SGT. 1ST CLASS VALERIE WATKINS
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RANK: Sgt. 1st Class
STATUS: Veteran
HOMETOWN: Detroit, MI
CURRENT LOCATION/SRU: Bethesda, MD/Walter Reed National Medical Center
EVENTS:
Archery
Field
Powerlifting
Precision Air Sports
Sitting Volleyball
Track
Retired 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 had changed, she was introduced to adaptive sports and learned that this new way of life can still be just as rewarding. With the help of a recreational therapist and Soldier Recovery Unit Adaptive Reconditioning staff she broke through into the world of adaptive sports and found herself again. Sgt. 1st Class Watkins found a community and her mental and physical health is coming back together again.