Becoming a Unicorn of the Sea

Ok. Time to expand, Amber...are you now a norwhal?

As my alter ego Unicarnal, my only illegitimate child was a norwhal thanks to the handsome Killer Whale...as myself, however, I will be forged by the sea as a Mass Communication Specialist (MC) for The US Navy. This is essentially considered a "Unicorn" rate of The Navy because it is a rare journalism-based assignment offered to a very small percentage of the population.

Still not what I was expecting. Why The Navy now? Ever?

Military has been in my blood growing up. My grandpa George was a Navy Veteran and had a mermaid tattoo on his bicep he could make dance with his flexing. Since I can remember, I always wanted to be a Navy mermaid.

As an actress, most Marvel/DC characters I look up to served in the military. Back in June 2019, I was supposed to test for The Navy in the Sherman Oaks office and the recruiter did not show up. While I was waiting in the parking lot, I got a call to be on a pilot on the East Coast and a few weeks later tested pregnant with Ariel. So - here I am, 4.5 years later testing successfully and securing a job within alignment of what I've done at the Studios. Not only that, but if I'd joined before having kids, I would not think to pass the education down to them.

Speaking of the kids, are you able to take them with you?

During the training process, no. Nevertheless, half a year's training for the betterment of the family's future is a small investment compared to the lifetime experiences we will have for the rest of our lives - not to mention the additional support and love the military community has to offer.

You have never struck me as the military type...

[Laughing] It was super funny when the officer presented my rate and announced "Instead of holding a gun you'll be holding a camera!" Their process was incredibly intuitive in my experience.

I definitely felt a total peace being there. I even got the honor to meet the singer for the president. He beat 300 auditioners and his assignment is so important he will not even be deployed - yet everyone has to do bootcamp. Maybe we will be in bootcamp together!

Speaking of deployed, where will you be going after training?

I've always been a family woman and this rate will include short-term traveling no matter what - so I am hoping and praying for LAX. They actually need an MC there currently and I want nothing more than the honor to cover military attendance to Dodger games.

As far a being deployed, it's a wild card. It's obviously an enormous sacrifice, but I've already been on the tear-gassed frontlines in Palestine and I do have very rare training for these potential life experiences.

Watching Across the Spiderverse the other day, I was very tearful and conflicted. I have always wanted to get wild and do what I love to do - and loyalty to my family has always held me back. Yet - due to many family emergencies the past few years and the shifting of my identity when breaking away from codependent lifestyles - I'm learning that being who I really am is loyalty to my family in the bigger picture.