Fall 2015 the Newsletter of the U.S
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Honoring Service & Sacrifice The Flagpole Fall 2015 The Newsletter of the U.S. Army Women’s Foundation Volume LXVI No. 2 President’s Message When I joined in 1974, the Army was much different than specialist in Iraq in 2004, guarding the rooftop of a These scholarships help students such as: PFC Jenna today’s Army. Married women had only recently been military police station. When the enemy launched rocket- Licorish and SPC Stephanie Padilla complete their allowed to enlist. Women were discharged when they propelled grenades her way, she was hit. Her thigh and community college programs; ROTC CDT Carolyn became pregnant. The military service academies and face were injured, and the lower part of her left arm was Denny and ROTC SGT Kimberly Denny, and Army widow ROTC had not yet opened to women. All women were gone. She recovered and left the Army, but not her Tonya Armstead, work toward their bachelor degrees; and assigned to women-only units. comrades in arms. Danielle works now for the Veterans 1LT Aimee Reisbeck, MAJ Cristina Gonzales and CPT Administration, as a supervisory readjustment counselor Sharon Height earn their graduate degrees. We also award Today, women fight on the blurred front lines of combat. therapist. You might have recently heard her name as the scholarships to Army women’s sons and daughters, such as Like SSG Julia Stalker, they dangle from helicopters to 2015 ESPY recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service. Catherine Daniels, Bobbi Miller and Cody Scott. rescue wounded soldiers. Some women are competing for the prestigious Ranger Tab. Others continue to break new Similar to the evolution of what the Army holds for None of this is possible without your financial ground in other areas: this summer BG Diana Holland women, the Army Women’s Foundation also has evolved to contributions. You are making a meaningful difference in became the first woman deputy commanding general for offer more opportunities for women soldiers. We were the lives of Army women – past, present and future – and their the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. founded to build a museum for Army women. We’ve done children. We know you have many choices when it comes that and continue to preserve our place in history. We now to supporting charities, and hope you continue to think of So much has changed in 40 years! Women have far more also help women determine their futures. the foundation when reaching your decision. career opportunities today, and they continue to prove themselves with the same skills and professionalism as the In March, we will hold our annual Hall of Fame reception On behalf of the Army Women’s Foundation, I am very men with whom they serve. and Summit. This year we will expand our Summit theme grateful for your support. of workforce development by also examining healthcare Yet, the very core of who an Army woman is hasn’t and housing. We call these the “tactical tools for success.” changed. That continuity is selfless sacrifice and a Warmest regards, willingness to perform at the highest levels to achieve what Our scholarship program is aggressively expanding, is required to complete the Army’s mission. It is the same providing $75,000 in assistance to 38 students in 2015. fabric that makes any soldier a soldier – the intense desire We intend to award $100,000 in scholarships to worthy to serve. candidates in 2016. Do you know someone who needs Dee Ann McWilliams financial support for college or trade school? Please see One shining example of that is Danielle Green. Danielle MG, USA (Ret) the story on the scholarship program on page 3, or go to graduated University of Notre Dame, having played on the President, Army Women’s Foundation our website, www.awfdn.org, to learn more about basketball team. After she enlisted, she served as a eligibility and how to apply. Ranger Trailblazers Visit Us at AUSA’s Annual Meeting and Exposition Capt. Kristen M. Griest Be sure to visit AWF at Booth Number 1327 at AUSA’s Hometown — Orange, CT Annual Meeting and Exposition being held October 12- n Attended Military Academy at West Point, New 14 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, York - Class of 2011 Washington, D.C. We are grateful to AUSA for their n Military Police Platoon Leader, 716th MP continued support of AWF and look forward to growing Battalion at Fort Campbell, KY our partnership with them. This is a significant event “I knew how badly I wanted to go [to Ranger School] for us to get out and meet our supporters and make new when I was a second lieutenant, before I became a friends. We always look forward to it and will post platoon leader,” Griest said “I was hoping to go to this photos and updates on Facebook throughout the event! course because it is the best training the Army can For more information about the Association of the provide, and I wanted to have that training before I United States Army and their events, please visit their website at www.AUSA.org. « A ceremony was held at Fort Benning, GA on Aug. 21 to had a platoon.” recognize the graduation of the 94 men and two women 1st Lt. Shaye L. Haver who successfully passed all phases of Ranger School. In Inside This Edition Hometown — Copperas Cove, TX April, the Army opened its first assessment open to n Attended U.S. Military Academy at West Point, President’s Message 1 females, and on September 2, the Army announced that New York – Class of 2012 “qualified personnel will be able to attend all future Ranger Trailblazers 1 n AH-64 Apache Pilot, 4th Combat Aviation classes” of Ranger School “regardless of gender.” AUSA 1 Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO From the Executive Director 2 The Ranger School is a 61-day course of intense and “The reasons I chose to come were the same as the New Website! 2 grueling training divided into three phases to test a men here: to get the experience of the elite wide range of skills, including leadership and combat Hall of Fame SSG Julia Stalker Speech 2 leadership school ... and to give me the opportunity to skills. The Ranger Course was created during the In Memoriam 3 lead my Soldiers the best that I can,” said Haver. “I Korean War in 1950 and since then only 77,000 Legacy Scholarships 3 think if females continue to come to this course, they soldiers have earned the Ranger tab. In 2014, 1,609 can be encouraged by what we have accomplished, Social Media 3 graduated of the 4,057 soldiers who began the course. but hopefully they're encouraged by the legacy that Upcoming Events 4 An average of 34% of soldiers from 2010-2014 recycled the Ranger community has left.” « Giving 4 on at least one phase of the course and try again and an average of 42% graduate the course. 1 Fall 2015 The Flagpole From The Executive Director Dear Friends, It is summer: a time to relax and reflect. This summer, designed for women. Everyone knows that single sex small, dedicated office staff that has accomplished with news of history’s first fly-by of Pluto, daily reports colleges and institutions are rapidly diminishing. There much. Consider just how much our scholarship of violence in the world, and sharks attacking swimmers, are reports of other women’s organizations, some program has grown in a few years, how much our there is much to reflect on. But that is not what I want to focused on professional areas and others that are related social media has increased. We are developing new and talk about. I would like to reflect on the role of women’s to military service, that are seeing a decline in cost-effective programs and we are building a solid organizations, the issues they tackle, and the way they membership, support, visibility and sustainability. WHY? national reputation. share thoughts and discuss ideas and meet the needs of Is it because women no longer feel the necessity to be a Here is where we need your help. Tell us what you think. their members and supporters. part of a woman’s group? Do they not have the time? The “Like” us on Facebook and send our postings to friends interest? Does gender no longer matter? I can leave the The AWF’s primary ways of connecting with Army and colleagues. Please visit our re-mastered website at answers to those questions to those organizations, or to women are through Summits on Capitol Hill, our www.awfdn.org. Take a look at our most recent short academia, because for now, our Foundation is not one of website and social media such as Facebook. We are video and you will be proud of all the Army women who those statistics. especially proud of how our Facebook has grown and have served or are currently serving and I believe be serves as a “Go To” place to share information, news, and We at the Army Women’s Foundation have been working motivated to assist us. thoughts and ideas. On specific issues and postings we hard to remain relevant to Army women, to I cannot close without asking that you contribute to the reach over 20,000 viewers with numerous “likes,” servicewomen. We want to provide our supporters with Army Women’s Foundation. No donation is too small and comments and shares. Viewers learn about Army women specific information and tools designed to help them, as it helps to spread the word about the history and service and we learn from you.