THE GOLD STANDARD Thursday, March 30, 2017 A3 Owens joins ROTC for money, loves Army, makes it 32-year career

needed that $100. Likes military “I always say that is why I signed up, but that’s not why I stayed. structure, Once I finished all of the training and joined the helping others military I realized that was the life that I want- By CATRINA FRANCIS ed to lead. I like the ACTING EDITOR structure of the military. And more than the omen in the structure of the military Army have I like my job. I think I not always found my calling. W Human resources is enjoyed total equality. Beginning with the what I do and what I country’s inception, love. I stayed because I women served in the found my passion.” Army in traditional roles Owens said after such as nurses, seam- graduation people in her stresses or cooks. hometown either stayed Women even had their at home and worked in own force–the Women’s the factory, joined the Army Corps, but that military or went away to changed when the WACs college. In Owens’ home- were disbanded in 1978 town there was a belief and women were inte- the smart kids went to grated into male units. college and the not so smart kids joined the Joining the Army Courtesy photo wasn’t even on U.S. military. Army Human Resources “I believed that same THEN COL. LYNNE OWENS IS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF BRIGADIER GENERAL BY HER MOTHER, Barbara Sumlin and husband, Command Deputy thing and that’s why I Rickey Owens, during a ceremony in her honor at the U.S. Army Reserve Command Headquarters at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Oct. Command General Brig. said I didn’t want to join 24, 2014. Owens previously served as the Army Reserve Command G-1 at Fort Belvoir, , and is presently deputy commanding Lynne Owens’ radar. the military,” she said, general at U.S. Army Human Resources Command. When she attend college “I’m smart and I want to She travels quite fre- in the ‘80s her major go to college, not know- quently for speaking was radio, TV and film ing I could go to college and join the military.” engagements and when because she dreamed of someone calls she rarely being the next Barbara lthough the turns them down. She Walters. military wasn’t spoke last month at “I got to college and A initially a family Cornell University and realized I was more of tradition, Owens said believed it was neces- an introvert … and she had two cousins who sary to attend because of didn’t like being in front had been drafted during the importance of stu- of the camera,” the . She dents seeing not only a explained Owens. “So I said none of her siblings women as a GO, but an decided I wanted to or first cousins joined African-American work the mili- women because there behind the “I tell them no tary and aren’t that many in the camera she was Army. but it was matter what you the first in Owens began noticing too late in her family the impact of being a college to are doing now put to do so. female GO during her change my “I’m travels. She prefers trav- major.” your Family first. happy to elling in her uniform While say I set a because it’s more conve- Photo by Charlie Leffl er, Visual Information Owens Whatever decision precedent,” nient. BRIG. GEN. LYNNE OWENS, U.S. ARMY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND DEPUTY COMMANDING was in col- she said. “When I travel I have GENERAL, AND COL. HIRONOBU TANAKA, personnel department chief, ground staff offi ce, lege she you make, make “Since I’ve to give myself extra Japan Ministry of Defense, exchange gifts prior to receiving a briefi ng on noncommissioned offi cer said a whatever the joined we time because someone development and management within the U.S. Army. The exchange took place at Fort Knox’s Lt. friend have mem- is going to stop (me) Gen. Timothy Maude Complex March 7. asked her best decision is bers of my and want to take pic- about join- family in tures,” she said about efore Owens was more than 32 years, she female then they are ing ROTC, for your Family, every ser- her travels. “I’ve had so promoted to knows there are only a just going to get out- and she vice except many people stop me Bbrigadier general few African-American worked. If that person is said she but accept what the Coast and say, ‘I’ve never she told then Maj. Gen. GOs. She said in the a male they are going to didn’t Guard. seen a black general Barrye Price that it Army Reserve there are get outworked. I think if want to be that may mean for Now it has before.’ When I speak at was a lot of pressure two African-American you focus on that the in the mil- become any function I’m going being a black female GO GOs and three in the people around you aren’t itary. She your career.” the family to be around for about because she felt like she active component. And if going to marginalize you was in business. I 15 or 20 minutes after- was carrying the whole Owens retires there will because you bring some- ROTC for — Brig. Gen. Lynne Owens think most ward. race on her shoulders. be one African-American thing to the table.” two years HRC DCG would “The first time Capt. “He said, ‘when you GO in the Army Reserve ver the years while in agree the (Jeremy) Preston, say pressure you are and she said that weighs Owens has been a junior college. military becomes the (the aide-de-camp to the kind of belittling the heavily on her mind. Omentor to Soldiers “(My friend) said, family business.” DCG), went out (with pressure (those who Even though Owens and she’s often asked ‘they pay you $100 per Owens said some of me) he said, ‘hey, ma’am came before you) went is one of two women about becoming a GO month,’” Owens said her Family members you are really popular.’ through, the people who general officers on Fort and how to get to that about ROTC. “I said, didn’t think about her Really it’s not me, it’s were the first of stuff,’” Knox, she attributes level. She tells people ‘where do I sign up?’ The having a career in the really the fact of what I said Owens. “He said, hard work for her suc- they have to find their next day I joined. I military until she look like. I look like ‘now are people going to cess, and she’s never passion and go toward would love to say I became a general . something they have not be looking at you? Yes, believed she was treated that. She also said while joined for some patriotic She said they knew she seen. And that’s not just because they are going differently because she’s working in a job Soldiers reason. I would love to was in the Army, but black females, it’s to look at any general a woman. can’t think about their say I joined because my now that she’ a GO, they females in general. officer.’ I got over myself “I have always said next promotion because relatives were in (the recognize she is a suc- (Mothers will) stop me thinking there was some I’m going to work harder that can’t be their moti- military). It wasn’t any cess. and want to take pic- added pressure.” than the person sitting vation. If it is they are of that. It was simply Owens pointed out tures with their daugh- Although Owens is to the left of me and the going to lose track what because ROTC was pay- she didn’t realize how ter because they want thinking about retiring person to the right of they are trying to do ing $100 per month. I impactful her rank was their daughter to see this summer from the me,” explained Owens. right now, and stop was struggling and I until she was promoted. that positive role model.” Army, a job she’s had for “If that person is a focusing on being a GO because they are think- ing four or five levels ahead. “I tell them no matter what you are doing now put your Family first,” Owens said. “Whatever decision you make, make whatever the best decision is for your Family, but accept what that may mean for your career. Always put your Family first and don’t feel guilty about it. Just accept that you may limit your career if you choose to put your Fam- ily first, but you need to be OK with that.” Although Owens has been successful in the military, she’s still see- ing a few firsts within the ranks. “I’m proud that the Army has always been at the forefront of social issues,” Owens said. “One of the things I’m most proud of is my (friend who) talked me into joining for that $100 per month. It made me part of an organiza- tion that has led from the front. Women were Photo by Daniela Vestal, U.S. HRC Public Affairs (treated) fairly in the BRIG. GEN. LYNNE OWENS (FROM LEFT), DEPUTY COMMANDING GENERAL, U.S. ARMY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND, Rickey Owens, Capt. Renee Zubik, DCG military before they aide-de-camp, and 1st Sgt. Carl Reynolds, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, HRC, cross the fi nish line of HRC’s inaugural Men’s Health fun run/walk to raise were treated fairly out- awareness of prostate cancer and related issues Sept. 10, 2015. side the military.” ■