Valerie Watkins

Sgt. 1st Class Valerie Watkins dedicated 15 years to the National Guard, with a deployment as a Door Runner on a Chinook helicopter to Kuwait and Iraq in 2017 and 2018.

Prior to her deployment, the 35-year-old served her community as a Peace Officer in Arlington, Texas. Upon her return, she decided to return to her home state, Michigan, to serve as a Hometown Recruiter where she made an immediate impact and became a top Ten Recruiter. She then progressed in her career and moved on to become an on Campus Recruiter at Western University. She moved to University of Michigan, followed by becoming the Station Commander prior to becoming the MEPS Guidance Counselor. Sgt.1st Class Watkins networked and moved to the National Guard Bureau where she experienced life altering health issues that led to brain surgery. A blood clot leading to a stroke two weeks later changed her life and her outlook on life forever.

While overcoming her challenges and realizing things changed, she was introduced to adaptive sports and learning that this new way of life can still be just as rewarding. With the help of a recreational therapist and SRU AR staff she broke through into the world of
adaptive sports and find herself again. Sgt. 1st Class Watkins found a a community and her mental and physical health coming back together again.

Quote:
“With the ARCP, I was able to find my community and village where I felt heard, seen, and was able to find my mental and physical health coming back together again.”

– Sgt. 1st Class Valerie Watkins