The Army has been the centerpiece in the Harris family's life for more than 10 years. The family has always lived in base housing.

The children were born at military hospitals and played in on-base recreational soccer and basketball leagues.

Staff Sgt. Tracy Harris, his wife, Jenise, and their two children, Tracy Jr. and Jalon, have embraced Army life.

But that will come to an end in the coming months.

Tracy, who works as a supply sergeant for the 3-2 Stryker Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is in the process of retiring at the behest of the Army's medical board. Last month he was told he was not fit for duty due to chronic ankle injuries.

"Since I can't carry a rucksack and body armor, they said I'm unfit (for duty)," said Tracy, a Florida native.

Tracy planned on a 20-year (or more) career of military service when he enlisted out of high school 12 years ago. He married Jenise, a military brat, when the two met while he was stationed at Fort Jackson, S.C.

"It's all I've really known my whole life," said Jenise, whose father and two brothers are veterans and sister serves in the Air Force. "It is bittersweet."

While running with his unit during PT a few years ago, Tracy heard a pop in his ankle. He got treatment for it, but over the years he put more stress on the other ankle, causing it to give him problems. Despite the pain, Tracy deployed with this unit to Iraq in 2009 for a one-year tour. The long days on his feet in the desert and all the heavy lifting left a mark.

"That's when it really hurt," the Soldier said.

Tracy now has to wear braces on his ankles when he's working at his unit's shop and leading his son's soccer practice. He knows the continued stress on his ankles could severely affect life in the future if he doesn't take care of himself.

"I want to be able to stand at my son's high school graduation," the father said.
As it is now, family activities are limited with Tracy's injuries.

"We can't do any spontaneous family walking," said Jenise, who works as an auditor on base for the Department of Defense. "We have to limit it before his feet start bothering him."

Although the family is unsure what the future holds, they are ready to tackle any challenges head-on. Tracy is in the midst of entering the Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment program with an eye toward earning his bachelor's degree in accounting.

"I just started planning after the first medical board meeting," he said. "I do know I'm ready for college and I have some realistic goals set."

The family plans on staying in the Lacey/Olympia area as they embark on their new post-military life.

"Even though I'm getting out, I still have a lot of pride in the military," Tracy said.

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