By Kai-Lou Yue
News Editor

Throughout the last ten years or so, there have generally been at least one or two male students from each WA graduating class who join the military, but no female students have elected to join in the school’s recent history. However, this year’s class of 2015 has Gina Noble, a student who will be treading the untraditional path to the United States Navy.

Noble has been enlisted as an active duty sailor in the Navy and will be entering the Nuclear Field Program following her graduation from WA. She has been contracted for six years; the first two will be spent attending school at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Charleston, South Carolina.

But before that, on October 27th, she will be shipped out to Great Lakes, Illinois for boot camp. There, she will stay for about eight weeks completing different kinds of training including fire training, ship safety and protocol, weapon training, team building with other sailors, and physical training. At the completion of the camp, she will graduate as a sailor.

“[After the camp], I may or may not have the weekend free before I am then sent to South Carolina for school for the next two years. In reality though, all of my years in the Navy will be a training experience in many ways,” said Noble.

After completing her two years at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, she will have a variety of jobs she will be able to take on that will be determined upon her graduation from the school, and based off of her performance and the needs of the Navy.

“As part of the Nuclear Program, I will eventually be stationed on a U.S. Aircraft Carrier most likely controlling and maintaining its power supply. Other possible options within the engineering field include teaching at the school I will graduate from, or being involved in sonar. At this moment, I am not sure exactly which occupation I will have,” said Noble.

There were many factors that influenced her decision to join the Navy, although, according to Noble, the decision was ultimately an entirely independent one.

“I think so many people are caught up in where they are going to be in four years from now after college, or for many even eight years from now or more, and that’s perfectly fine, but I have always thought a little differently. I want do something to make a difference right now, because we never know where life is going to take us,” she said.

However, according to Noble, although she was always aware she wanted to join the military, and the Navy was always the most attractive branch to her, she originally believed she would want to be a military nurse or a doctor.

“It was not until March of this year when I went to [Military Entrance Processing Station] and scored extremely well on the [Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery] that I opened my mind to the Nuclear Program which I see as an even better opportunity for myself,” she said.

Her guidance counselor, Tracy McLaughlin, added, “On the test that [the military] give[s], they do an inventory on the strengths of a person. She tested so strongly that they’re going to have her study nuclear engineering which is fantastic. […] I think it’s rare people test that high and have a chance to go right into that.”

Despite not necessarily contributing to her decision to join Navy, WA enabled Noble to qualify for the nuclear program.

“Our school is amazing and very dedicated to what it does for us, which is prepare us for college, [but] it really does not educate us much on other options after high school. [However,] I will say my grades here and our education made it possible for me to qualify for the nuclear program, which I otherwise may not have. For that, I am very thankful to all of my teachers, especially the math and science ones,” she said.

According to Noble, she views joining the military as a way to give back to the people who helped her to get where she is, and although not all of her family is aware of her plans following graduation, she is happy to have support from her friends and sister.

“[Over the last 18 years of my life,] I learned that people need each other for strength and support, but too often we are afraid to reach out. For me, the military is an opportunity to join an amazing team dedicated to just that. It’s a way to contribute in a way that is very fulfilling. There have been so many people who helped me get to where I am without asking anything in return, and this is my way of giving back. I am beyond excited for that. I cannot say it’s an entirely selfless decision though; I am looking forward to traveling and bettering myself in ways I could never have imagined,” said Noble.