Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Guardmember turned beauty queen gives back By Staff Sgt. Mary Flynn
                National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON, Va. - What's another marathon, really, when you're Jill Stevens? The 2007 Miss Utah is no stranger to the physical and mental discipline required to knock out 26.2 miles. She ran the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington on Oct. 28 finishing in about 3.5 hours. It's the third marathon she's run since winning the pageant title in June. "I love challenges," she said. "That's why I joined the military." No, that's not a misprint.  For one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer, Miss Utah becomes Sgt. Stevens of the Utah National Guard. She trades in her high heels and gown for combat boots and ACUs, her bouquet of roses for a combat medic aid bag, and her sparkling tiara for a beret or patrol cap. Wearing the uniform, she says, feels more natural to her. "I'm first-off a Soldier. Always," said Stevens, who had originally laughed at the idea of participating in a beauty pageant. "I don't do heels. I didn't even know where to buy them!" Having deployed as a combat medic with the 1st of the 211th Aviation Group in April 2004 to Afghanistan, Steven's lifestyle isn't what one would expect of the typical beauty queen. The 25-year-old had previously shared the same opinion of beauty pageant contestants that many people hold. "I thought that all these girls do is wave their hand, look pretty and do nothing. I didn't want to be associated with that." She soon discovered, however, that the organization actually had a lot in common with the military. The Miss America program promotes education and teaches leadership, she says. It also promotes fitness and well-being, while focusing on bringing out one's best. "I saw a great opportunity that would open doors," she said, referring to the titleholder's position as a chance to start organizations or pass bills to create change. "[These women] can move people to action and really make a difference." One way Stevens has chosen to make a difference is by raising funds and awareness for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a support network for the families of those who have died in service. TAPS offers peer support and assists survivors through a wide variety of programs, including programs for youths. "[I'm running] for my battle buddies and their families, people who have lost loved ones over there," she said. While in D.C., Stevens met with some of the families and visited Soldiers recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. "I thought of them along this run. I'm doing this for them." Stevens intends to participate in more marathons before her reign as Miss Utah is over. In each one, she will run for TAPS. Stevens was first exposed to the National Guard when recruiters set up a booth in her high school. Beyond the tuition assistance and the hands-on medical experience she would receive as a combat medic, she was drawn to the challenge that being a Soldier presented. "I wondered, "'Can I hack that?'" she recalls. Today, the recent graduate of Southern Utah University has a bachelor's in nursing, 12 marathons under her belt, six years as a combat medic in the Utah National Guard, and she's just applied for a direct commission to become an Army nurse. Stevens attributes much of her success to her experiences in the Guard. "The military has really, truly provided me with a lot of opportunity" in addition to teaching her to make the best of a difficult situation, she said. "I turned Afghanistan into a positive experience, an incredible experience, and I'm able to share [it]." Since her return in April 2005, Stevens has frequently been invited to give talks on her experiences. She said it's an opportunity to give back, one that has only been fueled since her venture into pageantry. Her schedule is packed with speaking engagements at junior high and elementary schools, where she discusses her platform; "Ready When Disaster Strikes: Emergency Preparedness for Everyone," and teaches the importance of living life to the fullest. "I love giving back," she says, citing her opportunities as a Soldier, a medic, a nurse and now, a titleholder, "It gives me the best feeling in life; it's my passion." Stevens will compete for the Miss America crown in January 2008.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 5 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 13 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 13 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil