Anthony Epps:
CLASS OF 1995
Central Kitsap High SchoolClass of 1995
Silverdale, WA
Southern Illinois University - EducationClass of 2000
Carbondale, IL
Anthony's Story
Life
After high school, I enlisted in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. I spent my first enlistment stationed with the Marines in Okinawa, Japan (deployed in support of Operation Pacific Haven), on the USS Carl Vinson in Bremerton (deployed in support of Operation Desert Fox & Southern Watch), and finished off my tour at Naval Hospital Bremerton. I completed a B.S. degree in Workforce Education & Development while at Naval Hospital Bremerton, and soon separated from the Navy.
After 9 months as a civilian, I found myself yearning for the challenge and comradeship I found in the Navy, and immediately reenlisted.
As of April 2004, we're finishing off a tour with the Marines in North Carolina and on our way to sunny Southern California. I deployed with a great Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and MaryBeth (my wife) did wonderful throughout the war.
On a personal side, I'm married to a Silverdale local and we currently have no children. We both enjoy hiking, camping, mountain biking, reading, the theater, and most of all --- just drinking wine with close friends over great conversation. I've had some wonderful experiences and some unforgettable memories throughout the years, and wouldn't change a thing!
We keep our site regularly updated. Check it out!
myspacedotcom/anthonyepps
[UPDATE November 2007] Wow. It's been a while since I've checked out this site. Since the advent of myspace and the million other websites designed for reconnecting with past friends, during the three short years it has been since I've updated this, it seems as if the above 'life bio' is antiquated. It's amazing how fast life speeds along. Well...still married and happy. LOL. Come on -- in today's day and age, there should be an award for that. Nonetheless, after Lejeune, we went to San Diego for Independent Duty Corpsman school, then up to 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton. I was selected for Chief in 2006, and took out a great Battalion and Aid Station to Iraq through 2007. We've been living in a nice apartment near the beach for the last couple years, and recently added a new member to our family -- Winston, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We're suffering through the pangs of puppydom right now, but having a great time together. We're not sure where we'll end up next year, but we're continuing to take advantage of everything life has to offer. I hope you all are doing well, and I hope to hear from you soon!
[UPDATE March 2008] We're heading home! We selected orders to Naval Hospital Bremerton a couple months ago, and we are actively (and aggressively) house hunting. We're really looking forward to finally settling down and buying our first ...Expand for more
home. And, to have that home in the area where we both grew up and love so much -- well, life just doesn't get any better. It'll be great to be back around family and friends, and we hope to hear from you all soon! Take care!
College
One of the wonderful things about being in the Navy is that you never really have to figure out "what I want to be when I grow up". You constantly work and relocate, set goals, embark on the journey to achieve them, and then set others. While spending my couple years at Naval Hospital Bremerton instructing and managing training programs, I completed a B.S. degree in Workforce Education, Training and Development. With the intention of running training programs in the civilian sector after I separated from the Navy, I found it was a better "ticket punch" more than anything, and instead found myself in various sales and management positions.
While I was a civilian, I aggressively pursued a MBA from City University, however upon reenlisting in the Navy and relocating to North Carolina, I pursued a M.A. degree in Health Care Administration.
Another twist in the road found me in the middle of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After seeing firsthand who really made the difference in the medical care and treatment of my Marines, upon returning to North Carolina I promptly dropped that degree path. I completed a couple Graduate courses in Military Leadership, and am now in the Navy's Independent Duty Corpsman training pipeline.
Where will I go from here? I don't know. I may become a Physician Assistant through the Navy in a few years, or perhaps I will finish a M.A. degree in History (one of my passions) and teach when I retire. Who knows?
My college journey has been an interesting one, albeit unconventional and never truly completed. But when is it ever really completed? Higher education should be continuous and readily accessible for all. It dosen't have to involve a degree from a prestigious university -- night classes at a local community college or simply a library card can just as well suffice. It's a journey for each individual, and with it are many paths.
[UPDATE November 2007] Still don't know what I want to be when I grow up -- I just know I'm having fun for the time being. Nonetheless, as a MBA is recognized for its breadth and almost universal applicability and usefulness, I'm back to square one and pursuing a MBA from University of Maryland University College. After 3 graduate schools, and almost a Masters degree in accumulated credits, perhaps this time I'll finally bring it all together with something to put on my wall and on my resume. But after this, I'm sure I'll be back for more.
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