The winter break of my freshman year I had talked to my parents about joining the military—something I considered throughout my entire life. It always looked so prestigious and honorable. My brother is in the National Guard and ROTC and I saw what it did for him. When I went to my brother’s graduation from basic training, the look on my parents face was priceless. I wanted that. Whenever I hear my parents talk about my brother in the military they are so proud. They never questioned his decision. When I brought up joining the army to my parents, they were hesitant at first. They would have to let their little girl go to basic and then much more. I brought them to talk to the recruiter with me and he reassured them I could do it.
They asked me why I wanted to join. I said “I wanted to do something more than just myself. I wanted to be a part of an organization that protects people who can’t necessarily protect themselves.” Although, no matter what I did my family would be proud, this was one of the best decisions I could have made.
When I finally signed my contract for the Ohio Army National Guard, in February 2015, I had no idea what to expect. I knew I needed to go to Basic and it was going to be challenging. Traditionally, the military is thought of as a man’s world. This was no different at Basic. There were about 60 females in one bay (room) and 150 males in three bays. The males were looked at as stronger and more capable. If they messed up it was not looked down upon nearly as much as the females. Although the drill sergeants tried their best not to play favorites, they did. There was a select few group of people that could do no wrong in their eyes and they were all male.
The physical aspect was very difficult. I had never worked out before. I am a small person who had little to no muscles. I never ran and didn’t particularly enjoy it. Every morning we would wake up to go to PT (physical training). When we would do pushups or run the males always dominated. This fueled the females to work harder and get stronger. I know I almost always got more sit-ups than the males, but that didn’t matter because they ran faster and got more pushups. It seemed that for every one thing the males did right the females would have to do five.
At basic training, the females had to have a discussion. We were told we had to prove ourselves and go above and beyond in order to do so. We couldn’t let the males walk over us and we had to stand our ground. If we initially couldn’t do something we figured out a way to complete the task without the help of the males. From that moment on I never looked back. I strive to be the best I can be.
I joined ROTC at John Carroll and came across an entirely different atmosphere. The males and females here are treated the same. There are significantly less females, but that has not stopped any of us. I have not felt undermined. I know that when I walk into class or our lab I am looked at no different than the male standing next to me. My opinion matters just as much as anyone else’s. This has been a refreshing change of pace.
This past year women were officially allowed to join combat arms. This changed the army completely. Women are no longer stopped from being in combat roles. We are all held to the same expectations and are all here for the same end goal: to serve and protect the American people.