November 10th, 2010
10:58 PM ET

At 30, beginning a new life with the military

At 30, Raquel Espinosa does not fit the profile of an average Army recruit.

Each person who joins the military has a story about the journey that led them to enlistment, what they hope to get from their tour of duty and what they are leaving behind while they serve.

Raquel Espinosa's story starts a little later in life. At 30 years old, she's not your average recruit, who tends to enroll at 19.

Espinosa has picked Military Intelligence as her specialty and hopes to become an agent with the FBI or CIA after her service.

Until then, she's putting a lot on hold.

“I’m married, my sister is about to give birth to a baby and I don’t know if I’ll be here for that and my father is ill,” said Espinosa.

But the military can’t wait for her schedule, she said.

“You just have to do it. There’s never a good time. But I have to realize that in the end it will be for something much grander than I can imagine."

Listen to the full story here:

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Filed under: Military
soundoff (15 Responses)
  1. Daniel

    Somebody needs to get across to these broads and make it clear to them that there's no glory in killing,only heartache. Contrary to what most Americans believe,killing is only one thing,bad,bad,bad!!!

    November 10, 2010 at 11:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • Bob

      These "broads" are right.....dr bad is and idiot!

      November 10, 2010 at 11:56 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Mehdi General Dr Bad

    mor eintercpted-blocked messages.

    November 11, 2010 at 12:45 am | Report abuse |
  3. Mehdi General Dr Bad

    now as your troops die and you go in debt. dont ask why.
    you and your women are trash.
    sad Good Troops Die instead of you.

    November 11, 2010 at 12:46 am | Report abuse |
  4. dude

    Dr bad! Where u been brother? How's ur mehdi-cam doing? Your mama drop u on your head when u was little?

    November 11, 2010 at 1:16 am | Report abuse |
  5. cesar

    AHEAD OF THE CURVE What's wrong CNN? You don't want to let the American people in on the little secret? No one seems to care. It is insane. I'll tell you what this country needs. We need more Pepsi and aluminum foil!

    November 11, 2010 at 6:45 am | Report abuse |
  6. connie

    do u think you did the military a favor you are lust a another body then you are rather old private

    November 11, 2010 at 7:49 am | Report abuse |
  7. cesar

    @That's right Dr. Bad, listen to Connie. You are just another private, but in your case discharged with a Section 8, cause you're looney, nuts, crazy, off your bonkers, insane, paranoid, delusional and in need of more Valproic acid.

    November 11, 2010 at 8:51 am | Report abuse |
  8. K jacktown michigan

    he (dr.bad) off his meds again? He is a joke, honestly glad he made it out to b.c., were better off without a loose cannon like that! What a moron, he will single handedly ruin us all! Run, dr. Evil is loose!

    November 11, 2010 at 12:28 pm | Report abuse |
  9. armywife20

    Ms. Espinoza is no different than any other recruit. Everyone has challenges & issues in their lives. I'm sorry she will miss her sister giving birth but is that worse than a soldier missing the birth of his child? Or the soldier whose parent, grandparent, etc dies while they're deployed?

    November 11, 2010 at 12:40 pm | Report abuse |
    • modest13

      Armywife20; it doesn't seem to me that Mrs. Espinosa is trying to say that she is any different, nor that her plight is any worse than anyone else's; in fact, in the audio portion, she recognizes that there is never a "good time" for anyone to do these types of things,as there is always a death, a birth, illness etc. (i understand that to mean not just in her family, but in anyone's family). but you are right; it is no different than the poor soldier who misses the birth of his own child or the soldier who's parents pass away while he/she is deployed...they are all sad realities that every soldiers, marines, airmen and seamen must face when deciding whether or not to serve their country in this capacity.

      November 11, 2010 at 1:57 pm | Report abuse |
    • Maria Elena Javier

      Mrs. Raqui Espinosa never claimed to be. In fact she acknowledged that life doesn't wait for anyone, civilian or military , no matter whan branch. She is Brave and she is Beautiful and I am Proud to be the mother of a future soldier.

      November 11, 2010 at 4:00 pm | Report abuse |
  10. SemperFi96

    Hi

    November 11, 2010 at 1:26 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Mehdi General Dr Bad

    1.Mehdi General Dr Bad
    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Sue

    America rules this world so get use to it!!!!lol you pathedic sand monkey

    November 10, 2010 at 10:45 pm | Report abuse |
    Katy

    Now that funny!!!! Sand monkey, I love it!!! Maybe we Americans should all have our own little sand monkey and walk IT on a leash!!!LOL

    November 10, 2010 at 10:49 pm | Report abuse |
    Cindy

    Now girls that wasn't very nice!!! After all monkeys have small brains!!! But maybe we could train they to wipe are superior American butts just to put them in their place and teach them how to show respect!!!!!LOL

    November 10, 2010 at 10:55 pm | Report abuse |
    Ms. Morgan

    Maybe if I put my strap-on dick on and rode his monkey butt till he beg for mercy he'd learn some respect for us Americans!!!! LOL

    November 10, 2010 at 11:01 pm | Report abuse |

    November 10, 2010 at 11:38 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    ,,,

    November 11, 2010 at 1:38 pm | Report abuse |
  12. meeee

    If it werent for monkeys we wouldnt have a president

    November 11, 2010 at 4:29 pm | Report abuse |
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