Belinda “Bel” Small

I enlisted in the Army in 1991 as a Supply Specialist and served until the Army’s birthday, June 14th, 2013, retiring as a Sergeant First Class.  My duty assignments included Fort Riley, Kansas; Schofield Barracks, HI; Fort Leonard Wood, MO (twice), Kitzingen, Germany; Fort McPherson, GA; and Fort Gordon, GA.  I deployed on several occasions to numerous locations, but by far the most challenging year of my service was 2006 while serving with the 463rd Military Police in Camps Liberty and Taji, Iraq.

My family has a long history of serving our country and it came as a natural decision to me once I saw how difficult college was (I had no study skills!).  I was never stationed anywhere that I didn’t ask to go and always enjoyed the adventure of traveling to new places.  My favorite assignment was with the Inspectors General in Ft McPherson, GA with the USARCENT.  I was able to fine tune what I already enjoyed in following the regulations to a “T” and enforcing units to do the same.  Conducting inspections to help subordinate units was always encouraging and obtaining training like Six Sigma became second-hand desires for me.  I was at the top of my game . . . until I came down sick while deployed in Kuwait and within two years was reassigned to the Wounded Warrior Battalion, where I was medically chaptered in conjunction with my retirement.

I now continue serving by assisting my fellow brothers and sisters via numerous organizations, but mainly with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Women Veterans of America – Denton, Disabled American Veterans, Military Veteran Peer Network, and finally, the Patriot Anglers – by way of my new-found love of fly fishing!