for processing , which takes all day . Then I took my first flight , which was an experience in itself . After waiting on people and buses at the Orlando airport , we finally made it to the base around 2AM and had to wake up at the crack of dawn again the next morning .” And I thought waking up for an 8:30 class was rough enough !
Overall , her time at basic training was an eye opener in more ways than one for the wide-eyed girl from Pennsylvania . “ I wasn ’ t aware that I fidgeted and daydreamed as much as I did . The Navy ’ s really into attention to detail , from how you make your bed , to your outfit , and how you clean your weapon . It all has to be precise .” It was during her time in Orlando that Becky soon found a place for herself while working in pediatrics . As she learned more about medicine , she became fascinated and was eventually sent to the Naval Hospital Corpsman School in Great Lakes , Illinois . “ I wanted to be busy and I hated getting bored , so this seemed like the perfect solution !” Becky recalls , as her eyes mirror the excitement in her voice . Yet , when she arrived at Great Lakes , she was in for another surprise . While boot camp had been all about structure , Hospital Corpsman training was much more relaxed , which gave the shy girl from rural Pennsylvania a chance to branch out and make lasting friendships and unforgettable memories . “ I remember going to my first concert while I was stationed in San Diego and taking trips all over the country . Those are some trips that I ’ ll never forget .”
Yet , don ’ t be fooled . Her time in the service wasn ’ t all fun and games . During the time that she began boot camp , Reagan was elected , followed almost simultaneously by the release of the American hostages . It was influential for Becky , as she recounts the gravity of the matter . “ I didn ’ t think they would be there that long . That was the first time I thought , ‘ Wow , this could get serious .’” However , the crisis in the Middle East wasn ’ t the only terrifying thing that Becky came face-to-face with while enlisted . One situation that proved just how fierce she was happened when she became the fixation of a stalker . Her usually composed manner slightly quivers as she shares about the unsettling event . “ It was extremely disturbing . I would be swimming laps alone in the almost vacant pool . As I would come up , he would just be standing at the other end , staring . I suppose one of the factors that intimidated me the most was the fact that he was a military policeman and carried a weapon at all times .” Eventually , though , enough was enough . After a class , while others were packing up , she turned around to find him standing directly behind her . “ I ’ d had enough . I just couldn ’ t take it anymore .” And with that , she yelled at him to back off and to never come near her again . “ I ’ m not sure if it was my yelling in public or the fact that others were around and backed me up , but I never had another issue with him again .”
BECKY ’ S EYES LIGHT UP AS SHE REMEMBERED ONE INTERESTING FACT , that takes me by surprise . “ There were shots . So many shots …” “ You mean hospital shots ?” I wondered out loud . “ Yes ! It seemed like every time we turned around , they had something else that we needed to be immunized from . And , it wasn ’ t little shots like you get in the doctor ’ s office . Ours were injected with air guns and they would do two at a time . The military never knew where they were going to send us , so we had to be prepared for anything at any moment .” I suppose this was the same reason that the Navy was so proactive about another oddity - dental health . “ When you get shipped out , you never know where you ’ re going or if there will be any way to provide dental care for you if you get a cavity or anything else .”
It was during her time as a Hospital Corpsman in Orlando at the Navy Hospital that Becky received a word of advice from one of the nurses she followed . “ Now that you have worked on the ward , don ’ t forget what we are doing and why we are doing it . Don ’ t forget that on the other side of every order and phone call is a patient . You ’ ve been on both sides now and you know how important your patients are and how real their pain is .” It ’ s obvious to those around her , through her actions and kind heart , that that one quote stuck with her . After years of service , Becky has remained steadfastly dedicated to helping those around her , whether it ’ s caring for her family , pharmaceutical patients , or country . As she looks back on her time of service , Becky reminisces with a smile . “ I guess I got everything out of it that I wanted . I found a career that I love and was able to pay for my schooling . The only thing I wish people knew is that not everyone goes in the military for the same reason . Yeah , some make careers out of it ; but for others , it ’ s just a jumping off point for the rest of our lives . I think that ’ s the wonderful thing about the military . It gives you that option and the ability to truly make a difference . Without it , I ’ m not sure where I would be .”
Becky Taylor resides in Darlington , South Carolina , with her husband of 20 years , Tracy . They have two children : Spencer and Mitchell . Becky is currently the Pharmacy Manager at Walmart in Darlington .
106 JULY 2016 SHEMAGAZINE . COM
Women Who Serve feature
EVENTUALLY, THE PAPERS WERE SIGNED AND BEFORE SHE KNEW IT,
Becky was being picked up to begin her basic training in Orlando,
Florida. As we chat about her experiences leading up to basic training,
Becky’s eyes light up with a smile and a hint of amusement, as she
describes how well that trip to Orlando prepared her for the journey
to come. “I left home at the crack of dawn to head to Pittsburg for
processing, which takes all day. Then I took my first flight, which was an
experience in itself. After waiting on people and buses at the Orlando
airport, we finally made it to the base around 2AM and had to wake up
at the crack of dawn again the next morning.” And I thought waking up
for an 8:30 class was rough enough!
Overall, her time at basic training was an eye opener in more ways
than one for the wide-eyed girl from Pennsylvania. “I wasn’t aware
that I fidgeted and daydreamed as much as I did. The Navy’s really into
attention to detail, from how you make your bed, to your outfit, and
how you clean your weapon. It all has to be precise.” It was during her
time in Orlando that Becky soon found a place for herself while working
in pediatrics. As she learned more about medicine, she became fascinated and was eventually sent to the Naval Hospital Corpsman School
in Great Lakes, Illinois. “I wanted to be busy and I hated getting bored,
so this seemed like the perfect solution!” Becky recalls, as her eyes
mirror the excitement in her voice. Yet, when she arrived at Great Lakes,
she was in for another surprise. While boot camp had been all about
structure, Hospital Corpsman training was much more relaxed, which
gave the shy girl from rural Pennsylvania a chance to branch out and
make lasting friendships and unforgettable memories. “I remember
going to my first concert while I was stationed in San Diego and taking
trips all over the country. Those are some trips that I’ll never forget.”
Yet, don’t be fooled. Her time in the service wasn’t all fun and games.
During the time that she began boot camp, Reagan was elected,
followed almost simultaneously by the release of the American hostages. It was influential for Becky, as she recounts the gravity of the matter. “I didn’t think they would be there that long. That was the first time
I thought, ‘Wow, this could get serious.’” However, the crisis in the Middle
East wasn’t the only terrifying thing that Becky came face-to-face with
while enlisted. One situation that proved just how fierce she was happened when she became the fixation of a stalker. Her usually composed
manner slightly quivers as she shares about the unsettling event. “It was
extremely disturbing. I would be swimming laps alone in the almost
vacant pool. As I would come up, he would just be standing at the other
end, staring. I suppose one of the factors that intimidated me the most
was the fact that he was a military policeman and carried a weapon at
all times.” Eventually, though, enough was enough. After a class, while
others were packing up, she turned around to find him standing directly
behind her. “I’d had enough. I just couldn’t take it anymore.” And with
that, she yelled at him to back off and to never come near her again.
“I’m not sure if it was my yelling in public or the fact that others were
around and backed me up, but I never had another issue with him again.”
106
JULY 2016
BECKY’S EYES LIGHT UP AS SHE REMEMBERED ONE INTERESTING FACT, that takes me by surprise. “There were shots.
So many shots…” “You mean hospital shots?” I wondered out loud. “Yes! It seemed like every time we turned around, they
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