Niles native Amanda Albright is back in the United States after spending nine months in Afghanistan as a member of the Army’s 13th Military Police Company.

What is she looking forward to most about being home?

“Going to the Berrien County [Youth] Fair and the corn dog stand,” said Albright, whose parents are Robin and Carl Archer, of Niles.

Albright grew up in Niles and went to school at Oak Manor, Ring Lardner and Niles High before graduating from Berrien Springs High School in 2011.

She enlisted in the Army her senior year of high school and graduated from basic and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in February 2012. She’s a military police officer with a rank of specialist E4, which is one step above a private and one below a sergeant. Her station is Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Albright was deployed to Afghanistan on Oct. 31, 2012, and returned July 17, 2013.

She could only say that she performed “detention operations” while in Afghanistan.

“I enjoyed it and wish I was still there to be honest with you,” said Albright. “You are there for so long that you get used to it.

“I plan on making it (Army) a career. A lot of people say the Army life isn’t for everyone and that’s true, but it is for me. I feel a sense of belonging and enjoy what I do.”

On Monday, Albright began a month of leave from her duties at Fort Leonard Wood. She said she was last in Niles in October 2012.

She isn’t sure if she will be redeployed to Afghanistan.