Maj. Gen. Keith Ware would have respected Staff Sgt. Lindsey Kibler.
The Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Public Affairs Office for Joint Base Lewis-McChord's 7th Infantry Division, Kibler is a consummate teller of the Army's story.
"We have the best job in the Army," Kibler said recently as we sat outside of her work area.
"We meet and see everything and then get to tell people how cool it is. We tell the soldiers' story, and I just love this job."
Kibler joined the Army because she wants to be able to say that she did something significant with her life.
"I asked myself what I was good at, and I wanted to contribute," she said.
"I knew that I had been a good writer in high school."
In short order she walked into a recruiter's office and told him that she wanted to serve in public affairs.
"He was surprised that someone would plan to go into public affairs," Kibler said.
It remains a good surprise; she is one of the Army's finest journalists.
The winner of the Keith L. Ware Print 2011 Journalist of the Year, Kibler was also named in 2013 by Business Insider as one of the 14 Most Impressive Women serving in the military.
Selected by the Army's Chief of Media Operations for her work in Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012, Kibler filled 11 stories and more than 300 photographs in covering combat operations in Kandahar, Afghanistan with 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.
"SSG Kibler's commitment to the mission ... is one of the many reasons to her contributions to public affairs have earned her this opportunity," wrote Lt. Col. David Doherty in his nomination letter.
There has been a price to pay for telling the soldiers' stories.
While on her last deployment, Kibler was wounded when a 82mm recoilless rocket round landed and detonated near her. The impact left her with a concussion and a mild traumatic brain injury.
Gen. Ware, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient, would have appreciated Kibler's grit and determination to tell the Army's story.
When not deployed or working on a story at JBLM, Kibler maintained a 3.8 grade point average while finishing her BA in psychology from St. Martin's University. She is now taking graduate classes at South New Hampshire University.
When she leaves the Army, Kibler plans on working in the field of clinical psychology.
But for the moment, she is committed to doing her best.
"You have to be passionate about telling the Army's story, and I want to make sure that our best work is put forth because everyone sees it."
See Also
Staff Sgt. Lindsey Kibler wrote "Capt. Jacqueline K. Stilwell now commands 7th ID's HSC"
Staff Sgt. Lindsey Kibler wrote "Chaplain command chnage at 7th Infantry Division"
Staff Sgt. Lindsey Kibler wrote "MPS electrocuted at Joint Base Lewis-McChord"
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