Shaffer
05-09-05, 06:52 AM
When mothers raise their daughters to be independent, strong-willed and successful they often don’t think of them growing up and joining the military.
When Patricia Shivley, of Jacksonville, N.C., first learned of her daughter Jennifer’s interest in joining the Marine Corps she said at first she was shocked.
“Then I thought, it’s just like Jennifer to do something like this,” said Patricia. “She knew her dad was looking at putting both girls [Tiffany] in college and she decided to join the military to get an education.”
Cpl. Jennifer Shivley, radio maintenance technician, Communication Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, believes she wasn’t ready to go to college right out of high school.
“I wasn’t mentally ready to go to college,” she said. “I wouldn’t have done well if I had.”
Jennifer, 22, joined the Corps in May 2001 two days after graduating from Beddingfield High School in Wilson, N.C.
“When I saw her at the boot camp graduation my heart filled with pride to see her standing tall in her uniform,” Patricia explained. “I knew then she could accomplish anything she sets her mind to.”
Upon Jennifer’s initial enlistment, she was in the reserves. After her first year, she decided to go active duty and worked in the local recruiting station for five months before getting orders to Okinawa.
Since her time in the Marines, Patricia said she has noticed a lot of changes in her daughter.
“It [Corps] has instilled a lot of pride in what she does,” Patricia said proudly. “She had to grow up a little to take on responsibilities for what she does.”
Jennifer agrees she has gained a lot of experience and discipline.
“My dad thought I needed to do something with structure,” said the four-year veteran. “That is exactly what the Corps has done for me.”
However, Jennifer isn’t the only daughter Patricia has serving her country.
Army Pfc. Tiffany Shivley, interrogator, attended the University of North Carolina for a year after high school. She enlisted during the summer of 2003 and shipped to boot camp after the beginning of the New Year.
“I didn’t have enough money to continue paying the tuition and really get on my feet,” Tiffany explained.
Tiffany said seeing her sister being able to take care of herself in the military allowed her to realize she could do the same.
“She [Jennifer] did try to get me to join the Marines, but I figured one per military branch would be OK,” she said of her decision to join the Army.
The mother of two said she is very proud of her daughters.
“We raised them to be independent and to think for themselves in everything they do,” Patricia said.
Both daughters are currently deployed to Iraq. Jennifer is at Camp Blue Diamond and Tiffany is stationed at Abu Ghraib.
“I am sad and concerned for their safety, but I am also very proud of them,” Patricia said about her daughters being in a combat zone. “I know that we raised two very smart girls.”
Patricia added, she thinks her daughters supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom is great.
“I hope they learn and take back a lot of experience,” she said. “I want them to make a lot of friends, but most of all I just want them to come home because I miss them.”
When Patricia Shivley, of Jacksonville, N.C., first learned of her daughter Jennifer’s interest in joining the Marine Corps she said at first she was shocked.
“Then I thought, it’s just like Jennifer to do something like this,” said Patricia. “She knew her dad was looking at putting both girls [Tiffany] in college and she decided to join the military to get an education.”
Cpl. Jennifer Shivley, radio maintenance technician, Communication Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, believes she wasn’t ready to go to college right out of high school.
“I wasn’t mentally ready to go to college,” she said. “I wouldn’t have done well if I had.”
Jennifer, 22, joined the Corps in May 2001 two days after graduating from Beddingfield High School in Wilson, N.C.
“When I saw her at the boot camp graduation my heart filled with pride to see her standing tall in her uniform,” Patricia explained. “I knew then she could accomplish anything she sets her mind to.”
Upon Jennifer’s initial enlistment, she was in the reserves. After her first year, she decided to go active duty and worked in the local recruiting station for five months before getting orders to Okinawa.
Since her time in the Marines, Patricia said she has noticed a lot of changes in her daughter.
“It [Corps] has instilled a lot of pride in what she does,” Patricia said proudly. “She had to grow up a little to take on responsibilities for what she does.”
Jennifer agrees she has gained a lot of experience and discipline.
“My dad thought I needed to do something with structure,” said the four-year veteran. “That is exactly what the Corps has done for me.”
However, Jennifer isn’t the only daughter Patricia has serving her country.
Army Pfc. Tiffany Shivley, interrogator, attended the University of North Carolina for a year after high school. She enlisted during the summer of 2003 and shipped to boot camp after the beginning of the New Year.
“I didn’t have enough money to continue paying the tuition and really get on my feet,” Tiffany explained.
Tiffany said seeing her sister being able to take care of herself in the military allowed her to realize she could do the same.
“She [Jennifer] did try to get me to join the Marines, but I figured one per military branch would be OK,” she said of her decision to join the Army.
The mother of two said she is very proud of her daughters.
“We raised them to be independent and to think for themselves in everything they do,” Patricia said.
Both daughters are currently deployed to Iraq. Jennifer is at Camp Blue Diamond and Tiffany is stationed at Abu Ghraib.
“I am sad and concerned for their safety, but I am also very proud of them,” Patricia said about her daughters being in a combat zone. “I know that we raised two very smart girls.”
Patricia added, she thinks her daughters supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom is great.
“I hope they learn and take back a lot of experience,” she said. “I want them to make a lot of friends, but most of all I just want them to come home because I miss them.”