Port Charles and General Hospital alum Carly Schroeder enlists in the Army

Former soap opera star Carly Schroeder (ex-Serena Baldwin, General Hospital/Port Charles) has traded learning lines for learning military moves as a student of the Army Officer Candidate School.

Daytime alum Carly Schroeder, who played Serena Baldwin on both Port Charles and General Hospital, is proud to share that she is attempting to be all that can she be as a new member of the Army.

The Indiana native took to Instagram to share that she has traded in acting for another challenge she feels deserves her attention at the moment: enlisting in the Army Officer Candidate School.

"For 22 years, I've played dress up for a living. As an actress I've been kidnapped, gone blind, nearly eaten by lions and murdered on more than one occasion," she shares. "I tormented Lizzie McGuire's little brother on the Disney channel, was a dolphin trainer, the first female soccer player on an all boys team and Harrison Ford once rescued me during an intense home invasion."

She continues: "That's exciting and all, but in January I decided to raise my right hand and swear into the United States Army. With a college degree from Cal Lutheran in Criminal Justice, an ASVAB score of 92, and qualifying PFT's, I was accepted in to Army Officer Candidate School."

The actress, who has been performing on a professional level since the late 90s, also shares a couple of major reasons why she made the decision to join the Army.

"College opened my eyes to global injustices, but on a more tangible micro level, there is human trafficking occurring within the United States. I've written papers, spread awareness, and as an Army Officer, I intend to learn skills I can later apply when I'm on a team helping these victims," she writes, adding: "Serving my country will give my voice more validity. I can better serve and advocate for veterans once I am a part of their community. The military is family and family always has each others' back."

Plus, her decision means she can keep up with family traditions: "My brother is a Marine and my Papa was a Green Beret," Schroeder shares. "There is no way I am going to let the boys have all the fun!"

Schroeder joined the cast of Port Charles as Serena Baldwin in 1997 and played the character until 2003. She took Serena to General Hospital on several occasions, the most recent stint being in 2017. Schroeder was twice nominated for a Young Artist Award for her work on Port Charles (in 1999 and again in 2000), as well as a Young Star Award nomination in 1999 for Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Daytime TV Program.

In addition to her daytime credits, Schroeder's rsum includes Dawson's Creek, George Lopez, Lizzie McGuire, Ghost Whisperer, and Law & Order: SVU.

To see Schroeder in training action, check out the Instagram video below.

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