For Sgt./E5 Kelli Lane, life in the U.S. Army has been a great career full of adventure and experiences.

“I like the camaraderie of the military, and the idea that I am doing something worthwhile and bigger than myself,” Lane said.

The Slidell resident has been in uniform for 12 years. For seven years she was in the Reserves, and she was put on active duty in 2005 right after Hurricane Katrina. Since then she was stationed in Baghdad, Iraq as an X-ray technician in a hospital in the Green Zone of the city.

Slidell resident Sgt. Kelli Lane giving an interview at Fort Bragg, N.C. (Courtesy Photo)

But that was not enough for her. When she returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, she decided it was time to try something new. While watching the military news on the Pentagon channel, she realized that broadcast journalism is what she wanted to do.

“I just thought it would be a cool job,” Lane said.

So when she re-enlisted, she requested training as a combat correspondent. Now the 32-year-old mother of three will be going back to Iraq in the next couple of months as a correspondent for the military.

She said she has not had a lot of experience at it yet. She has done some stories on training at Fort Bragg and has written a couple of articles for the camp’s newspaper, but Iraq will be her first real test as a reporter. But she thinks that she will do a good job.

“I come from a nosy family, and I learned to ask a lot of questions,” Lane said.

She said she looks forward to going back to Iraq to work as a press officer to the civilian press corps. However, she said her only regret is leaving her three children behind.

“You never appreciate your home until you leave it,” she said.

She said going back to Iraq would be an experience for her. Her first time over there, she said was “surreal.”

“It is a very old place. Parts of it are beautiful, but then the war has torn up a lot,” Lane said.

She said that being from southeastern Louisiana, Iraqi weather is odd.

“I was there for 15 months, and it only rained one day,” Lane said. “And the heat is so dry, a lot different from Slidell.”

But Lane is someone who relishes new things. Though a bit hesitant about returning to Iraq, she admits her first trip there was worthwhile.

“It was an interesting experience and it enriched my life,” she said.

She said she misses Slidell, and tries to come back twice a year just to sample her mother’s cooking.

“There’s nowhere else to get good Louisiana cooking and food,” she said with a laugh.

When she is not training to be a correspondent, Lane likes to shop, read, spend lots of time with her children, go hiking and participate in sports.

Oh and she is a big Saints fan, and predicts with authority that the team is going to the Super Bowl.

“We are going to have a big party here at Fort Bragg when they win,” Lane said.