Ayala Receives Travel Award from Ben Jackson Foundation
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Photo courtesy of Larry Jackson
From left: Michelle's mother, Elaine, Michelle Ayala, Michelle's brother, Brian, and Jennifer Jackson, representing the Ben Jackson Foundation. Michelle is a recent recipient of the Ben Jackson Travel Award, which helps pay travel expenses to visit home once she is assigned to her first permanent duty station. Michelle is enlisted in the US Army.
Michelle Ayala, a recent graduate of Belleville High School and 2019 Recipient of a Ben Jackson Foundation Travel Award, recently left for US Army basic training. Ayala received the Travel Award, which will help pay travel expenses for a trip home once she reaches her first permanent duty station, from Jennifer Jackson the day before she left.
Ayala said enlisting in the military has been a goal of hers since she was a child. "I have never set goals for myself except for this one and I'm happy to see it actually happen now! The Army has always been my choice and what I found that has best suited me and is all I have prepared for!"
Ayala departed for Fort Benning, Georgia, on April 24th for basic training. She is the first member of her family to serve in the military. She commented that her first contract will be as an infantryman but she is hoping to switch to medic and has set a goal to become a Ranger.
You can read about other Ben Jackson Foundation Travel Award recipients at http://www.benjacksonfoundation.org.
