2008 Woodie Awards
Pacific Personality: Nicolle Brossard
Sami Richards
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: A&E
She was later moved to Fort McCoy
Wisconsin on June 1, 2003. This is where the real work began. The base was for reserve soldiers and there was no mental health clinic established.
Brossard was one of a few people that helped form a mental health clinic for the base. Through the clinic she provided services for soldiers experiencing stress, family issues and problems that may have prevented them from performing overseas.
"Everyone knows how to do their job, but no one really knows right away how to deal with a new war," she said.
Brossard also did some work with returning soldiers. Helping with re-deployment, the term the clinic used for these soldiers, involved reintegrating them with family and dealing with changes they incurred while overseas. Jan. 1, 2005 was the end of Brossard's term at Fort McCoy.
It was time for her to go back to school and Pacific seemed to be the perfect fit.
Because of her extensive clinical experience in the army reserve, her knowledge of the importance of mental health clinics urged her to pursue this as a career opportunity. It has become a passion.
Pacific's academic prestige and strong psychology program is what attracted her to the campus. Because of the G.I. Bill benefits and her Active Reservist Tuition benefits, Brossard was able to apply. She currently is a transfer with junior status.
"Pacific was really great about taking my army credits," she said.
Her plans for the future are to finish her undergraduate work here and also apply to Pacific's Professional School of Psychology where she would like to get her masters in behavioral counseling. Yet, even today, it is a little unnerving for her that at anytime she can be called and mobilized again.
Because of her plans to have a family in the future and the responsibility and inconvenience that comes along with being a part of the reserve, Brossard does not plan to stick with the army forever. She is planning on ending her contract in September of 2009.
She says that, so far, Pacific has been a great place to be.
"Everyone has been really nice and supportive in their reactions to me being in the army."
Wisconsin on June 1, 2003. This is where the real work began. The base was for reserve soldiers and there was no mental health clinic established.
Brossard was one of a few people that helped form a mental health clinic for the base. Through the clinic she provided services for soldiers experiencing stress, family issues and problems that may have prevented them from performing overseas.
"Everyone knows how to do their job, but no one really knows right away how to deal with a new war," she said.
Brossard also did some work with returning soldiers. Helping with re-deployment, the term the clinic used for these soldiers, involved reintegrating them with family and dealing with changes they incurred while overseas. Jan. 1, 2005 was the end of Brossard's term at Fort McCoy.
It was time for her to go back to school and Pacific seemed to be the perfect fit.
Because of her extensive clinical experience in the army reserve, her knowledge of the importance of mental health clinics urged her to pursue this as a career opportunity. It has become a passion.
Pacific's academic prestige and strong psychology program is what attracted her to the campus. Because of the G.I. Bill benefits and her Active Reservist Tuition benefits, Brossard was able to apply. She currently is a transfer with junior status.
"Pacific was really great about taking my army credits," she said.
Her plans for the future are to finish her undergraduate work here and also apply to Pacific's Professional School of Psychology where she would like to get her masters in behavioral counseling. Yet, even today, it is a little unnerving for her that at anytime she can be called and mobilized again.
Because of her plans to have a family in the future and the responsibility and inconvenience that comes along with being a part of the reserve, Brossard does not plan to stick with the army forever. She is planning on ending her contract in September of 2009.
She says that, so far, Pacific has been a great place to be.
"Everyone has been really nice and supportive in their reactions to me being in the army."
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