Faces on Station: From hip surgery to half marathon— A Soldier’s 10-year battle

“I was told I would never be able to run again,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Morgan Kenelly, a veterinary food inspection specialist assigned to Veterinary Readiness Activity, Fort Bragg, attached to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.

Kenelly, who was raised in Pendleton, South Carolina, said that although she did well in school, she often found herself bored, causing her adventurous nature to lead her to prioritize spontaneous fun over responsibilities. Determined to take control of her future, she decided to enlist in the U.S. Army in June 2015.

“I needed something more disciplined to ensure I wouldn’t go down a bad path,” Kenelly said. “The military created the perfect opportunity for me to stay disciplined while pursuing my education.”

Once enlisted, she found exactly what she was looking for: a standard to uphold for herself.

Along the way, Kenelly discovered an unexpected passion for her career field. By combining food safety and veterinary services through health inspections and preventive measures against contamination and bioterrorism, Kenelly helps uphold military standards of excellence and readiness in support of service members and their families across the installation.

However, two years into her enlistment, Kenelly’s mental fortitude was put to the test. Severe hip pain from running led her to seek a medical evaluation, and within four months, she would undergo surgery.

“After my first hip surgery, it was 50-50 whether I’d be able to stay in the military because I didn’t know if I would be able to recover,” Kenelly recalled.

Following her initial surgery to repair a hip labral tear, Kenelly spent a month on crutches. The procedure left her with limited mobility and intense postoperative pain for months. Whether answering emails at the office or working from home, Kenelly said she never allowed herself to step away from her duties during her recovery because she didn’t want to disappoint her troops.

One surgery alone was not enough to resolve the damage. A severe pelvic fracture later required additional surgical intervention, leaving her with torn tendons and a structural deformity in her pelvis.

“It shredded everything,” Kenelly said.

By October 2025, two primary care physicians had told Kenelly that she would never be able to run again. Rather than accepting their assessments, she channeled her frustration into a relentless determination to surpass those medical expectations.

“I needed to pass PT tests, so I said, ‘You know what? Watch this,’” Kenelly said. “And so, I did.”

Along with continuing physical therapy, she developed a training plan that ultimately surprised medical professionals, family members and friends. First, she focused on building muscle to better support her hips. Then, she began running every other day while limiting her training to no more than five days a week, a personal limit she established to prevent further irritation to her injuries. In addition to weightlifting and running, she also had to train for the Army fitness test, which evaluates cardiovascular fitness, strength, endurance and flexibility.

“The past five or six months, she’s been really persistent with her fitness,” said U.S. Army Capt. Emily Spink, a field veterinary service officer assigned to VRA, Fort Bragg, attached to MCAS Cherry Point.

Although it is easy to get tied up behind a computer completing mission requirements, Kenelly always found time during her lunch break and other spare moments to go for a run with her dog, Lincoln, Spink said.

When asked how she kept going despite her setbacks, Kenelly pointed to two specific sources of motivation.

“Lincoln, my wonderful hound dog, he is my biggest motivator,” Kenelly said.

In addition to her dog, Kenelly said the support of her captain has played a significant role in her recovery and ability to perform at her current level.

As of October 2026, Kenelly said her recovery is ongoing, but her progress continues to motivate her to move forward.

With the support of her team and her own tenacity, Kenelly has not only improved her running speed and endurance but also rediscovered her passion for running. She said she has never felt more physically fit and plans to run a half-marathon in December. She also plans to enter a HYROX fitness competition next year, which combines endurance and functional strength.

“It’s about your mentality,” Kenelly said. “The hardest part isn’t the physical aspect; it’s the mental aspect. If you want it bad enough, you’ll absolutely be able to figure out a way to make it happen.”

Kenelly continues to push beyond the mental and physical limitations of her recovery, proving to be an indispensable asset to MCAS Cherry Point. She currently holds four billets and is recognized by her command as an exemplary service member. (U.S. Marine Corps story by Cpl. Emma Powell)

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