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PHOENIX- Sgt. Abigail Boehl, a motor transport operator with the Arizona Army National Guard, is charting a future shaped by service, personal loss and a dedication to helping others.
Boehl, who originally considered commissioning as an officer, said she ultimately chose to remain enlisted while focusing on her education.
“I thought about going the officer route, but I just didn’t know if it was for me,” she said. “I decided to stay enlisted and continue on the educational path. Guard Your Future was a great opportunity to learn more about that.”
Guard Your Future is an important retention event that gives soldiers, who are within a year of their expiration time in service (ETS), an opportunity to learn about different ventures that they can pursue within the Arizona National Guard.
Now, Boehl is looking ahead to a career in social work — specifically behavioral health — a field she says has always drawn her interest. Her mother works as a mental illness professional, which Boehl credits for sparking her curiosity early on.
“I’ve always been interested in behavioral health,” she said. “My mom being in that field kind of pushed me to be very interested in it.”
Boehl currently works at a halfway house supporting individuals with severe mental illness and substance abuse challenges. That experience, combined with personal tragedy, has strengthened her commitment to serving veterans.
“I had a friend who passed away from substance abuse in the military,” she said. “That really drove me to want to work with veterans and help people who are struggling.”
One of her fondest memories in the Guard is the camaraderie built during training and time spent with fellow Soldiers.
“The training and just being with friends is probably my most memorable experience,” she said.
Boehl encourages those considering military service not to let fear drive their decision — a lesson she learned firsthand. She initially hesitated to join until her brother stepped in with some encouragement. While education was her main motivation for enlisting, Boehl said the experience has shaped far more than her academic goals.
As she prepares for a future in behavioral health, she hopes to support service members and veterans facing the challenges she’s witnessed up close.
“I just want to help people like that- especially veterans,” she said.
| Date Taken: | 12.31.1969 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2025 15:08 |
| Story ID: | 553299 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Arizona National Guardsman Finds Purpose Through Service, by SPC Deliah Cottle, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
