Kenyan-born soldier Mellon Laibich announced on August 14 that she has joined the United States Army after completing Combat Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Mellon Laibich graduated as a Private First Class (PFC) in the 68C Practical Nursing Specialist military occupational specialty.
“Graduating from US Army Combat Basic Training as a Private First Class with 68C MOS- Nursing. God, I’m forever humbled,” she said.
Under the 68C role, nurses provide preventive, therapeutic, and emergency nursing care to soldiers and their families under the supervision of medical professionals. The U.S. Army describes the position as an enlisted medical role.
Mellon Laibich Shares How She Trained and Completed Training
Laibich shared that completing the training required perseverance, discipline, sacrifice, and faith.
She described the programme as demanding, with long and exhausting days, homesickness, and physical and mental challenges.
“A long journey of intensive training. There were long and exhausting days, moments of doubt, homesickness, physical and mental exhaustion, and times when I wondered how much more I could take. But through it all, I kept moving forward,” she said.
She also thanked her parents, siblings, and other relatives in Kenya for their unwavering encouragement despite the distance.
Her family played a significant role during the training period. Laibich thanked her sister and relatives in the United States for their regular calls, prayers, and letters.
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Laibich also acknowledged friends who supported her throughout her military journey, including Marich Kip, who serves in the U.S. Navy, and Boreh Tony, a member of the U.S. Army.
Mellon said the experience taught her to keep moving forward during difficult moments and helped her discover greater strength in herself.
With basic training completed, she has begun her next chapter in the U.S. Army as a 68C Practical Nursing Specialist.
Before moving to the United States, Laibich lived in Kitale, Kenya. She studied Biomedical and Health Sciences at the Technical University of Kenya, specialising in the same field.
For her secondary education, she attended Kitale School.
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Her Rank and Salary
Laibich’s Private First Class (PFC) rank corresponds to E-3 in the U.S. Army’s enlisted pay structure. Her exact salary depends on factors including length of service.
The official 2026 military pay tables show that an E-3 with two years or less of service receives USD 2,836.80 per month in basic pay, equivalent to about USD 34,042 annually before deductions and allowances.
Military compensation can also include allowances. For 2026, the Basic Allowance for Subsistence for enlisted personnel is $328.48 per month, although eligibility and total compensation depend on individual circumstances.
The 68C designation determines Laibich’s military occupation, while her E-3 rank determines her basic military pay.
She will work as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) under the supervision of doctors and registered nurses.
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