When Staff Sgt. Emily Suhr attempted to enlist in the Army, she was told not to bother.

The Air Force and Navy said the same thing.

The Marine Corps, however, said otherwise.

“The Marines were my last choice, and they took me,” said Suhr as she sat with her husband, Mathew. 

After six years as a Marine – three of which she spent as an embassy guard in Tunisia and Columbia – Suhr left and went to college.

“It was time for me to get my education out of the way,” said the native of Minnesota.

After completing her degree in management, Suhr struggled to find work in the private sector.

“It was tough; not many places were hiring; most of the jobs were low paying,” she related.

That changed, however, when she decided to join the 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT), Washington Army National Guard, in 2007.

“I signed up to be a journalist; the Army is a good fit for me,” recalled Suhr.

Once she finished the required schooling for her military occupational specialty, Suhr asked to go on active duty.

“I wanted to go active duty; I wanted to serve,” she said.

That did not happen; the WANG knew it had a good soldier on its hands.

“The brigade wanted to keep me,” said Suhr with a smile. 

“They said ‘we can send you on a deployment.’”

During 2008 and 2009, the 81st HBCT deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Assigned to the brigade’s public affairs office, Suhr soon distinguished herself through her hard work and enthusiasm.

“If you’re going to be a noncommissioned officer (NCO), you’ve got to work to be the best,” she commented.

Although reluctant to talk about it, Suhr’s commitment to the brigade’s public affairs mission earned her a Bronze Star.

In looking back over the past year, she said that leadership is the core value that sustains her.

“In the Marine Corp we focused on leadership,” said Suhr.  “The Guard does the same thing.”

When it comes to mentoring future NCOs, Suhr’s advice is clear and concise.

“Look to your leaders, both good and bad and learn from them,” she said.

“Then make sure that you always take an interest in your soldiers.”