Carly Schroeder

Carly Schroeder's path from child actress to Army officer is anything but ordinary. She began acting in 1995, building a career in film and television while growing up in Valparaiso, Indiana. In February 2019, she announced she would join the United States Army, a major shift from her Hollywood work.

She attended Officer Candidate School and graduated with a commission as a Second Lieutenant on September 20, 2019. Now a First Lieutenant and Infantry Officer, she has earned the Parachutist Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Infantry Shoulder Cord. At 35, she balances her military duties with a public presence, keeping her 65,000 Instagram followers updated. Schroeder remains American, blonde, and blue-eyed, with a slim build.

Her story shows how someone can reinvent their life entirely.