The team had just returned from their latest mission, extracting a hostage in South America, and they were taking the day off to recuperate. It had been a rather complicated one, involving minor covert operations at the scene, to gain entry to the hostile’s hideaway. It was extremely rare they didn’t achieve their mission, and that was largely in part due to the intelligence officers that worked for the government. That’s where I came in.

I worked directly for the Commander of Delta Force. Each day, I’d work on the base, pouring over intel that came in from overseas, determining which threats were viable, or were an appropriate fit for the team to get involved, and then I would recommend an operational strategy to the Commander during our weekly briefings. I’d become quite adept at it in the three years I had worked for him, but constantly being stuck at a desk was becoming extremely boring. As a civilian, going on the missions wasn’t necessarily what I wanted either, or I’d have tried to become an Operator.

I always knew that I wanted to serve my country in some capacity, particularly Intelligence or counterterrorism, but I didn’t want to enlist. That wasn’t the life for me. My father was career Army, and we moved so much during my early years, I can barely remember what any of our houses looked like growing up, and I definitely didn’t stay anywhere long enough to maintain friendships with other kids. At the time, it was a lonely existence, especially as an only child. Just my mom and me, supporting each other through my dad’s deployments over the years. We considered ourselves Texans once they settled on a house there, and it’s where my dad retired. We’d stopped moving every two years by the time I made it to high school, and I was able to finally make some friends, put down some roots, and start working on my own career aspirations.

While enlistment wasn't the route for me, I loved the stories my father told when he came back from his deployments. How he and his men would help children in need, how they bonded together, and how important his work was to the safety of the United States. He was a hero to me and my role model. He encouraged me to help others in any way that I could and was a progressive man for his age. As long as I was doing some good with my life and career choices, he didn't push me to join the military, but would've supported that decision, had I made it.

My mother had his back, no matter what. Even when you could see the tears in her eyes, while watching the news of what was happening overseas, and not hearing from dad for long periods of time, she never had a sour word to say about the Army or the Army life in general. Over the years, as technology got better and she could video chat with him, her fears seemed to ease.

When it came time for me to pick a career, I chose public safety as a major and went to UTEP—the University of Texas at El Paso—across the state. I knew I’d probably stay in Texas, especially once we’d finally set roots down there. The recruiters always came to campus trying to get college kids to enlist; a hard sell, in most cases. For me, I just mused as I walked by their table in the student lounge area, knowing what the life was all about. As I studied public safety more and more, counterterrorism became a focus in the curriculum of many of the classes for my major. Post-9/11, any public health or safety, law enforcement, or government affairs courses had a section on counterterrorism, and what the government was supposedly doing to help protect the nation. Every class it was brought up in drove me closer and closer to figuring out what I wanted to do when, one day, while sitting in my Law Enforcement and Critical Infrastructure course, it hit me. I wanted to work in Intelligence.

When I talked to my dad about it, he'd suggested the Federal Bureau of Investigations after graduation, but the FBI seemed so stuffy to me. All I could imagine was a sea of navy-blue suits finding their way to my closet, to go with the monotonous desk work I'd heard was necessary. The television really gives a false sense of what is real when it comes to police, FBI, firefighters, or any other awesome sounding job. They're far less cool than one would think, in most circumstances. I wanted to be able to carry a gun and be taught by someone other than my dad to shoot and defend myself, but I also wanted to use my brains as well.

Originally, I tried out for the U.S. Air Marshals. The exam was ridiculously easy, and when I made it the panel interview level, I was let go from the process. Upon receiving feedback, I was informed I was "too pretty to be undercover," and I should consider a different form of law enforcement if that's what I really wanted to do. My face was hot with anger, and before furious tears fell, I thanked the agent for his time and went back home, my tail between my legs. That was supposed to be the easiest branch of federal law enforcement, and they had denied me for what seemed like inappropriate reasons, even after I'd aced their exam.

I called my dad to discuss what my next move should be. It had taken months to get through that screening process only to be denied, and I didn’t know what to do next about a job.

“Well Kallie, I’m gonna be honest with you,” he started.

“Oh God, this can’t be good. You’re not gonna blow smoke up my ass, right, Dad?”

“When have I ever done that?” He chuckled.

“Yeah, ok, that’s fair. Let’s have it.”

“You don’t want to be an Air Marshal, honey. Spread your wings. It would have been a good stepping stone into federal law enforcement, but I know you. You would have been bored out of your skull, taking four flights a day, and not doing much else after the academy. And, he is right.”

“What do you mean, he’s right? When did you become sexist, Dad?!” I whined aggressively.

“Settle down. You are too pretty to be an Air Marshal. You’d be wearing civilian clothes all day, on a plane, where you’re not supposed to socialize with other passengers. You’re supposed to observe, that sort of thing. You have way too much personality for that. Sorry kid, but you do.”

I wanted to be offended, but a part of me knew he was right. Not about me being pretty—that’s just opinions and whatever; of course my dad thinks I’m pretty—but that maybe it wasn’t the right fit.

"Whatever. What do I do now?" All I wanted to do was find a way to put my talents to use, without enlisting. I wanted to do something to stop terrorism, and I had the right education for the job but wasn't really sure where to go next.

“I think it’s time to throw your hat in more than one ring, kid. The FBI would be a good place to start, but I wouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. I think there are a lot of open intelligence officer positions on base, and I could certainly put in a good word for you.”

Great, my daddy was going to help me get a big girl job. Wonderful for me. “Thanks, Dad, but don’t you think I should get a job on my own merit?”

“Oh, you will. My recommendation as your father isn’t going to get you far, don’t worry. But go look at the openings, and see if anything tickles your fancy. You’re going to have to start at the bottom anyway, but it’s time to branch out. Leave no stone unturned. That’s what counterterrorism is anyway, right?”

“You’re totally right. Thanks for listening. I know I probably seem like a little kid right now, I just thought I’d have an offer and that would be that.”

“Things we want don’t go our way for a reason, honey. This opportunity not working out is just a way for the universe to show you how many other, better, opportunities are out there. Now go get them!”

“Will do, sir!”

And that is how I got the job of Intelligence officer, working under the commander of the Special Operations team, Delta Force. After working in military intelligence for three years as a civilian, I had established the appropriate security clearances, and the door was opened for me relatively early in my career. I’d been reasonable satisfied analyzing intelligence and making operational recommendations for three years when I received a call from the Commander for a special assignment that would get me out of the dark confines of my office.