Soldier paves way as first female infantry qualified NCO in South Carolina Army National Guard

Photo By Spc. Leslie Goble | U.S Army Pfc. Rachelle Dutton, the medic with the military police squad in Headquarters Headquarters Company, 45th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, treats an open head wound of an Afghan who was involved in a wreck involving a bus full of people. Dutton treated as many as six patients who had injuries ranging from minor scrapes to open head wounds.  

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

10.30.2018

Story by Capt. Tammy Muckenfuss 

108th Public Affairs Detachment

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rachelle Dutton, South Carolina Army National Guard, 1-118th Infantry Battalion medic, graduated from the 11B Infantry Transition Course in North Little Rock, Arkansas, October, 25, 2018, making her the first female non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the South Carolina Army National Guard with the military occupational specialty (MOS) of 11B (Infantry).

The Infantry Transition Course is a physically demanding and mentally challenging program designed to qualify individual Soldiers, with prior service, in the combat-critical tasks required as an Infantry Soldier.

“When the opportunity to integrate females into the combat arms MOSs opened up a few years ago, I immediately wanted to transfer to 11B,” said Dutton. “I had already been a medic for eight years. I was originally with the Oklahoma National Guard and then deployed to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012 before transferring to the South Carolina Army National Guard. I was ready for a new challenge.”

There are 12 physical tasks that each Soldier must complete during the course while wearing proper Soldier gear, otherwise known as “full battle rattle,” weighing up to 90 lbs.

“The course was more physically demanding than I had anticipated,” said Dutton. “However, I had received a lot of support from my peers, as well as from the leadership, encouraging me and helping me train, so I was ready.”

Some of the tasks she was required to complete included a 20 kilometer tactical foot march, evacuating a casualty to safety by dragging a 270-pound person 15 meters, moving under direct fire, and completing a 5-mile run in under 45 minutes.

Dutton’s graduation and transition to 11B is historic in the South Carolina National Guard to integrate women into all MOSs in-line with the U.S. Army’s Gender Integration Implementation Plan.

The Army has been managing the assignments of women through a “leader’s first” approach, where women are eligible to branch Infantry or Armor, followed by female NCOs, before female junior enlisted Soldiers enter the units to ensure that they are assigned to operational units with integrated and established female leadership in place.

“I have experience integrating female medic Soldiers into this environment,” Dutton explained. “I can use my past experience to help me lead the integration efforts for female Infantry Soldiers in my new position.”

Dutton will now be working as a fulltime training NCO for B. Co, 1-118th Infantry, out of North Charleston, South Carolina.

• Date Taken: 10.30.2018
• Date Posted: 10.30.2018 16:55
• Story ID: 298298
• Location: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, US