In April of 2024, Jennifer Hughes of Salem embarked on a journey that most women her age wouldn’t even consider, by joining the United States Army. At 45 years old, Hughes, who is also a wife and mother of four, took an oath to protect and serve her country.
But first, she had to endure basic training, aka, Boot Camp. After an entire summer, plus her field training as a chaplain’s assistant behind her, Hughes is now home.
Serve Daily spoke with Hughes about what it was like to experience basic training as a female who is, let’s just say, a little more “seasoned” than the rest.
“I would say honestly, it was one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had, but I never want to do it again,” she said. “It’s one of those things that I am so grateful to have gone through because it’s really hard to put into words how hard it really is, but it also is so rewarding.”
Hughes spoke about an experience the very first day of basic where her sergeant called her and some of the other “older” women over to give them a pep talk that she said caused her to second guess her choice to be there.
“My first actual day at basic, I was pulled aside by the first sergeant and the commander,” she recalled. “My age was kind of a big factor, and so when the first sergeant came, he said, ‘OK, Hughes, I need to talk to you. Let’s go.’ And then he grabbed a couple of others who were 35 and older. We went out and he pretty much asked what we were doing here.”
Hughes recalled standing there listening to the sergeant telling her all the things that could be issues for someone her age – things like injury and not being able to keep up. She recalled the sergeant telling her that she “better not be the last person” or the “one holding people back.”
“It put a lot of doubt in my head, knowing that they were concerned that I wouldn’t be able to do it,” she said. “I can see their point. I was 45 and I turned 46 in basic. It’s old compared to what they’re used to. …. So after that, I was having a lot of self-doubt and insecurities the rest of the rest of the evening. I really just felt sick about it. I went to bed that night with a lot of doubt, but as I was laying there, I had to reflect on who I was again. I had to prove that I belong.”
Little did her superiors know that Hughes would not only not be last, but she would turn out to be a leader in her platoon.
Jennifer Hughes
“I would say honestly, it was one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had, but I never want to do it again,” she said. “It’s one of those things that I am so grateful to have gone through because it’s really hard to put into words how hard it really is, but it also is so rewarding.
*Serve Daily has reported on Hughes in several other features, showcasing her athletic prowess as the Salem Hills High School head track and cross country coach and elite marathon runner. Not only does her athletic ability set her apart from so many others, but she endured physical setbacks, including a car crash that nearly took away her ability to walk.
“When we had to do our ACFT (Army Combat Fitness Test), I ended up scoring one of the highest out of everyone there,” she said. “I took second or third place out of 264 people, and my sergeants were shocked. I gained way more respect from them and also from all the younger soldiers because they knew that I could pull my weight and I wouldn’t be the one that would be falling behind.”
Hughes’ ability to perform at the top of her platoon caused her to be chosen to compete in a 10K race featuring 1,000 other top recruits from around the nation. At that race, she ended up taking fifth place overall among her male and female competitors.
Basic training is more than just physical training, however, and Hughes said that it was the mental and emotional aspects of the experience that were the most challenging for her. It’s those things that she said taught her things about herself that she needed to learn. Hughes also spoke about the comradery that was built among the other cadets, adding that this experience has deepened her love for people and her country.
“We came from all different backgrounds, walks of life, beliefs and views, but none of that mattered once we were together,” she said. “No one cared where you came from or how you grew up. We all had each other’s backs. We pushed through the struggles, supported one another through the challenges, and celebrated the victories, big and small. There were tough days and moments of doubt, but we never let anyone fall behind. Through the highs and lows, we built something stronger than just friendships – we became a family. United.
Hughes returned home at the end of February and said that she has gotten right into work both as a new graduate of basic training and as a wife, mother, coach and educator. She said that she’s excited to see what the future holds.
“I experienced a lot of emotions including frustration and guilt,” she said. “I questioned my why many times, but then coming home, my family reassured me that this is what I’m supposed to do. It really is something that I couldn’t shake off. I don’t have any regrets. Now that I’m back, I know this is where I need to be. I’m really excited to work with the community and the state and see where I can help out to be an asset for the National Guard.”
