Thank You for Your Service, Kentrena Bohm

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) – Marine veteran Kentrena Bohm said where she grew up there wasn’t much to do.

“I was working a really good job and I was bored. So, actually at 21 is when I joined the Marine Corps,” Bohm told 7 NEWS.

Bohm said she knew it would be hard but she was up for the challenge.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy because it’s not,” Bohm said. “But mentally, I think I was a little bit more prepared.”

Bohm entered the Signals Intelligence field as a Communicator

“I dealt with all things, networking,” Bohm explained. “All things satcom, satellite communications related and radios.”

Skills she used when she deployed to Afghanistan in 2011.

“My job was to ensure they had coms [communications]. So that I could help troubleshoot their coms to send them crypto which is how secure coms can happen between radios,” she said. “So the enemy is not able to intercept your communications.”

After Afghanistan, Bohm had a brief deployment to Germany then back to the States where her role transitioned from student to instructor.

“I actually became a Marine Analysis and Reporting Instructor, which is kind of unheard of for my job field as a 2651,” said Bohm.

Physical injuries from training led Bohm to retire in 2018 medically.

Her work turned into government contracting, which she continues to do today.

That, along with volunteering with several veteran organizations.

“My most recent endeavors, I am an ambassador for Project Zero,” Bohm shared. “We’re supporting vets through adventure therapy. We have jeeps, we go off-roading, camping.”

Bohm said it’s important to get out there and show vets that another side of life still exists.

“Because a lot of times I have lots of friends myself, you know, we, we just internalize you know, suffering pain, some P.T.S.D.,” Bohm said. “I’ve been in those low dark places. It’s important to get out.”

Bohm said she hopes to see the future put a heavier focus on getting vets more help.

“There’s an organization out there trying to support veterans and finding those is important and promoting those are important,” said Bohm.

Kentrena Bohm, Thank You for Your Service.

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