Fort Lee spouse begins Appalachian trip

Courtesy Photo | Julie Coffman takes a selfie with her dog somewhere high in the hills of Georgia in February. She plans to traverse the Appalachian Trail to spread the word about the USO.  

UNITED STATES

03.02.2017

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Fort Lee

FORT LEE, Va. (March 2, 2017) -- Julie Coffman, a Fort Lee spouse, started a journey along the Appalachian Trail Feb. 18 at the top of Springer Mountain in Georgia. She expects it’ll take until at least late July to travel the roughly 2,200 miles. The below commentary lists her reasons to take her own temporary duty assignment. It was written before she left.

She is married to Staff Sgt. Doyle Coffman, an Ordnance Soldier, and they have three kids: Tryston Coffman, 17; Landon Coffman, 15; and Cheyanne Coffman, 11.

Doyle was in the Marine Corps from 1998-2003. After that, he enlisted in the Army and we moved to Giebelstad, Germany; then to Wurzburg, Germany. In 2007, we moved to Fort Drum, N.Y. We were there for 6 years, but he was usually gone for deployments, temporary duty, and training future Soldiers at West Point. In 2013, we moved to Fort Lee, where he is a masters instructor assigned to Echo Company, 832nd Ordnance Battalion. In July 2017, he will be leaving for a year-long tour in Korea.

I am the volunteer coordinator at the Fort Lee USO. I help my director Kasinda Thomas make sure we have enough volunteers to run the center. I am in charge of training our volunteers how to help the service men and women who come into our USO feel like they are at home. I also am the handler of Sprinkles, a therapy dog that is trained to help lift the spirits of our men and women in uniform, as well as their families.

I would like people to know how and what we do for our troops, and how they can help USO: by giving their time and donating to USO centers that give our troops a place to relax, and keep them and their families connected.

Working alongside military active duty, retirees and family members every day, I see the need that is there for people to help out our military community. Most people think the USO just provides shows and concerts. I would like to help change this by bringing awareness of what it is we actually do at our USO centers in Hampton Roads and Central Virginia.

On my hike, I am hoping to tell people about USOHRCV. I will have the opportunity to meet lots of new people and tell them about my fundraiser.

About a year-and-a-half ago, I decided it was my turn to go TDY. I have always had a love of the outdoors, and knew I wanted to do something big before I turn 40. A few nights later, I sat my family down and explained what I wanted to do. I think at first they thought I was nuts. I got a few head nods, and a “Really? Why??”

Before I turn the big 4-0, I feel the need to find clarity and peace within myself. I need to rediscover who I am. This, they understood.

I have been the Army spouse, mom, Linda’s daughter, cupcake lady and many more things – don’t get me wrong I love all of them – but who am I really inside?

I have gone to college, but couldn’t decide what I wanted to study. I have switched professions, but never decided what I want to be. In my quest, I am hoping to do a lot of soul-searching and find the answers to these questions.

I do have other personal reasons as well. This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime. When thinking about all the reasons why I want to do this hike, I thought of all the people I would be meeting, and all the opportunities I would have to pass on knowledge about an organization I love.

I will be carrying everything I need on my back. My food, my tent, sleeping bag, water – everything.

Earlier this month I sent myself four packages to different places I will stop at to resupply (restock on food and supplies). How long it takes me to get to each location depends on how fast I hike. I will not be getting into a real town until Hot Springs, N.C. Once there, I am hoping to have my first zero, hiker lingo for no miles walked. This is at mile marker 273.

I will be stopping at hiker hostels along the way to upload videos, and trying to get into town when I can get videos posted as well.

I am coming off the trail in early June to see my daughter Cheyanne at her dance recital. I made a promise and I intend on keeping it.

I am hoping to end my journey in late July, but I have until Aug. 15 if needed.

I know I will miss my family and friends. My family is very important to me. My husband has deployed many times, so I know what it is like to be apart from him, but as for the rest of my family, I have not been away from them for more than a week. I know I am going to go through emotional ups and downs as I go up and down the mountains.

I have had some great one-on-one time with them in which they’ve all told me how proud they are of my trek. But what they don’t know is how proud I am of them.

My family is strong. They are my heart and my backbone. Without them, I could not do this. My friends also are very important to me. They are not just my friends, but my military family.

• Date Taken: 03.02.2017
• Date Posted: 03.02.2017 13:51
• Story ID: 225465
• Location: US