Veterans Upward Bound Program

TMCC Veteran of the Month - Nov. 2008

Andrea Simone-Call

Andrea Simone-Call

Fitness Coordinator

Simone-Call grew up in Cody, Wyoming and from a young age always had an interest in the military and wanting to serve her country. She joined the Coast Guard the summer before her senior year in high school.

After boot camp she was stationed in Alexandria, Virginia in the Coast Guards Honor Guard. Simone-Call was a platoon member in full and simple honors ceremonies at the White House, Pentagon, and national monuments. She was the first female in the Coast Guard Honor Guard to hold the position of body bearer.

Her second assignment was as a communications watchstander at a Marine Safety Office, in Baltimore, Maryland; from there she went on to Marine Science Technician and was stationed at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC. She finished her enlistment at as a Marine Science Technician Third Class in April 1993.

While on active duties she earned several medals and ribbons including: the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, the Commandants Letter of Achievement Ribbon, the Coast Guard Bicentennial Ribbon, the Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Coast Guard Marksman Pistol Ribbon.

After leaving the military, Simone-Call used the GI Bill to get a college education. She earned both masters and bachelors of sciences degrees in physical education from Pittsburg State University. In 2004, she joined TMCC as the Fitness Center Coordinator and currently serves as the program manager of the massage therapy, personal trainer and physical education programs in the Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division at TMCC.

Simone-Call's message to other veterans is: "the work ethic and personal pride that you receive from the military gives you an edge in life. Veterans entering college have these vitals tools to help them succeed in their studies and should use them to be leaders. The return to civilian life can have challenges; the military provides so many benefits that are not often provided in civilian life such as housing, food, clothing allowances and medical care, prescriptions, dental care and eye care. When entering back into civilian life, veterans need to be ready to handle these costs on their own. There are many benefits that are provided to our country's veterans and I urge them to look into those benefits and utilize them."

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