U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Haileigh Kjendlie, a human resource specialist with the 7302nd Medical Training Support Battalion, poses for a portrait at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Aug. 20, 2023. Kjendlie, a native of Watertown, New York, has aspirations to study psychopharmacology. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Cpl. Olivia Cowart)

U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Haileigh Kjendlie (right), a human resource specialist and native of Watertown, New York, assigned to the 7302nd Medical Training Support Battalion, assists U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Joseph Black, a public affairs mass communications specialist assigned to the 304th Public Affairs Detachment, with his administrative needs at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, August 20, 2023. The Soldiers are at Fort McCoy to conduct training as part of Exercise Global Medic 2023. Global Medic is an annual two-week multinational joint service component medical training exercise that helps the Army Reserve hone critical medical skills and ensure readiness for times of need. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Cpl. Olivia Cowart)

U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Haileigh Kjendlie (left), a human resource specialist and native of Watertown, New York, assigned to the 7302nd Medical Training Support Battalion, assists U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Joseph Black, a public affairs mass communications specialist assigned to the 304th Public Affairs Detachment, with his administrative needs at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, August 20, 2023. The Soldiers are at Fort McCoy to conduct training as part of Exercise Global Medic 2023. Global Medic is an annual two-week multinational joint service component medical training exercise that helps the Army Reserve hone critical medical skills and ensure readiness for times of need. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Cpl. Olivia Cowart)

FORT MCCOY, Wis. – Hundreds of Army Reserve Soldiers from around the country were at Fort McCoy for two-weeks of annual training to hone their individual and collective unit skills and readiness as part of Exercise Global Medic.

Global Medic is a multi-component collective training exercise where forces from all components along with joint and international partners perform a collective medical training event to test their medical equipment, systems and procedures to help prepare for future conflicts.

One of the Soldiers involved in the annual exercise was Spc. Haileigh Kjendlie. Kjendlie is currently a human resource specialist assigned to the 7302nd Medical Training Support Battalion, where she helps Soldiers take care of a variety of administrative needs.

“Knowing that my job is helping a lot of people helps my mind stay at ease,” Kjendlie said. “Helping people makes me feel like I've actually done something within the military.”

As a human resource specialist, Kjendlie strives to develop professional skills of accountability and time management. Her profession allows her the opportunity to connect with Soldiers on all levels, from officers to new recruits, forming bonds that add to both her military and personal experience.

“I do enjoy working as a human resource specialist,” she said. “It lets me get to know everybody in the unit, especially officers, who you don't normally talk to. I also get to meet anybody new who comes in, and I get to interact with and help them as well.”

Originally from Watertown, N.Y., Kjendlie is a proud fourth-generation Soldier, who currently resides in Janesville, Wisconsin. She enlisted in the Army Reserve three years ago, carrying on a tradition spanning multiple generations of her family.

“I joined the Army Reserve to have flexibility within the civilian world, and also to defend my country,” Kjendlie said. “I didn't want to be attached to a state. Life can take you wherever it needs to take you.”

When she is not performing her military duties, she attends the University of Wisconsin, where her educational costs are partly supported by Army Tuition Assistance and her GI Bill benefits. Kjendlie is pursuing a degree in psychopharmacology.

Psychopharmacologists study the use of medications to mend mental health conditions, and although that is much different than her current job of human resources, there are similarities between the two careers.

Her Army Reserve duties focus on providing personnel support that helps keep Soldiers combat ready. Her goals to contribute to mental wellness is also focused on helping others and directly aligns with one of the Army values - selfless service.

As she continues her service to the nation and the Army Reserve, Kjendlie hopes to continue to blend her civilian education and experience with her military service.