Those who serve in uniform are typically driven to it because they want to help others, they want to protect their country and because it is a great way to see the world.

"I wanted to travel and explore, so I joined the Army right out of high school," said Sgt. LaTrayl Murphy.

Murphy had always wanted to be in the military and was in Air Force JROTC when she was in high school. During her 11-year career, she has deployed three times for Operation Iraqi Freedom and once for Operation Enduring Freedom. She was stationed overseas until recently, when she was assigned to the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Murphy, whose Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is actually food service, was working in the brigade's support battalion until she was given the chance to volunteer for something groundbreaking and new - a Female Engagement Team (FET).

A FET is a group of female Soldiers that accompanies male Soldiers during regular patrols while deployed downrange. Afghani culture prohibits male Soldiers from speaking with, or even looking at, Afghani women, which can seriously hinder investigations and operations. Members of the FET interact with the local female population.

FET was first instituted by the Marine Corps more than a decade ago after it experienced this exact hurdle during the course of its missions.

Though a FET is made up of volunteers, the Army does select the Soldiers carefully to ensure that they have the appropriate rank, amount of experience and maturity in order to be trusted by the Afghani women.

"The Afghan women are very receptive to us when we go into their compounds and homes," said Murphy, who is a mother to 5-year-old London and 4-year-old Jaleel. "When we are conducting an engagement, we are speaking to the women about their lifestyle, their education (most of them haven't had much) and their families."

Prior to their deployment last October, members of the FET received highly specialized training that focused on cultural communication, history, geography and economics. They also learned some basic Pashtu and combat life-saving tactics.

"The CTF 4-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team's female engagement team began training seven months prior to our deployment to southern Afghanistan. We trained very hard both physically and mentally and were 100 percent prepared for our deployment," said Sgt. 1st Class Jamie Pieniazek, the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of this FET.

Murphy's FET, which is part of Aztec Company, 2-23 Infantry, assigned to Taskforce 2-1 CAV, also includes a medic and an interpreter, and it travels with first aid and personal hygiene supplies for women who might be in need.

"The FET has been able to experience the Afghan culture to its fullest. (Members of) the FET have served alongside their male counterparts with pride and the "never quit" attitude. Serving with this group of Soldiers has been the highlight of my career, and I am very proud of what they've accomplished," Pieniazek said.

"It's nice to be able to do something different, to get out and really learn what this country is really about from the people and not from what you see in the media," Murphy explained. "Honestly, I love FET and what it allows us to do. I have really enjoyed this deployment and the chance to do this job."