Student Veteran Profile: Terra Regrut

By Cassie Williams Jones

Six years ago, Terra Regrut faced a critical turning point in her life. Just out of high school, she needed to decide what she was going to do next. She decided to join the Navy.

For her family, this decision came as quite a surprise; they couldn’t imagine that their girly daughter, who had once wanted to dance professionally, would become a soldier. But with a desire to be independent, and seeking out a way to see the world, Regrut enlisted, and got exactly what she was looking for.

She traveled to several states and throughout South America, Australia and Asia, and lived in Japan for three years. She spent several months at a time at sea, and then months back at the ship yards.

Aboard her ship, the U.S.S. George Washington, Regrut worked as a nuclear engineering lab technician. She finished her service ranked as an E6-MM1.

“I am blessed to have seen the world, and made lasting relationships with people,” she said. “It was definitely tough, but I grew up because of it.”

Looking back, the things that stand out most about her military service are the travel, the work experience and the people. Regrut is now enjoying the next challenge in her life – college.

Having visited VCU during her time in the Navy, Regrut already knew she liked the open campus. With her husband, Dale, who is a native of Richmond and who also finished his service in the military recently, Regrut decided to move to the area and to begin a new chapter in her life.

Regrut is a freshman pre-nursing student at VCU, and excited to pursue her interest in the medical field, something she’s had her entire life.

“VCU has an amazing nursing program, and I really like the fact that it has its own hospital,” she said.

Regrut looked forward to meeting new people and living the college life, but as a 25-year-old veteran, she was a little concerned about fitting in and relating to other students. However, she has been pleasantly surprised since she began her first semester in August.

“I love that there’s an older crowd here,” she said. Like many VCU students, diversity is one of the aspects she likes most about the university.

She has also found refuge in the Student Veterans Association (SVA), an organization with which she serves as the secretary. Having others that share her experience is comforting, and has helped her settle in to her new role as a student.

The university has also provided services and help with her transition from a service woman of the United States military to a civilian student.

“VCU is so supportive to veterans,” she said. “I love how easy they make it.”