Andi Lappin used to love to go out, sleep in late and only had to worry about herself. Those days seem like a lifetime ago for the former U.S. Army Specialist who is now a new mommy and adjusting to civilian life after five and half years of serving her county.

“It was fun for the most part,” Lappin said. “When I first joined, my first duty station was Germany. So, I was 19 years old in Germany; that was awesome and a lot of fun. I got a chance to see a lot of things that most people don’t get the chance to.”

One of those things she got to see firsthand was Iraq. She spent a year there.