When Samatha Walker took the oath of enlistment, she joined the ranks of not just the Army but also of a family tradition, joining her mother and grandfather's choice of profession.
Her grandfather, Anthony Love served as a Green Beret in 5th Special Forces Group during the Vietnam War. Her mother, Army Master Sgt. Antoinette Love Walker always wanted to follow her father's footsteps, but time and time again ran into the obstacle that the Army told her she was too old to join.
Meanwhile, she married a Warrant Officer named CW3 Kent Walker, and helped support him as he served in three different aviation units. She reengaged her goal of joining the Army at age 36 but was again turned away. "The age limit window was too soon," Antoinette said. "I was just shy of being too old to join."
Years later, in 2009, she was at a NASCAR event with her then 16-year-old son and ran into an Army recruiter. They started talking, and before long, he informed her that the maximum age of enlistment had recently been raised to 42. At age 40, she blasted through basic entry training, enjoying the physical challenge, and then began her advanced individual training to become a behavioral health specialist.
"I enjoyed helping soldiers by being there in their time of need. It was very meaningful and fulfilling," Antoinette said, although in time her Army career took her in other directions, including public affairs and human resources.
Her daughter Samantha, now 19, is currently enrolled in the ROTC program at Virginia Military Institute.
"She did [Junior] ROTC as a sophomore in high school at Fort Knox, and loved it," Antoinette said of her daughter. "I never pressured her to go this path, but I am very proud of her."