Salute to Veterans with Kim Edwards, U.S. Army

"The Army made me more disciplined in the way I live overall and helped me develop useful skills which has made me a better employee."

Q&A with Kim Edwards, U.S. Army

What did you do for the military?
73C, Finance Specialist. I made sure soldiers got correct paychecks. I received an Army Commendation Medal after Operation Desert Shield for manually checking each 1st Infantry Division soldier's pay to make sure they were non-taxed and received the correct benefits during every pay period.

What made you decide to join the military?
I was in retail at the time and wanted to do something different that would allow me to go to school to earn a college degree.

Why did you choose the branch of service that you did?
It might have been the 1980 film Private Benjamin. "Sir, is green the only color these come in?"

What was your favorite part of the job?
I learned a lot on the job back when widespread use of computers was still in its youth. I think we should never stop learning something new.

What was your most interesting/favorite deployment or duty station and why?
Fulda, West Germany. I really love Germany. The culture, architecture, trains, autobahn, football, beer and wine! Plus, this was before the wall came down, and there was always a sense of political intrigue being stationed so close to East Germany.
 

The regional home of Jefferson Lab, Hampton Roads, has a rich military history. Located in Southeastern Virginia, the region is currently home to more than 80,000 men and women in uniform, representing every branch of the armed forces. Throughout November 2019, Jefferson Lab is celebrating the region's military ties by highlighting some of our veteran employees who have served in the armed forces and who continue to serve their nation by supporting the research efforts carried out at the laboratory.