Growing up in the small town of Dannebrog, Makayla Smith didn’t get a chance to see much of the world. In fact, she said she had only left Nebraska a handful of times to visit family in California and New York City by the time she graduated from Centura High School in 2008.

“Some of my favorite summers were spent in NYC with my Aunt Kim and Cousin Jenny,” Smith recalled. “I loved the small farm life with my family, but my aunt introduced me to another world in the city.”

She recollected a visit to NYC In the summer of 2001, and being captivated by the skyline. “We explored Manhattan, where my aunt worked, and I remember her pointing out the Twin Towers and the Empire State Building, showing me all the tourist spots,” she recounted.

The memory of the buildings still resonates in her mind. She was in sixth grade on Sept. 11, 2001, and vividly remembers the day. “I walked into music class that morning to find our teacher crying, the TV showing destruction. She quickly turned it off, but I had already seen too much,” said Smith. “About 30 minutes later, our homeroom teacher gathered us and explained what had happened. I felt an overwhelming urge to call my mom, worried about my aunt, who was living in the city.”

Smith said the next few days were a blur of news reports and heartbreak. “I remember the images of people jumping from the towers, and I struggled to comprehend how someone could cause such devastation.”

Just two years later Smith recalls sitting in history class watching the invasion of Iraq unfold. “It was then that I realized I wanted to help,” she said. “The child in me craved justice for the destruction and pain I had witnessed.” She enlisted in the Nebraska Army National Guard in 2007 at the age of 17. Her mom signed a waiver allowing Smith to join, knowing that she and her dad could help guide her toward a safe role. She became a Signal Operator and soon left for basic training.

Smith graduated from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and completed her AIT at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Since then, she has deployed several times to the Middle East, and in 2013 she switched to the Army Reserves.

She transferred to the Transportation Corps, where she currently serves as Sergeant with the 450th Movement Control Battalion.

She and her husband Will have three daughters; Lilly (14), Sage (7), and Timmery (4) and live near Oconto.

When a parent serves their country in the military, it is the entire family who serve - in one way or another. “It takes a village to raise a family, and an even larger village to keep things running while I’m away,” said Smith.

Smith emotionally shared some of the struggles she has faced being a soldier and a mom. “Each girl has experienced a deployment. Lilly was just 6-monthsold when I left for the first time. I vividly remember standing in formation during our first training in Wyoming, realizing the impact of my deployment. I cried in formation for the first time, feeling a mix of fear and sadness. I shut down my emotions to avoid appearing weak, robbing Lilly of those precious months with her mother.”

When Smith returned from Iraq, Lilly was 18-months-old, and she said it took a year and a half for the two of them to reconnect. “Thanks to therapy, we began to heal our mother-daughter bond. Lilly made the biggest sacrifice of all, though I’m not sure she fully understands it yet,” Smith said.

Her second daughter Sage was 14-months-old when Smith deployed for the first time. She said that although Sage struggled, she adapted, leaning on her dad.

“Lilly was heartbroken when I told her I would be leaving again, but I promised her I would remain present, and I kept that promise,” Smith shared. “On that deployment, I shattered my elbow and was sent home early for surgery at Walter Reed. I was able to see my girls over Thanksgiving and returned home just before Christmas.”

Things were different with daughter number three, as Timmery is the first child Smith was able to watch turn three without interruption. “I finally understood what I had been missing, which hurt more than the deployments,” said Smith. “When I explained I had to leave, she didn’t fully grasp it. Sage struggled with sleepless nights, while Lilly was upset but preferred my absence during her freshman year over her senior year.”

She refers to her husband Will as “my rock and my home”. “He handles deployments like a champion and would never ask me to stop serving. He’s always encouraging and takes care of the kids with grace. He goes to every school event, becomes a confidant for our teenager, styles hair for the younger ones, and provides comfort during their tough moments—all while managing chores and his job. He is the real hero, making all the sacrifices. I couldn’t serve without him, which makes being away that much harder.”

Smith said she does not regret joining the military, and often tells people her parents did a great job raising her, and the Army helped finish the job. “Looking back, I know I needed the Army. It taught me discipline, provided incredible mentors, and gave me a sense of belonging,” she said. “I believe in the importance of serving to deter attacks at home and mentoring the next generation to cultivate strong female leaders.”

As she approaches retirement from the Army, Smith said she realizes her new mission is to help create the next generation of soldiers. “I want to guide them in facing discomfort to foster growth, teach them to serve others, and show them how much I believe in their potential. I aspire to be their Major Fetherston—the mentor who believed in them when no one else did, helping them become strong soldiers and even stronger individuals.

“My hope is that if my girls choose to join the military, they will find someone I taught guiding them through the hard days and helping them recognize their strength.”

Smith offers these words of advice to any young woman considering joining the service. “Take your time deciding what you want. When recruiters present the list of available jobs, remember those aren’t your only options. Once you’re in, seek mentors who have integrity and a service-oriented mindset. Absorb their wisdom, listen, and strive to do better. A mentor’s greatest success is when their mentee surpasses them.”