"My husband and I are Broncos. Western has done great things and continues to do great things. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for our experiences at WMU; the people, the resources, the knowledge. A big thank you from both of us goes to our Alma Mater, and of course a special thank you to the men and women who have served and are serving—your sacrifices do not go unnoticed"— Ashley McCann (BA '11, Organizational Communication).
This husband and wife have a touching story, but one that is not unique to our time in history. Ryan (BA '10, Political Science) and Ashley met in high school and were married in the summer of 2011.
Several months after their marriage, Ryan was deployed—Ashley had to get used to a routine without him, "As a military spouse I am not unfamiliar with being apart from my husband. It seemed simple at first, but as time went on it seemed more difficult. At about the halfway mark, I finally felt comfortable in my role of being away from him and having my own routine."
Ashley is working on her Master's degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs at WMU. Her husband, Ryan, is currently deployed in Afghanistan. As part of Ashley's scholarly requirements, she began working as an intern at WMU's Office of Military and Veteran's Affairs (OMVA).
"Veteran's affairs immediately came to mind because of my personal connection, and I knew I wanted to learn more about working with veterans in higher education," Ashley explained.
OMVA is housed under the umbrella of the Center for Academic Success Programs (CASP), which offers resources to students. As an aspiring student affairs professional, the experience has been 'amazing,' according to Ashley.
When Ryan arrived at WMU, he was unsure of his career—it wasn’t until the summer before his junior year that he joined ROTC on campus and started training with the Army National Guard. "Joining the Army really helped define him as a person and made him a strong leader, " Ashley said.
Ryan agrees, "I often have time to think about how I got here. Lately, it's an interesting train of thought. I'm in Afghanistan. I'm a Platoon Leader in Michigan Army National Guard, and my job here is to take care of about 2 dozen other grown men. Looking back at the beginning of this journey, the real beginning, I wonder about the power of a good education. Joining the military helped me focus, and WMU's outstanding ROTC program forged me into a leader."
Although he doesn't get much contact with other Broncos from ROTC, he occasionally sees some of his cohorts:
"I've run into several other WMU ROTC alumni over here, and know of even more that have been or are still deployed in Afghanistan. They are some of the bravest, most capable people I've ever met or had the honor to serve with. They are working with and part of some of the most legendary military organizations in history, doing things most people only see in movies. Four years ago I did not know what I wanted to do with my life. Today it amazes me that these people are my peer group—Broncos Lead The Way!"
The McCann's are ever grateful for the experiences they have accumulated at WMU, "Being at Western has opened so many doors for us personally and professionally; we couldn’t ask to be in a better place than where we are right now—physically speaking, he could be in a better place, but he’s doing something he believes in and defending his country, " Ashley commented.
To learn more about the OMVA or CASP, please follow the links below:
WMU — OFFICE OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS