Laura Truong has always been drawn to technology.
“My dad was quite the techie while I was growing up,” says Truong, recalling her father’s office filled with random computer parts and piling laptops. “He handled all of the troubleshooting for the family. My uncles, aunts, cousins, friends — everyone would come to him to fix their technology.”
As she grew older, her passion for technology grew as well. In 2017, Truong graduated from Saint Martin's University in Lacey, WA with a bachelor’s degree in Business and a minor in Computer Science.
The U.S. Army Reserve touts the slogan “Part-Time Service. Full-Time Success.” Truong has made that her rallying cry.
The 25-year-old serves as an Information Technology Specialist in the Army Reserve while maintaining a full-time job as a Versatile Technologist at The Boeing Company.
“I find myself referencing a lot of the knowledge that I learned as an IT Specialist in the Army towards my civilian career at Boeing,” she says. “In a digital age where technology is a part of our everyday lives, I find it essential to understand the different types of technology as well as the risks that can come with it.”
Building upon her skills while also serving her country and community was a huge factor in Truong’s decision to enlist in the Army Reserve. She also took advantage of military tuition assistance programs when deciding to continue her education. In June 2021, she will graduate with her Master of Science in Business Analytics — something that will help propel her toward her long term goals.
“In the next three years, I aspire to get into cybersecurity analytics,” says Truong, who is currently transitioning to a career as a U.S. Army Cyber Operations Officer. “This field uses data collection and analysis to perform security functions that detect, analyze, and mitigate cyber threats.”
The Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion — which oversees recruiting operations in Washington state, Alaska, and the panhandle of Idaho — is made up of the Army’s trusted ambassadors to the American people. In massive metropolitan areas of the Pacific Northwest, where young people are less likely to have a touchpoint with the military, Army recruiters are trying to connect with potential applicants on a personal level to show them how their skills could be a match for more than 150 Army career fields.
"There is no better time than now to step forward and answer the call to serve", says Lieutenant Colonel Spencer Wallace, commander for the Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion.
“The great Soldiers that comprise our Army are adaptive, resilient, and responsive to the needs of our nation, says Wallace. “I see the same qualities in the young men and women that I interact with throughout Washington and Alaska.”
As for Truong, having found endless opportunities in her choice to serve, she truly believes joining the Army Reserve is something anyone can benefit from.
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Are you interested in part-time service with the U.S. Army Reserve? Connect with an Army recruiter in your area for more information.
