The Journey Thus Far- Military Life Edition

Katie Johnson
Jun 25, 2021
3 min read

Hey Hey!

If you are reading this, chances are you either know Bryan and I, or Cindy Kimble sent you this link. (Ha! Thanks mom for being our #1 fan!)

A good friend of mine suggested I write a blog about Bryan and I's journey as we move literally across the world to Japan for the next two years. At first, I was hesitant...who really wants to read what I have to say? But it did get me thinking and--if for nothing else-- this blog is for me when I am old and grey and need to remember the amazing life I got to live. If you are reading this, then welcome! I hope you enjoy my rambles and feel like you got a taste of our adventures!

Long story short:

Our military journey began years back when Bryan was applying to dental school and shadowing different dentists back in North Carolina. After speaking with two different dentists who had careers that began with the Navy, Bryan was locked in. Get the military to pay for his schooling? Check. Now I was a little more hesitant...the military was a big choice AND it would mean moving away from both our homes and families...but the chance to travel and live in new places had me hooked! Fast forward to 2016, where Bryan was chosen to receive the Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP) Scholarship that paid him an active-duty enlisted salary throughout dental school (of which he was to pay all dental school tuition and fees), in trade for 4 years of continued service post-grad. We were excited that Bryan got this scholarship over the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPCP), because this one counted his years of dental school as active duty years, thus towards retirement. (I'm telling you, when we make a choice, we are all in! Bring on the next 20 years!)

circa 2016 when Bryan found out he was accepted to ECU! Peep our first baby, Hugo, getting in on the excitement! — 2016: Bryan was accepted to ECU

ree — 2017: The year we adopted Reynolds!

In December 2019, Bryan applied for residencies through the Navy to continue his education. We lucked out with his first choice in residency options- a General Practice Residency (GPR) at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton near Oceanside, CA! With COVID shutting down everything in March 2020, Bryan headed off to Newport, Rhode Island for Officer Development School (ODS), while I quit my job as a high school librarian, and then took on the role of "military spouse" as I scheduled movers, planned a cross-country adventure and prepared the pups for a new life on the West Coast! In June 2020, Bryan returned as LT Johnson, Dental Corps, USN, and we hit the road as we trekked from NC to CA!

During the year of COVID, Bryan and I lived our lives to the fullest! We did everything possible in Southern California: kayaking the La Jolla caves, scuba diving off the coast of Catalina Island, becoming season ticket holders to the San Diego Zoo, hot air balloon sunrise tour followed up with day drinking in Temecula Wine Country, taking surf lessons, visiting Legoland and Seaworld, horseback riding to the Hollywood Sign, and we even lucked out and hit Disneyland TWICE during their 35% capacity time right when they opened in June 2021! We stayed safe and followed COVID guidelines, but we made sure to do as much as possible during our one year there! Oh, and Bryan got to do some cool dental things too.