KABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan - At first glance, one might make the assumption that U.S. Army Capt. Sarah Robinson is just another pencil pusher, but that would be a grave mistake. Robinson has gone to great lengths to accomplish just the opposite.
Previously an Air Force communications officer, Robinson knew she wanted more; she wanted something much more challenging in her life, and when the opportunity presented itself, she joined the U.S. Army as a military police officer.
Robinson is assigned to the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435 as the officer in charge of assessments and training for field detention sites in Regional Command-East, South, Southwest and Kabul Province.
"I joined the Army because I have a super hero complex," said Robinson. "When I was a kid I wanted to be a super hero like most kids, but that is obviously out of the realm of reality, so I decided to join something larger than myself where I could contribute to humanity."
Robinson, a native of Columbia, Mo., was raised by her father in the "woods of Missouri," and said she needed to be outside more. The Army offered her that opportunity, and the opportunity to fire weapons more often, a privilege she thoroughly enjoys as an MP.
Robinson's quest to become an Army officer and MP also resulted in her meeting her husband. During her captain's career course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Robinson met Marine Corps Capt. Andrew Segal, who was also attending the course, and within little time they were married.
Prior to Robinson's deployment, she was stationed in Sembach, Germany. Ironically, during the past year, she said she has seen more of her husband as he is stationed at Camp Leatherneck, in southern Afghanistan, than she did prior to their deployment.
Robinson's non commissioned officer in charge, a 27-year U.S. Army veteran, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Robinson (no relation) has high praise for her.
"She's phenomenal," said Robinson. "She'll make a great senior officer in the military police corps."
Looking back, Robinson is very proud of her accomplishments during the past year in Afghanistan. She feels her training and oversight have both kept soldiers out of trouble and ensured the humane treatment of the prisoners at various detention sites.
On her way home now, she gives her NCOs most of the credit, "as they did all the hard work, but this has been the most rewarding experience in the military to date," she said.
Robinson added, "we helped strategically keep the United States on high ground, and I'm really proud of that."
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