McKenna Roberts’ journey into the Oklahoma Army National Guard is grounded in her childhood experiences and her early exposure to the importance of service and sacrifice. Born and raised in Idabel, Oklahoma, McKenna found her calling in a place where patriotism and community support run deep. Today, she serves as a recruiter in Durant, Oklahoma, helping others find their path to service in the military. However, her story of dedication and commitment started long before she put on the uniform.
McKenna recalls the pivotal moment that ignited her interest in service when she was just a child in elementary school. Her class was given a unique opportunity to connect with active soldiers in honor of Veterans Day. The teacher organized a letter-writing project, and each student was assigned a soldier to send a letter of appreciation and gratitude.
While other students started getting responses from their assigned soldiers, McKenna waited and waited with no reply.
“I was really upset because I wasn’t getting my letter back,” she said. “Then, the next year, during the Veteran’s Day ceremony, they read the names of veterans who had passed, and my soldier’s name was on the list.”
The impact of that project stuck with McKenna. It left her with a deep sense of respect for those who serve. The simplicity of writing a letter as a young child somehow sparked something larger in her, and she began to understand, even at that young age, the value of supporting those in the military. Years later, this experience would be part of what led her to serve in the National Guard.
“I was so upset. That letter has always stuck with me. It’s my motivation to do what I do now. It made me want to join,” said McKenna.
She joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard with the mission of serving her community and country. After volunteering for a tour in Afghanistan, McKenna is now stationed in Durant, Oklahoma, where she serves as a recruiter. In this capacity, she works to inspire and guide others who are interested in joining the military, helping them navigate the recruiting process, and ultimately finding their own way into the service.
I think it’s important for people to get out there and learn about different cultures and the way things work in different places. Within your community, everybody’s always talking about how they want this change, or they want that change. But the thing is, nothing is going to be changed if we don’t learn how to change it.
Swipe →A community is not going to grow unless you’re doing something to grow your community.
Working as a recruiter brings a unique set of challenges and rewards. McKenna enjoys being able to share her own experiences with potential recruits, showing them the possibilities that come with military service. For her, it’s not just about fulfilling the need for more soldiers; it’s about giving individuals an opportunity to grow, learn, and become part of something greater than themselves. The pride she feels in her role stems from knowing she plays a part in shaping the future of others who may go on to have experiences similar to hers.
“I wanted to become a recruiter because my recruiter had helped me out a lot,” she said. “This isn’t just a job for me. This is something I can do to help other young people. How do I help those kids that were from small towns like me get out in the world and see the things I’ve gotten to see and experience different things?”
The values of discipline, honor, and service that McKenna upholds are at the core of who she is. She often reflects on the influence of her community and upbringing, which helped to mold her understanding of the importance of serving others. Growing up in Oklahoma, McKenna was surrounded by people who respected and valued the military, and that sense of respect for service was something that was passed down to her from an early age.
Her personal commitment to service, however, wasn’t just motivated by patriotism alone. McKenna genuinely believes that being part of something larger than oneself creates a sense of purpose and belonging. This philosophy fuels her work as a recruiter, as she encourages others to consider how joining the National Guard could help them build a life filled with new opportunities, discipline, and camaraderie. But she wants young people to know that coming back and serving in their home communities is important, too.
“The National Guard is not active duty military. We are there for our communities. We serve our country as well, but our main focus is our communities,” McKenna said. “We stay in our communities, and we help our communities.”
The National Guard is critical in natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods. McKenna remembers that the National Guard was instrumental in helping her hometown of Idabel with COVID-19 resources.
We stay in our communities, and we help our communities.
Though McKenna has already made a significant impact in her role as a recruiter, she remains focused on continuing to grow and serve in the National Guard. For her, the journey is far from over. As she looks ahead, she hopes to continue to inspire young people, especially in her home state of Oklahoma, to take up the mantle of service.
She also encourages young people to get out in the world and learn about other cultures. It helps people understand the differences between their world view and someone else’s, but it also helps us understand the privilege we have in our own country.
“I think it’s important for people to get out there and learn about different cultures and the way things work in different places,” she said. “Within your community, everybody’s always talking about how they want this change, or they want that change. But the thing is, nothing is going to be changed if we don’t learn how to change it.”
For McKenna, every recruit she talks to is an opportunity to change a life. She is deeply invested in ensuring that those who decide to join the National Guard have the support and resources they need to succeed both in their military careers and in their personal lives. Her passion for service is evident not only in her professional work but also in the personal relationships she builds with those she mentors and recruits.
McKenna Roberts’ story is one of inspiration, purpose, and dedication to her country and community. From a young girl writing letters to soldiers on Veterans Day to becoming a recruiter in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, McKenna’s life has been a testament to the power of service.
“When you get everybody together and you start working together as a team, which is a lot of what the National Guard does, people are going to thrive. People are going to do better,” she said.
Her commitment to helping others find their place in the military reflects the same sense of duty that inspired her to join in the first place. With her unwavering dedication, McKenna continues to be a role model to those who follow in her footsteps, showing that service to others is not just a career, but a lifelong calling.
To learn more about the Oklahoma Army National Guard, visit goguardok.com or reach out to McKenna directly at [email protected] or 405-534-7476.
