Former “Lizzie McGuire” actress Carly Schroeder has left Hollywood and enlisted in the Army. The 28-year-old who played Melina Bianco in 12 episodes in the Disney Channel series told TMZ on Wednesday that she “been considering it for a while and it is a big choice.”
Schroeder said that working with veterans and advocating for human trafficking victims was behind her decision.
She’s undergone numerous training courses and is interested in working in military intelligence after she completes Officer Candidate School, she says.
Schroeder has documented her military training on her Instagram account with gunsblazing.
She announced her move in February, writing on Instagram, For 22 years, I’ve played dress up for a living. As an actress I’ve been kidnapped, gone blind, nearly eaten by lions and murdered on more than one occasion. I tormented Lizzie McGuire’s little brother on the Disney channel, was a dolphin trainer, the first female soccer player on an all boys team and Harrison Ford once rescued me during an intense home invasion.
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That’s exciting and all, but in January I decided to raise my right hand and swear into the United States Army. With a college degree from @callutheran in Criminal Justice, an ASVAB score of 92, and qualifying PFTs… I was accepted into Army #OCS (Officer Candidate School).
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There are three BIG reasons (among many others) why I am taking a break from Hollywood to #goarmy
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1. College opened my eyes to global injustices. But on a more tangible micro level, there is human trafficking occurring within the United States. I’ve written papers, spread awareness and as an Army Officer I intend to learn skills I can later apply when I’m on a team helping these victims.
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2. Serving my country will give my voice more validity. I can better serve and advocate for veterans once I am a part of their community. The military is a family and family always has each others back.
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3. My brother is a Marine and my Papa was a Green Beret… There is no way I am going to let the boys have all the fun. #hooah#actresstoarmy#startedondisneynowimhere 💁🏼♀️She explained that going to college enlightened her about global injustice, explaining, “On a more tangible micro level, there is human trafficking occurring within the United States. I’ve written papers, spread awareness and as an Army Officer I intend to learn skills I can later apply when I’m on a team helping these victims.”
“Serving my country will give my voice more validity. I can better serve and advocate for veterans once I am a part of their community,” she added. “The military is a family and family always has each others back.”
Source: Fox News
