Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Jo Bridgwater | Capt. Marni Prenell, 7th Sustainment Brigade communications officer closes out the...... read more read more
FORT EUSTIS, Va. - Say hello to Capt. Marni Prenell, 7th Sustainment Brigade communications officer and a Resolute Warrior since September upon her arrival from Fort Bliss, Texas, where she worked as the G-6 automations officer for the 1st Armored Division.
The 26-year old Chicagoan received her Army commission in May 2006 via the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Rhodes College in Memphis, and is the first member of her family to serve in the military. At first, Prenell’s family was skeptical regarding her decision to join the Army.
“Initially, they were not overly supportive,” said Prenell. “However, now they are very proud of what I’m doing. Their initial trepidation was due to the wars going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
A strong desire to influence people’s lives was one of the reasons she gave when asked why she chose to join the military.
“I have wanted to join the military since I was 14-years old when I was in JROTC in high school,” she explained. “I wanted to do something that made me feel like I made a difference. I wanted to have an impact on people’s lives personally and professionally. As an officer it gives me the opportunity to do so.”
Prenell’s first duty assignment found her in the country of South Korea stationed at Camp Walker. The next 26 months found her working as the communications officer for the 36th Signal Battalion.
“Initially I was nervous about going to Korea because I was thousands of miles away from my family,” she said. “Within months, I was embraced by the community and my command team, and I felt right at home. It turned out to be the assignment of my military career thus far, and I cannot wait to go back, this time with my husband.”
Her husband is Capt. Riecharde Prenell, an Army logistics officer currently working in D.C. as part of a military internship program. The couple has been married for a year and a half.
Do not mistake dedication of duty as a sign that Prenell is all work and no play. The care of her younger sister, and time spent playing with the family’s pit bull, Zazu; keep Prenell just as busy at home.
“My little sister, Sara, who is seven-years old, has become my dependent due to my mother’s ill health,” said Prenell. “She lives with me half of the year, and she is my mini me. Sara is my biggest cheerleader. She has bragged to her classmates since she was three-years old about her big sis that travels the world. In kindergarten she explained to her classmates how Korea is a different country, and that you have to take a plane or boat to get there because you cannot drive.”
When asked about Zazu, Prenell’s face beams.
“I have a dog that I treat like a human,” she said. “She is my pride and joy. My dog is my world. My dog is sweet, and she is two. I take her to the beach. I take her to the store. Sometimes I just drive around with her in the car so she can enjoy the ride.”
When asked if she had words of wisdom to share with readers, the young officer from Chicago had this to say:
“I would like to thank our current and past veterans for everything that they do. I will continue to represent the Army the best way possible; stay Army strong!”
| Date Taken: | 01.31.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2012 17:06 |
| Story ID: | 83079 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, NORFOLK, AND VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 76 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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