Lisa Oneal’s retirement plan involves one thing: getting people off the streets.
Her career aspirations are moving toward a role working with troubled individuals and putting prevention plans in place to keep them safe and out of trouble. She’s already making connections and pushing the needle forward for a path after her time in the military comes to a close, and she uses both past and present family as motivation.
“I am on it,” she says. “I’m always thinking ahead.”
Redemption Through a Rocky Start
Lisa’s upbringing was not originally on track for a military career. Born in Lexington, KY, her childhood moved from stable to uncertain at a fast pace. A substance dependance meant that her mother became increasingly more absent throughout Lisa’s life, leaving her and her brother alone for long stretches of time until eviction notices began appearing at their residence.
When Lisa was grappling with her mother being gone, an unlikely source recognized her and her brother’s struggles and helped them along. Their landlord, concerned about the situation, took them in and cared for them. Now, Lisa calls him dad and his daughter her sister, and she visits them to this day.
“Her father took me in and completely raised me as his own,” Lisa says. “So, whenever I need support or even when I go home on leave without the kids, I go there. That is my home.”
Despite the support during her teenage years, Lisa struggled through school and home life. At 17, she was charged with truancy and quickly moved into a boot camp, which turned out to be a pivotal move.
“I didn’t feel like I had anybody guiding me and didn’t let me know the importance of education,” she says. “That program alone probably saved my life.”
There, Lisa was subjected to a strict regimen, which included chores, therapy, and a schedule for activities in between. Attending year-round school at the time gave her the opportunity to catch up and receive her high school diploma, but after graduating from the program at 18, Lisa felt she still needed structure in her life. She attended a state program that provided housing and food allowances on a conditional basis, but felt she was simply going through the motions.
“I went to a bluegrass community technical college in Kentucky,” Lisa explains, “but for students that are mentally not in it to get the education and are just there to be there, they’re not motivated to complete it.”
When she graduated from the program at 20, she took a job as a baker that wasn’t fulfilling. Frustrated, she went to her grandfather, a veteran with a 36-year career, and asked him about the military. He took her to a recruiting center to enlist, and that was the beginning of her long military career.
Worldwide Schooling
During her time in the military, Lisa has seen two deployments, one in Jordan and the other in the UAE. She started her career as a cook, working long hours managing the contracted third-country national (TCN) cooks onsite. During her down time, she would complete her coursework in the office computer, or work on her laptop during off days. She attributes her drive to succeed to her superiors that gave her the space and encouragement to study.
“Luckily, I had good leaders at the time that gave me the opportunity and the time to actually get into my studies,” she says.
Moving through life and career events deferred Lisa’s education. She eventually completed her bachelor’s degree in social and criminal justice from UAGC in February 2023. But with her time moving through the military — and having two children — it took her eight years to complete her degree, nearly twice the traditional amount of time.
Present Day Professions
While Lisa’s work ethic has shone throughout her entire adult life, it was after having her first daughter in 2020 that incited a new kind of drive to succeed. She was also pregnant with her second daughter when she graduated with her first bachelor’s degree, and she made it her mission to graduate with honors during that time.
“I never want them to feel like they don't have somebody,” she explains. “I'd never want them to feel like they don't have the support in the stability that I never had.”
Now Lisa holds several jobs, all relevant to her respective skills and interests. She is still on active duty, stationed in Fort Leavenworth with a mission training command position. She holds a human resources role, which involves training professionals in other units on handling financial information, deployment, and promotional moves for military members. As another part-time position, Lisa works for a crowd management and event security service, where she handles contract security jobs on days that she sets in advance. In yet another side job, Lisa is a professional photographer and conducts photo shoots of families and edits the portraits herself.
Her motive to maintain this level of employment is to take care of her family, and she claims that being a single mom helps her maintain accountability for herself as well.
“I am constantly thinking of the next way to improve our quality of life,” she says, “and I couldn't answer to how I do it, I just know that it has to get done, so I make it happen.”
Lisa is now working on her Master of Science in Criminal Justice specializing in homeland security through UAGC, with the ultimate goal of working for the FBI. She’s hoping to pursue a career specifically in criminal justice after she retires from the military, and is even considering returning for a second bachelor’s degree. Lisa’s grandfather followed a similar path, going on to receive his PhD through the army and work in the Kentucky Sheriff’s Department after his military exit, and she sees herself following a nearly identical journey.
Through all of her ventures, she credits her education as one of the main sources of her empowerment.
“I gain so much confidence because you always need a purpose,” Lisa says. “You wake up, you do the same job every day, but then what? What are we striving for? What's the end goal? College gave me that.”
--
Successful completion of the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program at the University of Arizona Global Campus by itself may not qualify a student for employment with a federal, state or local law enforcement agency. State and local police agencies may require training and certification specified by the individual state’s law enforcement board and may be provided post-hire at a police academy. Other federal, state and local agencies as well as private entities may have individualized requirements. Prospective students are advised to contact individual agencies and states’ law enforcement boards for additional information relating to these requirements. Students seeking licensure or certification in a particular profession are strongly encouraged to carefully research the requirements prior to enrollment. Requirements may vary by state. Further, a criminal record may prevent an applicant from obtaining licensure, certification, or employment in this field of study.
Certain degree programs may not be available in all states.