Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Tammy Burton-Smith doesn't need a genie in a bottle to grant her three wishes, she simply wanted one; to remain in the Army forever.

"Ah yes. This is true. 'They' call it a disability as a result of my being injured, but I refuse to accept this term. I may be technically broken, but in my mind -- no ma'am. I'm restoring my mind," she said.

Born in Missouri to a Jamaican father and American mother, Smith's desire to join the military began with her parents.

"Both my parents were in the military. I absolutely loved seeing my mom in uniform. The military was my life. She was the apple of my eye. I lost my dad in the Vietnam War. I carry him in spirit, he reinforced all that America stood for -- giving service," she explained.

During high school, Smith joined the Delayed Entry Program - also referred to as the Delayed Enlistment Program or Future Soldiers Program in the Army. The program requires individuals going into active duty in the United States Armed Forces to enlist first in the DEP before they ship out to Basic training or Boot camp.

"This was tremendous preparation for me. It prepared me spiritually, mentally and emotionally, she said.

Smith deployed at the start of the Gulf War as a nurse, but a string of knee injuries would sideline her dreams of staying in the military.

"I spent 21 years, 8 months and 17 days [in the Army]. It taught me an incredible amount of discipline and to finish what I started and to do better for the greater good," she said.

With her military career behind her, Smith obtained numerous degrees including two bachelors, two masters and a PhD in nursing and education. She now uses her military experience and her knowledge by volunteering at several Veteran homes, shelters and the Missouri Army Reserve Unit for Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention (SHARP) Program to help fellow Soldiers in her community.

"I'm bringing awareness to them that you can survive trauma. Several individuals in my community are dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries. This helps me as well. I don't like labels such as the word disability. I work with these individuals to help them heal and become whole," she explained.

As Smith began working in her community, she noted one commonality in and out of the military; the amount of sexual assaults that were occurring on a regular basis. She took a stand and decided to do something about it. She developed a play entitled "Screaming in Silence" paying homage to Veterans dealing with sexual assaults. She would later go on to write a book titled "Go Tell Momma" about a young girl who is sexually assaulted by her Uncle.

"Whether its abuse, TBI, PTSD or sexual assault, the message is clear, you don't have to stay stuck in those circumstances. This is about restoring your life," she said. "I was put on this earth with a sense of purpose to help others and I'm going to honor what my father passed on to me: finish what you started and what you were put on this earth to do. I intend to be on the battlefield and fight for those dealing with these circumstances."