AMHERST – With college behind her, Joanna Bridge is ready to start the military career she has dreamed of since she was a little girl, and last Thursday at the White House, Bridge received a presidential send-off.

Bridge, 22, a 2003 graduate of Souhegan High School, received her commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the first Joint Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) commissioning ceremony ever held at the White House.

With President Bush standing by, ROTC members representing all 50 states and U.S. territories took an oath administered by Gates to defend the Constitution.

"Many of you were still in high school when terrorists brought death and destruction to our streets on September the 11th, 2001," Bush told the new officers, according to an official transcript of the ceremony. "And yet, some of you understood that the cause of freedom would soon depend on your generation's willingness to step forward to defend it. And when it came time to be counted, each of you volunteered, knowing full well the risks involved during a time of war.

Joanna Bridge of Amherst swears to uphold the Constitution as a member of the United States Navy at a commissioning ceremony at the White House last Thursday. (COURTESY)

"As your commander-in-chief, I salute your decision to serve, and I congratulate you on a fine achievement," Bush said.

Bridge, who was picked from a wide field of candidates to represent New Hampshire, gladly swore her allegiance and accepted a shiny pair of gold bars to wear on her uniform.

"It was a pretty amazing opportunity," said Bridge, who's at home in Amherst for a short break before heading to Japan to serve as a communications officer aboard the USS McCampbell.

Since about fifth grade, Bridge knew that she wanted to serve in the Navy.

"It sounds silly, but I saw the movie The Hunt for Red October,' and I told my parents that I wanted to join the Navy," she said. Her parents initially dismissed the childhood dream, but when Bridge became a Sea Cadet in middle school, her future came sharply into focus for her parents.

"I'm their only child, so they were nervous," Bridge said. "But now they're excited and pretty proud."

Bridge, who attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., on a full Naval ROTC scholarship, graduated with high distinction from the school on May 19 with a degree in civil engineering.

In a few weeks, she will leave for a 21-month tour aboard the McCampbell before returning to the United States to attend the Navy's Nuclear Power School in South Carolina.

The fact that the United States is at war isn't a concern for Bridge.

"I'm excited that I can actually be doing what I've been trained to do," said Bridge.

For the next five years, Bridge belongs to the Navy, so in the short term, her future seems pretty well settled. As for what she'll do after her first tour is up, Bridge is less certain.

"I may end up staying in the Navy for 20 years, or I may get out and just be a mom," she said. "What I want to do keeps changing every day."

The only regret Bridge has about leaving is having to say goodbye to her parents and to her boyfriend, Patrick.

"I have a great relationship with my parents, and I'm really going to miss them," she said.