After boot camp, Misty went to Navy Airman Apprenticeship training and then on to a helicopter squadron in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

However, after about a year and a half she was over aviation and ready for something else.

 

The Navy was downsizing, and her squadron, a training squadron, was being decommissioned. Everyone was offered an early release from their enlistment contracts. Misty had discussed with her chain of command the possibility of switching from the aviation field to journalism. They were supportive of her career goals but were having difficulties getting her a seat in the journalism school she needed to become a JO.

 

Misty’s career counselor tried for months to make it happen, but the detailer kept saying there weren’t any seats available. Misty initiated an early-out request and sent it up through the chain of command.​