Deploying to hostile countries like Afghanistan can be scary. But for Spc. Carmen Wesseling, white water rafting in Europe is even more frightening.
In 2010, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Reserve Soldier, now 23, went white water rafting in Austria. Even after serving more than three years on active duty with the Army, her adrenaline didn't peak as high as when she faced the dangerous rapids.
"I thought, ?oh my God, I love sports like this,'" she said. "It was intense.? We almost died," she said jokingly, "but it was fun."
Wesseling's glorified near-death experience hasn't steered her away from the sport.? During this time of the year, her favorite outdoor activity remains white water rafting.
She visited Wenatchee for the second time a few months ago, and she plans to go on a level four grade white water trip later this month. Level six is the highest and is considered extremely dangerous - even deadly.
Part of the reason she enjoys white water rafting so much is the teamwork.
"You learn to work together," she said. "Everybody has to be in sync with one another."
Wesseling has always been active by nature, and she's always wanted to try different things. She enjoys just about any type of recreation activity, as long it gets her adrenaline going. In addition to white water rafting, she's tried a variety of intense sports like swimming, hiking, skydiving, skeet shooting, paint ball shooting and jet skiing.
The Summer Olympic Games in London has inspired the Lakewood resident, who is originally from Berkeley, Calif., to join the Tacoma Swim Club in September.
"Sports relaxes me and helps me stay focused," she said. "It kept me from a lot of bad things like gangs. It fills the void."
In March, Wesseling was honorably discharged from the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. She's currently a Reservist in the 175th Transportation Company.
She's also a full-time student at Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom and is planning on graduating by the spring of 2014. She wants to earn a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Puget Sound University and land a job working at a fishery or the Environmental Protection Agency.
Wesseling enjoyed her active-duty time in the military because it was disciplined and structured.
"I wanted to follow the footsteps of my grandparents," she said. "Instead of wasting my life away and not doing anything, I figured if I joined the military, it'd be a good experience."
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