FORT SILL, Okla. -- "I really appreciate the opportunity to be here because I always hated the military growing up. I hated the concept of everyone being the same, having the goals and uniform. But I've come to realize it's a family and that's what I've been looking for in my life. It's funny how something you hate can become something that you need."
Pvt. Jessica Sewell joined the Army this year after growing up in a situation most couldn't imagine.
Her mother abandoned her at age 7 and left her to fend for herself; no one called Child Protective Services.
"My mom was unstable and she told me to find another place to go when I was 7. I lived with my neighbor, then with friends, my aunt, but never for very long."
Nonetheless, Sewell never quit on herself and continued to attend school.
"I remember all of the times where I had to move into homes that were three towns from the school I was in. I either had to walk in the morning, I had to get someone to drive me, I even hitchhiked a lot of times, but I always found a way to get there."
Now an 18-year-old split option Soldier for the Indiana National Guard, Sewell is going through her fourth week of Basic Combat Training, at B Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery, and she will finish her senior year of high school when she gets back to Indiana.
Pfc. Racheal Sawyer, Sewell's close friend at BCT, said Sewell is tough as nails.
"That girl's got the 'go of a Russian race horse,'" Sawyer said. "She hates complaining and will put a smile on even when she's not happy. I don't know if I could make it through basic training if I was in her situation, but she doesn't let anything get to her."
Sewell's grandfather, whom she met just a year and a half ago, was the one who inspired her to join.
"My grandfather didn't really know me before, but we met at a family reunion. He found out about my situation and wanted to take me in."
Sewell said her grandfather is a World War II veteran who is very proud of his service and told her stories about the war after she moved onto his farm.
"He went behind enemy lines; he was Airborne infantry; and he would tell me all these stories. I helped him a lot on his farm, so whenever we worked outside together, he always told me another story."
Sewell said his stories helped her realize the military wasn't what she thought; it was a family and she decided to join.
"When I told him I wanted to join, I've never seen anyone that happy about me doing something. He told me I would be the first one in my family after him to join. It motivated me to prove I could do it."
Although Sewell wants to make her grandfather proud and prove to everyone what she is capable of, she said she doesn't know if her grandfather will be there when she gets back.
"His memory is slowly going away, and every time we go to the doctor it's nothing but bad news. I've been trying to get ready. He told me I will be an adult when I get back so I'll have to have my own place. I think he's trying to get me ready for him to pass away. I think he wants to be alone for that."
This is why Sewell said she hopes to switch over to active duty to continue the stability and family environment she said she has experienced thus far with her brand new Army career.
"I never really had a home or a family. I'm used to jumping all over the place; being shoved here, shoved there. Coming here, I'm not scared of that. After basic training I want to go active duty, I want to see the world, and I want to have people I can depend on and who can depend on me; I want to have a family."
Although Sewell is so new to the Army, she has a unique appreciation for what the Army has offered her and wishes everyone would realize what he or she has.
"I feel people don't realize this is a family. Some just act like it's a sports team. I think they may feel that way because they do have stable families at home so they just think that 'I'm only here for 10 weeks,' but others that don't have the best homes understand."
Pvt. Sarah Ray, another Soldier going through basic training at B/1-40th FA, said that she can relate to Sewell's appreciation of support the Army and its members can provide; having just lost her father on Father's Day while she was here in reception.
"My father was in the Army for 23 years and seeing how strong that made him, it made me want to be in the Army," Ray said. "I know he would've wanted me to still do this because the last words he said to me was how proud he was of me for joining."
Ray's battle buddies have helped her a lot while she grieves and yet still manages to complete basic training. She said she's glad she will always be connected to people that care now.
"When I feel upset I turn to my battle buddies and tell them," Ray said. "Growing up I saw how my dad had so many friends in the Army and they all supported him. I feel like him now; I'm going to have the Army family always. When something like this happens the Army's not going to give up on you so you can't give up on yourself."
Sewell agrees and said she just wishes that everyone would realize that being a part of the Army is being a part of something bigger than just themselves.
"I would like to tell others to just fight for each other and stop putting yourself first," Sewell said. "The Army values are selfless service, loyalty, duty, ... but all these things have to be about the other person. We have to work together like the family we are."
Check back in future Cannoneer issues for more stories and photos on the trainees in B/1-40th FA as they progress through BCT.
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