Sonya Fultz understands about supporting Soldiers. She was one for 24 years. Fultz retired from active duty in 2005 as the supply property accountability NCO for the 59th Ordnance Brigade. She has returned to the Army as a civilian in the Garrison Intern Program.
"I loved what I did for the Army," she said. "So when openings were posted, I applied."
Fultz has started her first rotation in the Directorate of Logistics since she came onboard at the beginning of March. While she is getting used to the civilian side of things, logistics is something she understands.
"I'm supporting reconciliations," she said. "What we do is identify organizations who have requisitions open to find out if they still need the equipment, if we should cancel the request or if we can help them to make sure they get what they need on time."
Fultz received her undergraduate degree through Columbia College on Redstone Arsenal in business administration. After retirement, she received a master's in management with a concentration in logistics from the Florida Institute of Technology.
"I've always been interested in logistics," she said. "I'm trying to make sure I stay up on that, with all the updates in computer systems and property accountability programs. I'm curious about the differences we have in the systems between the Army and the conversion to a civilian system."
In between her active duty retirement and her entrance to the intern program, Fultz worked with National Guard units for two years as a contractor teaching property accountability. The job required a lot of travel, though. After spending a large portion of her military career overseas, Fultz wanted to stay in one place. During her last duty station here, she decided Redstone was that place.
"I spent 12 and a half of my 24 years overseas," she said. "I liked the job (training Guard units) but I just wanted to be home."
To stick closer to home, Fultz took a job with Phoenix Service as an administrative assistant. She spent two years in the position. She was surprised by the workload of an administrative assistant.
"I had never been a secretary before," she said laughing. "I didn't know how hard they worked until I was one."
Her interest in logistics had never waned. When she got the call that she had been accepted into the intern program, Fultz felt it was fate. She laughs that while adjusting to the civilian way of doing things was challenging at first, she hasn't had time to identify the next big hurdle.
"I've really been too busy," she quipped. "Everything moves so rapidly, I haven't had the luxury of time to identify a challenge."
Fultz isn't one for leisure time anyway. Outside of work, she spends a large portion of her time being active in her church and its praise team choir. With the free time she does have, Fultz enjoys reading and spending time with her husband of 27 years, Curtis. Her daughter, Jamie, just got married in August.
"I'm always on the clock," she quipped.
While she's not sure exactly what office or directorate she will end up in once she completes the program, Fultz is certain that she will be satisfied there. Every piece of the Garrison is about Soldier support, whether directly or indirectly.
"Once a Soldier, always a Soldier," she said. "As long as I can work to support Soldiers, I'm happy."
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