CINDY SMITH

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PROVOST

ALEXANDRIA CAMPUS

As a young adult, I considered joining the military – primarily for the educational benefits.  However, I decided to pursue my education on my own.  After earning my Bachelor of Science degree from Dakota State College in Madison, SD, I took a job teaching English in a small town in Iowa.  In my second year of teaching one of my students was absent for a week.  When he returned, I asked for his excuse and was intrigued to see that he had been processing for the Iowa Army National Guard.  I looked into it and ended up joining.   I enlisted as a Private First Class (E-3) since I already had a bachelor’s degree.  I attended basic training at Ft. Jackson, SC.\

I worked full time for the Iowa Army National Guard as the State Training NCO for several years.  I achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) by the time I left the service.  I benefited from my service in the National Guard in many ways.  I met my husband there and we got married under crossed cannons during summer camp (Field Artillery unit – they didn’t have swords) with our Battalion Chaplain performing the ceremony.  Since I enlisted under a student loan repayment program, the National Guard paid my student loans from my undergraduate degree.  I was eligible for educational assistance while I served and the Guard paid 90% of my tuition costs for my graduate degree at Drake University in Des Moines, IA.