BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Just a few months after walking across the stage as a Martin County High School graduate in Inez, Kentucky, Angelina Moore walked onto another field Aug. 20 with a much different title.

Soldier.

The former Lady Cardinals basketball player completed U.S. Army Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood after spending the summer adjusting to a life far removed from the one she knew back home in Martin County.

Her family attended Family Day at Fort Leonard Wood on Aug. 19, then watched her graduate the following day.

For Moore, simply reaching that moment was enough.

“I can’t believe that I made it this far to be standing on this field,” Moore said. “I was just so happy to know that. I didn’t think of much else.”

Her mother, Jessica Allen-Parsley, was waiting when Moore was released.

“After Angelina was dismissed from formation at graduation, our reunion was filled with so much emotion,” Allen-Parsley said. “After a few tears, we were finally able to start reconnecting.”

Months away from home had left a noticeable mark.

“Even before we talked, you could see the physical change in her,” Allen-Parsley said. “Her body has changed so much in such a short amount of time. She stands taller, speaks more clearly, and most of all, her confidence has grown tremendously.”

Moore also follows a family tradition of military service. Allen-Parsley previously served in the Army National Guard during Operation Iraqi Freedom and has now watched her daughter begin a military career of her own.

Angelina’s father, James Moore, also made the trip to Fort Leonard Wood. He is a familiar face in Martin County basketball through his work as an official.

“Seeing Angelina for the first time at graduation is something I’ll never forget,” James Moore said. “As her dad, I knew she was coming home stronger, tougher and more confident, but seeing her standing there in that uniform made it real.”

For James Moore, the difference went beyond what could be seen at first glance.

“I could immediately see a difference in her, not just physically, but in the way she carried herself,” he said. “There was a confidence and a maturity in her that wasn’t there when I dropped her off. I’m so proud of the woman she’s becoming.”

It was also the longest Angelina had ever been away from her family.

“Angelina has never been away from home for such a long period of time, so watching her navigate this experience and come out stronger has been incredible,” Allen-Parsley said. “I could not be more proud of her or more excited to see what she does next.”

Moore enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard before graduating from MCHS in May. She signed on as a 92Y, a unit supply specialist, and will serve with the 201st Engineer Battalion.

When Moore spoke with the Mountain Citizen in May, she was preparing to trade high school life for the Army’s structured environment. The transition proved to be one of the summer’s biggest tests.

“The hardest thing was having to adapt to essentially a completely different world and overcome obstacles you can’t imagine as a civilian,” Moore said.

That adjustment reached into nearly every part of daily life.

“It was difficult, I’ll admit that, because you’re pretty much throwing away how you did things back home,” Moore said. “It was frustrating, yes, but there was a reason behind it, from the way they held our cup in the DFAC (dining facility) to how we held a push-up and how we held a weapon. There was always a reason behind something.”

Before leaving for training, Moore said that basketball had taught her to handle criticism in high-intensity situations and work as part of a team.

At Fort Leonard Wood, one day in particular brought that lesson back to the forefront.

“It was the first time I had seen my platoon actually act like a team during our cycle and hype each other up,” Moore said of the confidence course. “They never gave up on anyone, and we chanted cadences until the last person got through.”

For a former Lady Cardinal accustomed to sharing victories and setbacks with teammates, the experience stuck with her.

“Something about that day just really made my heart swell up,” Moore said. “It was such a great feeling.”

By the end of basic training, Moore’s definition of a soldier centered on teamwork, discipline and accountability.

“To me, being a soldier means that you’re always there for your teammate or battle buddy no matter the situation,” Moore said. “They’re tough and disciplined, but not enough to be bullheaded. They’re open-minded and still passionate. They’re accountable and honest with integrity even if no one is looking.”

Basic training is only the first portion of Moore’s military journey.

She will next head to Advanced Individual Training, where she will receive specialized instruction for her job as a 92Y Unit Supply Specialist.

Moore previously said she plans to continue her education, majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology with hopes of eventually becoming a psychologist, potentially in a school setting.